Ours is a sport of camaraderie. One has to tilt a certain way to find it fun to head out into the snow, climb a mountain then slide down it on equipment that allows them to reach speeds capable of catching their hair on fire. It’s an adventurous pursuit undertaken by squads of friends who have the shared, if unspoken, understanding that there is an element of risk to playing in the mountains. And should that risk morph into a situation of need, each friend will have the others back. 

It is a spirit that leads to après tales that grow taller with each pint hoisted in the base pub, and one that leads to communities of lifelong friends. It’s this particular cord of community that binds all who visit Jay Peak, and one we seek in the organizations we look to call partners. And it is one we have found with 14th Star Brewing.

Now celebrating their 10th anniversary, 14th Star began as a dream of two Vermonters, soldiers, serving in the mountains of Afghanistan. When they returned home, they rented a small garage in downtown St. Albans, built a brewhouse from old maple sugaring equipment and got down to the business of brewing what we feel is some of the best beer to come from the 14th state in the Union. More importantly, they threw themselves headlong into creating experiences and opportunities for their community to get involved in the business of making their community a better place. Up here, that kind of spirit is a big part of what we call the Jay Way.

The Jay Way can take many shapes depending on the setting it is invoked. We’ve put it on the page, but given that it’s often created through powder and shared at the pub, our friends at 14th Star thought they’d give it a taste. And oh, is it ever so tasty.

The new Jay Way Amber Ale has landed. It's be available at the resort at Provisions General Store and cans of it are just $5 at Clips and Reels at Stateside. Plus, a portion of every sale will go to Purple Hearts Reunited and the Josh Pallotta Fund, two Vermont-based organizations that work to honor the sacrifice veterans have made for our country and to help ease the transition from wartime to life back home.

So raise a can to Community. Raise a can to Camaraderie. And cheers to those of a certain tilt as we tilt a taste of the Jay Way.