Veterans Day blast
Veterans trade stories at Schell’s Brewery
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NEW ULM -- A trio of New Ulm Battery cannon blasts began the Veterans Day celebration at August Schell Brewery Saturday.
Young and old veterans traded stories and hoisted a glass of new Expresso Stout beer designed by Schell's brewer and Iraq and Afghanistan war U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Joe Stevens.
Military uniforms with decorations of Schell's employees including Franz and Kyle Marti, Joe Stevens and others lined the east wall of the Bierhalle.
"Before we celebrate, I'd like to recognize the life of service that everyone in this room including veterans and and their families. I appreciate everything you've done for this country," said Schell's Operations Vice President Kyle Marti, who has 20 years of service and counting in the Minnesota National Guard.
"By all means, enjoy the day. Share some stories. Your first beer is on us," said Marti. "We have some maps here as well. Come on up and put a pin on where you served."
"Schell's brewer Joe Stevens helped design the Espresso Stout. He got help from our other employees who are veterans," said Schell's Brewmaster Dave Berg.
Berg said Espresso Stout includes cold-brewed Sumatra coffee beans and chocolate.
"This beautiful brew will remind you of waking up in the field to a cup of "Joe" (coffee) in the field. With chocolate, it's good to the last drop, said Berg.
"I'm a fan of stout, black coffee," said Stevens. "We learned how to drink coffee in the field in the military," said Stevens.
Kyle Marti served in Lebanon with the Guard in 2017.
"It was a very different place then even from what it is right now," said Marti. "It was a very complex environment. You were always on edge. Hezbollah was there. The people were unique. It's really a gem for where it sits in the Middle East."
Marti did counter-drug work in Honduras and served in Niger during his 20 years of service time.
Mike Finstad said he served in Granada, Operation Desert Storm and Iraq and Saudi Arabia during Gulf War 1.
"Granada was all right. We were in the Caribbean. We went swimming, surfing and cliff diving in our off time. That was probably the most fun. My first repel was off a 90-foot cliff down there with a rope tied to a Jeep," said Finstad.
Leon Treml of rural Sleepy Eye and Brown County Veterans Service Officer Greg Peterson said they enjoyed their time at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Tx. because the weather was nice and there was a lot to do.