BEERflections ~ USO Rocks America

The fastest and easiest way to get me enthusiastically involved in an event requires one thing and one thing only: Beer. Beer in all her artisanally crafted glorious beauty bursting with flavor, packed with personality, and looking for thirsty drinkers of an adventurous disposition.

People like me and you.

And so I happened into the 18th Annual USO Rocks America benefitting the Heritage Center and Citrus Museum of Vero Beach, Fl. Previously in the life of Kristyn Lier, history both general and personal were yawn-worthy subjects of indifference. Times are changing, myself specifically, and now heritage is important so the opportunity to help a local institution and promote artisanal beer at the same time was as simple a win-win as they come.

Irony is never that far from home, and so it occurred to me that here I was at the ripe age of 32 stepping into the Citrus Museum for the first time ever.

Vero Beach calls Indian River County home. Sound familiar? It should for anyone who shops the orange and grapefruit juice selection of their local grocery store or market. For almost a century, Indian River County was the only citrus to consider for the discerning connoisseur, consumer and industrialist. Not so much today in our world of chaotic corporate conglomeration, but I shant digress.

My family, the Lier’s, were an integral part of that citrus boom for two generations. Lier Groves Inc was founded by my grandfather, George Lier, a Czechoslovakian immigrant, and carried on by his two sons, best of which is my father, Peter Lier. George married Jeanette Michael of the very local Michael family; both families still live in Vero to this day, though Lier Groves Inc is no more. Growing up, days were spend in the groves with Dad, attending the annual Ocean Spray Growers Meeting, and best of all, eating the bestest freshest grapefruit these lips have ever kissed. Whether sliced in half to surrender up her succulent sour-sweet bounty to me, or pressed for grapefruit juice quaffing bliss, the grapefruit industry is a proud and permanent part of my heritage. The memories will always remain along with familiar faces of old.

Memories in hand, I stepped into the Citrus Museum for the first time ever (did I mention I was born and raised here) and didn’t see to the best of my observation skills any of my proud Lier family heritage. In that instant, a new mission of a different yet equally rewarding purpose revealed itself to me.

Speaking of heritage, let’s talk USO. The USO was founded in 1941 by President Roosevelt to offer American officers a place to boost morale and enjoy much needed relaxation. Officially made up of six civilian organizations, they are the Salvation Army, Young Mens Christian Association, Young Womens Christian Association, National Catholic Community Service, National Travelers Aid Association, and the National Jewish Welfare Board. To this very day the USO is still offering military servicemen and servicewomen a place to strengthen their morale and relieve stress in a home away from home. The Heritage Center of Vero Beach, FL indubitably fits this bill, as does their honorary tradition which they have graciously upheld now for 18 years with respect and consideration. I am proud to have been included in this year’s event and am already pondering ideas for next year’s USO Rocks America.

All good ventures came from some sort of inspiration and mine was provided by Rob who put the idea to the committee which was then transferred to me to achieve fruition: an Americana themed craft beer tasting table to help raise money for the Heritage Center while at the same time helping to raise awareness of real American beer crafted by individualistic entrepreneurs. Idea firmly planted, thoughts wandered back to an article written by Julie Johnson in the March 2009 issue of the All About Beer magazine featuring brewpubs on bases. Digging out my issue, I reread the article and immediately knew it had to be part of the event. A few emails back and forth later, Julie and her staff generously created a printable PDF file which I then combined with a back page briefly describing each beer which was expertly printed and bound by Staples. But none of it would have happened if it wasn’t for Julie and the kindness of beer geek comrades-in-arms at All About Beer.

A personal highlight was finally being able to don Dad’s old Navy pea coat from when he was a young enlisted lass. Spacious, warm, and cozy, it was just what I needed to comfortably dress the part and represent the Lier family.

USO Rocks America took place February 19th 2010 at the Paris Air Hanger located within the Vero Beach airport grounds. Piper may get the majority of the local fuss and I have friends who work for them (as Mom did when she married Dad before either myself or my older sister, Jenn, were born), but there are many a talented and resourceful small plane company to be found, Paris Air being one of them. Paris very generously donated the hanger for the entire day of the event, including pre-day set up and post-day clean up.

Highlighting the event was our very own infamous Landsharks who squeezed us inbetween their Superbowl performance in Miami and their next gig in Orlando. While not decked out in the usual Hawaiian shirts, the bands casual dress and easy-going manner along with great music kept the night going in merry form.

