Tacoma's own Narrows Brewing Company will celebrate the release of a very special IPA, May 26. Labeled "Release Point IPA," this lower than average ABV, "user friendly" IPA was created to honor and support the work of the Night Stalker Association West.

According to the organization's treasurer and spokesperson, Corey Hall, "The NSA is a nonprofit organization of all volunteers who serve to preserve the memories and friendship kindled by mutual experience as Night Stalkers and to provide Night Stalkers and their family members assistance outside of normal Army channels. We've been able to provide Gold Star families assistance through loans and gifts through the support of donations and gracious contributions from the community."

The Night Stalkers are the Army's 160th Special Operations Regiment. According to their website, their mission is "to organize, equip, train, resource, and employ Army special operations aviation forces worldwide in support of contingency missions and combatant commanders ... The unit became known as the ‘Night Stalkers' because of its capability to strike undetected during the hours of darkness and its unprecedented combat success." Specializing in the use of Chinook, Black Hawk, and Little Bird helicopters, the Night Stalkers have been continuously engaged in operations since October 2001. There are only four Night Stalker battalions in the country, one of which is based out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Hall states that, "Scott Wagner and Narrows Brewery generously offered to brew and bottle a beer (Release Point IPA) in our honor to support our organization and its mission. He truly and honestly has a respect for the veteran community and a passion to help the organizations that support our soldiers. He has decided to donate a portion of his proceeds from the sales of Release Point IPA to help further the mission of the NSA. He is an extremely compassionate member of the community who has a genuine interest in helping veterans and has been a true pleasure to work alongside."

With flowery, citrusy and spicy notes, even the name of this hoppy, "aromalicious and easy drinking" IPA is significant. "Release Point" is the term used by pilots "to define the point during a special operations insertion where the helicopter is in range of enemy fire."

The public is invited to drop by and join the staff of Narrows Brewing Company and the members of the Night Stalker Association to celebrate the release of this unique brew while honoring our military and first responders in advance of the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. Can't make it out to the release party? Keep those eyes open for bottles of Release Point IPA in area markets that carry Narrows Brewing Company beers, and look for it on-tap at pubs and restaurants throughout the South Sound region. Give this refreshing IPA a try, and help support some American heroes.

Narrows Brewing Release Event, 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday, May 26, Narrows Brewing Company Taproom, 9007 S. 19th St., Tacoma, 253.327.1400, www.narrowsbrewing.com