A new Langley Township beer is hitting the market across B.C., with proceeds supporting the Rolling Barrage, a foundation that raises awareness for PTSD and services for military personnel and first responders.
Dead Frog Brewery has partnered with the Rolling Barrage, with support from local charity Kimz Angels, on the special brew.
The brewery is hosting a launch for the Rolling Barrage Anniversary Lager at its Langley tasting room (8860 201 St. #105) on Saturday, May 9 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., with the new beer available on tap and in cans.
Brew master Cole Smith helped kick off the brew alongside Langley RCMP Const. Dennis Bell in late March.
Bell described how proceeds from sales will support programs for members of the Canadian Armed Forces, RCMP, paramedics, and other first responders dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder or receiving medical care.
Dead Frog Brewery CEO Derrick Smith said the family-run business is always looking for creative ways to give back to the community.
Smith said the new beer tied to the Rolling Barrage will be distributed through B.C. Legion branches and liquor stores.
“It’s going to be a nice full-flavored lager, five per cent alcohol.”
The Rolling Barrage fundraises for programs like New Westminster’s Honour House Society, which provides housing to service members and their families during medical treatment.
Curt Appleby of Honour House said the program is about stability during difficult times.
“Our goal is to ensure that no first responder suffers alone,” he said.
“If we can have a place, an oasis for them to come and receive the help they need — whether that’s peer-to-peer support or they’re seeking help from a registered counsellor.”
He added that impact is measured in lived experience rather than numbers alone.
Appleby shared the story of a paramedic who was pregnant and needed brain surgery.
“They [doctors] realized that her fetus’s heart rate dropped and they had to go in and get the baby. And for that baby to be born at 24 weeks, but stay in the NICU until full term.” The paramedic stayed at Honour House for a couple of months instead of the expected days.
“It is nice to see them saving thousands and tens of thousands of dollars,” said Appleby, noting that an organ transplant patient stays at Honour House anywhere from three to six months.
“Someone told me the other day, that if it weren’t for Honour House, they would have had to sell their house.” Appleby considers these little victories a recognition that people are being helped.
First responders attending and helping launch the initiative reflected on what they see in their work. BC Emergency Health Services paramedic Sheldon McIver said mental health support is greatly needed in his field.
“PTSD and all the mental health injuries that we acquire as paramedics and other first responders are a very high percentage of those of those injuries. I’d like to do the little bit we can to make it easier on everybody that’s gone through it.”
Township of Langley deputy fire chief Cory Parker said the fundraiser holds special meaning as the Rolling Barrage marks its 10th year supporting first responders and military veterans.
City of Langley Fire Chief Scott Kennedy said the recognition matters.
“Anything these days that recognizes what firefighters, police, ambulance, first responders of any group have to go through — the lifelong scars that they can suffer — is very dear to my heart.”
Community support plays an important role in helping Canadian Armed Forces members, veterans, and first responders face operational stress injuries, said founder of the Rolling Barrage Scott Casey.
“It is with community participation like this, that our uniformed services are stronger.”