On the first Thursday of every month from 6 to 8 p.m. at Good Buzz Brewing Co. in Centralia, not only are the business’s usual patrons enjoying craft-brewed meads and ciders, but local veterans are there for Vets Night Out.

Vets Night Out is a monthly meetup at the taproom organized by Good Buzz Brewing’s co-owner Forrest Chesvick, who runs the business alongside his wife, Aly. 

Chesvick is a U.S. Army veteran who settled in Chehalis with his family after being stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

He knows first-hand some of the challenges many face after being discharged or retiring from military service. Many struggle to reassimilate with civilian life, and often become isolated as a result.

That’s why he started doing Vets Night Out, to give veterans a place where they could interact with others who are going through the same thing and build connections instead of becoming more isolated.

“As we continue doing these, we’re getting more and more people involved and more veterans. The intention is to let people know there’s a community that knows what it’s like. When you get out of the military, you get out you don’t have that community you had while you were in,” Chesvick said.

The Chronicle visited Good Buzz Brewing in Centralia last month just a day after December’s Vets Night Out.

Chesvick is partnering with Veterans Journey Forward to host the monthly meetups to provide local veterans a place where they gather together not only with each other but with their families too. While Good Buzz Brewing is a taproom, there are plenty of board games along with snacks and drinks for the kids to keep them entertained.

“The guy that’s spearheading (Veterans Journey Forward) is Jesse (Lloyd), and also Candace (Johnson) works with him as well,” Chesvick said. “Both of whom are amazing people that work with me. This event, they bring free food for anyone who wants to show up.” 

Like Chesvick, Johnson is an Army veteran, while Lloyd is an U.S. Marine Corps veteran.

Additionally, they have recently been partnering with Lewis County Axe Throwing — a local business with a mobile axe throwing trailer that sets up the trailer in the Centralia Fairway Center’s parking lot outside of Good Buzz Brewing for Vets Night Out.

“Jason (Moran) is the owner of that. Him and his wife, they’re amazing people. They come out and allow the veterans and people who show up to have fun free of charge,” Chesvick added.

On top of free food and axe throwing, every Thursday at Good Buzz Brewing is “Thirsty Thursday,” featuring $3 pints of beer and $3.50 pints of cider.

“If you come on in, you don’t need to spend any money but if you do decide to, it’s a cheap date night out,” Chesvick said.

He added even if someone isn’t a veteran, they’re still welcome to come to Good Buzz Brewing on Vets Night Out Thursdays.

“Just last night, we had a couple folks in here sitting at the bar, enjoying themselves, and they weren’t veterans. We have some veterans with their spouses that didn’t serve. We had another veteran bring their friend over. We welcome anybody and everybody that wants to come to this event, but the main people we’re trying to reach is the veteran community to let them know we are here and we’re happy to have them here,” Chesvick said.

Good Buzz Brewing Co. is located in the Centralia Fairway Center at 1640 S. Gold St.

To learn more, visit Good Buzz Brewing’s website at https://goodbuzzbrewingco.com/ or follow the business on its Facebook page at https://tinyurl.com/2p8x24xp.