Something special happens every Monday evening at 12 Fox Beer Co. A motley group—men and women, young and old—greet each other with heartfelt handshakes and hugs, gathering around homey picnic tables in the cozy taproom. A band plays in the corner while guests enjoy a drink, play chess or cards, and catch up with friends.
But this isn’t your typical happy hour. It’s Fireside Chat Support Network—a round-up of veterans and first responders who come together every week in a safe space carved out just for them.
“Fireside Chat is a grassroots gathering born from love, loss, and a shared commitment to healing,” explains Leah Umnitz, F.N.P., a veteran United States Air Force Captain.
The weekly event is the realization of a vision conceived by U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Joe Hogge, a veteran and co-owner of 12 Fox Beer Co. along with his wife, Stacey. Their sprawling, tree-lined, German-inspired biergarten off Fitzhugh Road serves as a serene and familiar home ground for the community meetup.
Joe first imagined Fireside Chat a few years ago after the heartbreaking loss of a highly decorated local veteran who took his own life. Deeply affected by the tragedy, Joe and Stacey felt compelled to do something. “It really hit me,” Joe recalls. “That was my neighbor. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I didn’t wait around; I just did it.”
Joe’s idea was simple: “To me, the concept of the Fireside Chat was having a group of soldiers standing around the fire, drinking a beer, talking about those things they don’t talk about anywhere else.”
In early 2023, Joe set his plan in motion—and not even an infamous Hill Country ice storm could stop him. The very first Fireside Chat happened to fall on a freezing night, but Joe forged ahead. “It was 28 degrees, and 28 people showed up,” he remembers. “And we haven’t missed a single Monday since.”
Today, the group has grown to include more than 120 members, with 30 to 40 regularly meeting each week to connect, share, and support one another. During Fireside Chat, the venue is closed to the public, creating a private space reserved exclusively for the veterans and first responders who attend.
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