New Brew Designed to Honor Fallen Military Members

Light and refreshing.

It’s what the brewers of a new beer being released in September by the Midnight Sun Brewery in Anchorage to support the work of an Alaska-based foundation, Gold Star Peak, Inc., headed by Kirk Alkire who spearheaded the naming of an Eklutna area mountain in honor of those who have died in military service, were seeking.

“We wanted it to be something that could be carried up to the summit of Gold Star for our hikers of legal age to partake in responsibly there if they wanted to, but not a heavy beer that would weigh them down,” Alkire said.

It helps that his son, Matty Alkire, is a brewer that yes, works at Midnight Sun. When Matty’s employers learned more about his father’s work to honor the fallen, they suggested creating a brew.

Last Saturday, the Alkires and several members of a Gold Star family that were in Alaska for their hike to the summit came by the brewery to help dig mash and make the beer.

“It was so cool,” Kirk said. “They stopped by and said they wanted to be part something more than just the climbing, so we put them to work. We had the whole brewery full of our Gold Stars.”

What the crew came up with is a Belgian-style single malt, single hop beer.

They cooked up somewhere between 500 and 600 gallons that will be served in September in honor of Gold Star Mothers and Family Day, which is commemorated annually the last Sunday in September.

“If it makes it that long,” Alkire said, noting that this year the special day falls on Sept. 30.

Label design is still in progress, but it will include classic images of the Gold Star Peak. Alkire said the brewery intends to can some of the beer for offsite consumption or perhaps for purchasers to retain the can unopened as a keepsake, which is something Alkire said he is considering.

The specialty brew is just another of several ventures the quickly-growing Gold Star Peak non-profit foundation is taking advantage of to promote its message of bringing healing to the family and friends of military members who died while serving on active duty during combat, hostilities or war.

Other non-profits with similar missions are contacting Alkire and the foundation to partner for climbs to the summit of Gold Star Peak. It is not an easy climb with a 3,000 foot gain in elevation in about a mile and a half. But Alkire is committed to assisting as many Gold Star survivors as possible to complete the life-changing journey. He knows every square inch of the trail and the mountain. He’s climbed it every month. Thus, if it takes 12 hours to work with a family member to make the climb, Alkire will do it. He already has.

“Just to see their reaction when they make it to the summit makes all the effort worthwhile,” he said. “It is as if as they make the climb, an emotional weight is lifted from them.”

He is also being contacted by groups that help family and friends of military members and veterans whom have committed suicide.

It is a deeply personal topic for Alkire who led troops from JBER’s infamous 4-25 (4^thBrigade Combat Team Airborne 25^thInfantry Division) in combat in Iraq on a 15-month deployment from 2006 to 2007 in which 53 members were killed in action. Since then, many of “his guys” as he claims them to this day, have struggled with what they witnessed in Iraq and have considered suicide.

He hopes a trip to the summit of Gold Star Peak will give them renewed hope.

A two-year arduous process filled with lots of paperwork and patience resulted in the peak being renamed on Feb. 8, 2018, by the U.S. Dept. of Interior.

It all began in 2006 when Alkire ascended nearby Mount POWMIA (pronounced “pow” and “Mia” as in the female name) named in honor of Prisoners of War or Missing in Action military personnel. As he scanned the landscape, he could clearly see a direct line to another peak situated 4,142 feet above sea level. It is when the idea of naming that peak for Gold Star service members came to him.

“There is a direct connection between a POW or MIA and those that are Gold Stars because often times when a POW or MIA is finally identified, they are a Gold Star,” Alkire said. “From Mount POWMIA, you can see Gold Star and from Gold Star, you can see Mount POWMIA. It was perfect.”

To date, Alkire has guided 117 people to the summit of Gold Star Peak. Many leave rocks painted in honor of their loved one behind to add to the growing memorial.

Learn more about Gold Star Peak, Inc., online at: www.goldstarpeak.org.

Reach Amy Armstrong via email at: authoramyarmstrong@gmail.com.