MISSION, Texas — “Teufel Hunden” is not a term known to many unless one speaks German or has served in the United States Marine Corps. June 2018 marked the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Belleau Wood in France and a historic part of U.S. Marine Corps lore.
Lasting for almost a month, this battle resulted in almost 10,000 U.S. casualties, but for the Germans fighting, it was as if they were fighting ghosts, or “Tefuel Hunden” – Dogs From Hell. As hard as they fought, the members of the 5th and 6th Marine Regiments continued to push the offensive and earned forever the term “Devil Dog” for all of the Marine Corps.
To commemorate their great sacrifice, 5×5 Brewing Co. a Mission, TX based brewery is teaming up with Black Ale Project to produce a new beer called “Teufel Hunden Altbier”. The traditional Northern Altbier or “Old Beer” is an amber ale with a hearty flavor profile accentuate with pecan-smoked malts to add that Battle Born – Texas Made twist.
Proceeds of the sale of the beer, as well as a myriad of merchandise, including hats, manufactured by veteran-owned Mountain Up Cap Company, t-shirts, glassware, and challenge coins, will benefit a Combat Veteran-Owned charity, Semper K9 Assistance Dogs. Semper K9 was founded by Christopher Baity, a Marine Corps Dog Handler and trainer. Their program utilizes rescue dogs to train as service animals partnered with veterans at no charge.
“The most important things to us were to utilize rescue dogs and ensure that our veterans are assisted at no cost to them,” said Baity. “Also, being a military family with small children, the family involvement was high on our list of priorities since our mission is to enhance the quality of life for our wounded veterans.”
5×5 Brewing Co. is a Veteran-owned and Operated company. Sean Downey and Domingo De La Garza are both Marines, while Alex Gellman and George Rice are Navy and Army veterans respectively.
“We take every opportunity to collaborate with other veteran-owned organizations and especially veteran charities,” says Downey. “Choosing Semper K9 as the recipient of our campaign was a no-brainer. A Marine-owned business, which works with dogs and does such great work for the veteran community wholly embodies the spirit of those lost ‘Teufel Hunden’ of WWI.”
Dave Pappas is the founder of Black Ale Project, a craft beer initiative to raise money and awareness on behalf of U.S. war veterans. As a former active duty Marine and non-combat veteran of the Persian Gulf War, supporting our war veterans is a cause that means a lot to Dave. The Black Ale Project itself isn’t a charity organization but an idea he came up with to help veterans in need.
“Much like the Black Ale Project, 5×5 Brewing Co. and Semper K9 Assistance Dogs were founded by veterans to help veterans. Our collaboration brings three separate entities with one shared goal together to raise money and awareness for our fellow veterans in need, and I am honored to be a part of this very special initiative,” says Pappas.
Mountain Up Cap Company’s CEO and founder Ryan Hunt is an Army combat veteran with the 10th Mountain Division; Dee Dalnes Sr., a Cold War Army veteran; and CMO David Bland is an Army 82nd Airborne Division combat veteran.
“Mountain Up Cap Company is extremely proud to be teaming up with 5×5 Brewing Co. on the Black Ale Project for Semper K9,” says Hunt. “I feel passionate about Semper K9 as they are making a huge impact in the veteran space.”