Land of the free, home of the brew

50 Back is a new local lager with a winning formula: half the proceeds are donated to veterans charities in New England and around the country.

“We wanted to do something to give back to our veterans who have done so much for us,” said Kimberly Rogers, an attorney from Pepperell who partnered with real estate broker and home-brew pal Paige Haley to create the patriotic suds.

“One day Paige said, ‘What about a beer?’ We thought it would have a pretty widespread reception and that it would allow people to give back repeatedly.”

Charitable beer lovers already have polished off more than 3,000 cases of the easy-drinking lager since it was introduced in Middlesex county bars and packies on Memorial Day weekend.

Rogers and Haley landed their first Boston account last week at Lir, an Irish pub on Boylston Street.

They’ll host their official Boston debut Sunday in the Charlestown Navy Yard, with a party for charities, restaurateurs, beer distributors and veterans, including special guest Thomas J. Hudner Jr. of Concord, a Medal of Honor recipient from the Korean War.

The Brew of the Brave currently supports five charities, ranging from national organizations such as the USO to Homes for Our Troops, a Taunton-based outfit that builds handicapped-accessible homes for wounded soldiers at no charge. Teetotalers can make a donation online at 50back.com.

Fans, appreciative veterans and their families have begun posting messages on the Web site.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart, 50 Back!,” wrote Gregory Billingham.

And this from Lisa Lange: “We are the proud parents of Sgt. Kyle Schmidt who is currently serving his second tour in Iraq. As proud as we are of our son, we are proud of the people that go above and beyond to help (others) in need.”

Haley and Rogers drew their inspiration from soldiers such as Sgt. Schmidt, as well as from their own families.

“My grandfather (Peter Arapakis) immigrated from Greece and served in an Army MASH unit in Europe in World War II when he was in his 40s,” Rogers said. “At first they told him he was too old to join the Army. He told them that the United States had given him everything. He insisted on serving his country.”

Source: The Boston Herald