Veterans and Beer: Hillman Old Fort’s Support for American Legion Post 56 and Military Programs

Why Hillman Old Fort Chose to Partner with American Legion Post 56

Hillman Beer opened its Old Fort location in July 2020, and from the start, the goal was straightforward: become a real part of the town, not just a business operating within it. Old Fort is a small Appalachian community in McDowell County, North Carolina, where military service carries genuine weight. American Legion Post 56 has served that community for decades, providing veterans with resources, camaraderie, and support that goes well beyond what most people see from the outside.

The connection between Hillman Beer and Post 56 wasn’t a marketing decision. It reflects the same values that have guided the Hillman family since Brad, Greig, and Brandi first started building this brewery: show up for your neighbors, keep things honest, and build something that lasts. When the opportunity to support Post 56 and local military programs through Power in Pints emerged, it aligned directly with those commitments.

According to The American Legion (2023), there are nearly 12,000 American Legion posts across the country, each rooted in specific communities and serving veterans from all branches and eras of service. Post 56 in Old Fort is one of those posts where membership reflects the real fabric of a working mountain town.

For Hillman Old Fort, partnering with an organization like Post 56 means the taproom becomes more than a place to drink good beer. It becomes a place where a cold pint carries a little more purpose.

Hillman Old Fort’s partnership with American Legion Post 56 grew from a shared commitment to community rather than a promotional strategy. The brewery’s family-owned values and Old Fort’s deep military heritage made this collaboration a genuine reflection of who Hillman Beer is as a neighborhood institution.

What Power in Pints Actually Does for Veterans

Power in Pints is the mechanism through which Hillman Old Fort translates goodwill into real support. A portion of proceeds from participating beer sales is directed toward veteran-supporting organizations and programs connected to American Legion Post 56 and the broader military community in McDowell County. It’s a simple model: drink beer, support veterans.

That simplicity matters. Veterans’ organizations across the country consistently report that funding gaps are one of their biggest operational challenges. According to Pew Research Center (2023), there are approximately 16.5 million veterans living in the United States, and the needs of that population span mental health services, housing stability, employment support, and community connection. Local posts like Post 56 often fill gaps that federal programs miss entirely.

Power in Pints works because it doesn’t require customers to do anything complicated. You come in, you order a pint of Hillman ESB or another participating beer, and part of what you spend goes somewhere useful. The Old Fort taproom team can tell you which beers are included at any given time, and the story behind the program is always worth asking about.

“Veterans don’t need ceremony. They need community, consistency, and people who show up when it counts.”

The program also reinforces something Hillman has always believed: a brewery is a gathering place first. The pint just gives people a reason to sit down together. When that gathering place actively supports the people who served, it changes the character of the room in a way that’s hard to quantify but easy to feel.

Power in Pints connects beer sales at Hillman Old Fort directly to veteran support programs linked to American Legion Post 56. The program works because it requires nothing extra from the customer while generating consistent, local impact for McDowell County’s military community.

Old Fort as a Gathering Place for the Military Community

The physical space at Hillman Old Fort was built with conversation in mind. The layout encourages people to linger, to pull chairs together, to stay for a second pint rather than rushing out. Mountain views stretch beyond the taproom windows, and the full kitchen means nobody has to leave on an empty stomach. These aren’t accidental design choices.

Veterans’ organizations have long understood that isolation is one of the most persistent challenges facing those who’ve served. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (2023), social connection remains one of the most effective protective factors for veteran mental health and wellbeing. Places that offer a low-barrier, welcoming environment matter more than most people realize.

Hillman Old Fort is not a veterans’ bar. It’s a neighborhood taproom that happens to take its civic responsibilities seriously. That distinction matters because it means the space is accessible to everyone: veterans, their families, neighbors, and visitors who just pulled off the trail or the interstate. When Post 56 members come in after a meeting, they’re sitting alongside hikers, locals, and families. That mix is exactly what a good community taproom should produce.

The partnership with American Legion Post 56 also creates a feedback loop. When veterans feel genuinely welcomed at a business, not as a demographic to market to but as neighbors, they bring others. Word spreads in small towns through trust, and trust at Hillman Old Fort has been built one honest pint at a time.

Hillman Old Fort’s taproom design and community-first philosophy make it a natural gathering point for the military community in McDowell County. The brewery’s support for American Legion Post 56 reinforces an environment where veterans are welcomed as neighbors rather than singled out as a target audience.

How Hillman Old Fort Connects Veterans, Locals, and Great Beer

None of this works if the beer isn’t worth drinking. Hillman has always been clear about that. Their GABF Gold-winning ESB, their award-recognized Brown Ale, and their rotating seasonal offerings are all built around one idea: make beers people want a second pint of. That philosophy doesn’t change when the conversation turns to civic partnership.

The food menu at Old Fort follows the same principle. Locally sourced pub fare, prepared in a full kitchen, means people can settle in for the evening rather than treating the taproom as a quick stop. When Post 56 members and their families sit down for a meal alongside the rest of the community, that’s the kind of integration that actually builds something durable.

Hillman Beer is a member of the Brewers Association, the NC Craft Brewers Guild, and the Asheville Brewers Alliance, and uses certified craft malt in its beers. These affiliations reflect a commitment to quality that extends from the grain bill to the way the business operates within its community. Veterans and non-veterans alike can taste that commitment.

If you’re planning a visit to Hillman Old Fort, ask the team about Power in Pints and which beers are participating. Sit by the window. Order something from the kitchen. And if you see Post 56 members at the bar, pull up a seat. That’s the whole idea.

Hillman Old Fort’s support for veterans through American Legion Post 56 is grounded in the same values that drive its brewing: quality, honesty, and genuine community connection. The taproom brings veterans and locals together through good food, award-winning beer, and a space designed to make people feel at home.