Being an USO event, everything from the music to the dress proudly carried an Americana theme of some sorts. Adding to the authentic atmosphere was a very real SOC-R (Special Operations Craft-River) used by Special Forces for work on rivers and donated by the National Navy SEAL Museum located in Fort Pierce, FL. Additionally, there was an Air Force T-34B Mentor loaned to us by Tom Soodsma of Vero Beach along with another plane, an Army Air Corp WWII Stearman Bi-Plane loaned to us by Rene St. Julien of Port St. Lucie. On display by the front entrance were two half-ton cargo trucks, aka deuce and a half, which were loaned to us by the Indian River County Sheriff’s Department.

Linda Colontrelle (who taught many of my high school) was there representing Military Moms with a table where attendees could take home a flat-rate USPS box with a list of suggested items to mail to our local women and men serving overseas. Scattered throughout the hanger were life-size cutouts of local men and women still serving overseas. To help bring the personal message of Military Moms home, actual pictures of real life men and women in active duty were used. A heartwarming or heart wrenching cause depending on how you look at it, Military Moms of Vero Beach will stand strong until every man and woman makes it home, hopefully safe and sound.

All good shindigs require sustenance and libation to fuel the party.

Providing the sustenance once more was Bonos Catering who did a fantastic job. The spicy coconut battered and fried jumbo shrimp were the piece-de-la-resistance for yours truly. If all Bonos had that night were the shrimp, it still would have been okay. Coming in a close second was the chocolate fondue fountain accompanied by marshmallows, whole strawberries, and pretzel sticks for a never-ending chocolate dip-a-thon for the chocoholic in all of us.

Liquid libation came in two varieties: the bar and the beer tasting/dispensing table. Run as two separate venues, we were nonetheless situated right next to each other; cozy neighbors make for good neighbors. Great Spirits provided the bar where wine, spirits, soda, and water were dispensed with flair by Becky and Jessica. Myself along with Darrell and Suz, Mike and Paula, manned the beer tasting station, or as I like to call it, Beer Central. The featured American craft beers were Rogue American Amber, Sierra Nevada Torpedo, Anchor Liberty Ale, Avery Ale to the Chief, and Brooklyn Brown Ale. Yuengling and Yuengling Light were the two draft offerings, and I was surprised by how many of our various patrons didn’t know Yuengling brewed a Light Lager. Well, they do now and the response was encouragingly positive. All together, we wet the whistles of over 200 patriots who cut quite the swanky groove as spirits and beer flowed well into the night.

As a personal thank you to my awesome beer posse who generously donated their time, truck, keg skills, and best of all good company, I brought with me a 2007 bottle of Deschutes The Abyss, an oak and bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout. I couldn’t have done it without you. Cheers!

It eventually grew a little toasty inside the hangar, but I’ll take toasty over freezing anytime anywhere. Between the wine toss, wall of honor, congo lines, dance floor, hula hoop contest, and silent auction, there was more than plenty to do. Everywhere I looked there were smiling faces and everywhere I listened there was jovial chatter interspersed with hearty fits of laughter for a swell night indeed.

All ticket sales were pre-event with no ticket sales at the door. This allowed a solid count of attendees and tables to seat them at. On those tables covered in hand-painted table-clothes were centerpieces of original Americana art all hand-crafted by the amazingly talented Cynthia Baita who also did the tablecloths. Near the close of the evening, if one wanted to take a centerpiece home as a memento, they could do so for a charitable donation of their choosing. Before leaving, I noted quite a few of the tables were happily without.

Closing time came and we set about packing up the unopened beer and dismantling the generously donated tap system just as the Landsharks played their last set. Committee members and friends chatted long into the evening, drawing out the good times as long as possible. As my beer posse and I loaded up Darrell’s truck, we made one last pass by the hot food buffet where a few shrimpies remained…but not for long. Encouraged to help ourselves to the leftovers, you don’t have to tell me twice when it comes to free food. Even less when it is good food. Truck loaded, Darrell and Suz followed me home where we stashed the leftover beer while Darrell stored the rest overnight at his house. Exhaustion having set in, there was no way a trip back to the store was happening that night.

Mr. D greeted me with purrs and meows as always, and after hugs goodbye, Darrell and Suz made their own way home. Mike and Paula had hugged goodbye earlier at the hanger as we all exited stage left. PJs and some kitty kuddling later, sleep descended with plans for American craft beer and the 19th Annual USO Rocks America of Vero Beach, FL flittering around in my head.



(an original written work by Kristyn Lier. plagiarism is not tolerated)