Red River Brewing names beer after local deploying unit

SHREVEPORT, LA (KSLA) - Shreveport’s Red River Brewing Company took time to honor men and women of service by naming a beer after a local deploying guard unit.

The brewery hosted a family day for the Louisiana National Guardsmen of the 39th Military Police Company, 773rd MP Battalion, and the 139th Regional Support Group. The unit learned they will be deployed soon and asked Red River Brewing to brew a special beer for them.

“This is why we’re in business,” Jared Beville, co-owner of the downtown Shreveport brewery, said. “To be able to work within our muse to create a beer for the unit is one of the coolest things that we’ve done so far.”

Beville and the brewery named the special brew “Fear the Dark." The dark German lager is named after the 39th’s motto and features a custom label of the unit’s logo, which is military police crossed pistols behind a black panther.

Louisiana National Guardsmen of the 39th Military Police Company, 773rd MP Battalion, 139th... — Louisiana National Guardsmen of the 39th Military Police Company, 773rd MP Battalion, 139th Regional Support Group belly up to the bar at Red River Brewing Company in Shreveport, Louisiana to try a beer brewed specially for them, March 16, 2019. The schwartzbier, a dark, refreshing German lager with notes of chocolate and coffee, was named Fear the Dark, after the unit’s motto. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Garrett L. Dipuma)(Staff Sgt. Garrett L. Dipuma)

“It’s a really approachable, common man’s sort of beer," Beville said.

Members of the guard unit say having a special brew named after them is a rare feat they have never experienced.

“I’ve been in for 25 years and have been to four going away ceremonies, and I’ve never had my own bottle of beer. It’s pretty cool.” said 1st Sgt. Gregory Martin, of Sulpher, senior enlisted advisor of the 39th.