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.
Each Monday, guests casually mingle and chat in small groups. Some sip on beer or soda; others play chess or cards, and many simply talk. “There is no formal agenda—only an open heart and a place at the table,” Umnitz says. “We share meals, stories, resources, and sometimes just a quiet presence. Every night looks different, which is part of the magic.”
Another magic ingredient? Food. At each meeting, attendees enjoy a free meal, often provided by the Dripping Springs Cook-Off Club and other community organizations. Joe is a firm believer in the bonding power of a shared meal. “When you break bread with somebody, you get to know them,” he says. “Sitting down and having a meal with somebody is a setting that breaks down barriers and allows you to connect.”
Over time, this weekly ritual has transformed the group into something deeper: a family. “It’s a functional family—a place where you can rely on one another, feel loved and cared for, and people are genuinely glad to see you there,” says Ray Sanchez, who served 35 years in the Army.
This particular family is rooted in a unique, unspoken bond. “Being a veteran, no matter what branch of service you’re in, gives you this commonality with other veterans that is hard for non-veterans to understand,” says John Burns, a Navy veteran and current Hays County Justice of the Peace. “This is a way to bring together a group of people who have a fellowship, a brotherhood.”
Sanchez emphasizes the importance of having a place where veterans and first responders can share openly about the struggles of post-service life. He explains, “Fireside Chat gives us a platform to meet needs and people right where they are in their journey to better understand the impacts of military service and how we can celebrate or overcome challenges together.”
Many military veterans and first responders carry heavy emotional burdens, and for some, Fireside Chat has literally been a lifeline when they found themselves in deep crisis and at the edge of making irreversible decisions. In four known instances, individuals reached out at their lowest points. In each of those critical moments, fellow members of the Fireside Chat community responded within minutes.
“Joe is saving lives,” states former Los Angeles County Sheriff John Kepley.
Burns adds, “There are people who come who are pushing the limit, and the fact that they have someone to talk to makes all the difference in the world.” He hopes more people will discover the healing power of Fireside Chat’s fellowship and support, saying, “There are other people that are hurting who don’t know about us yet.”
Umnitz sums up the significance of Fireside Chat: “I’ve witnessed the power of presence—how just showing up can be the first step toward healing. It’s not just a gathering. It’s a lifeline, a family, a place to be seen, heard, and reminded that you matter.”
Even after the official Fireside Chat winds down and Joe locks up at the end of a Monday evening, a small group often lingers around the fire pit. As Joe drives away, leaving them in the quiet, firelit glow, he knows what is happening.
“They are doing what I envisioned: They sit around in the dark and chill out, and they just talk,” Joe shares. “And they’ve truly become this band of brothers and sisters.”
FiresideChatSupportNetwork.com | VistaWestRanch.com
EXPANDING THE MISSION
Beyond fostering camaraderie and connection, Joe is committed to supporting the physical and mental well-being of veterans and first responders. He hopes to expand Fireside Chat’s offerings by providing access to wellness resources and treatments—starting with the purchase of a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, which would be available to members at no cost. Fireside Chat Support Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and welcomes donations and community support to help make these healing tools a reality.