A Brotherhood of Beer

You certainly do not have to be a veteran to enjoy a beer at Charlie Foxtrot Brewing. But if you are a veteran, you should definitely check it out.

You’ll find it a unique place for camaraderie and conversation — which is just what owner Nick York intended.

A six-year Army veteran, York was deemed unfit to deploy after suffering a back injury, and released with a medical discharge.

He suffers from another injury, too — one that plagues too many veterans: PTSD.

After a stint in Afghanistan, York was stationed in Germany. It was there he would meet at a small bar with fellow soldiers who shared his love of craft beer. Small talk eventually turned to group therapy, in which these men would start opening up about their PTSD, how it affected them and what they were doing to handle it.

“That only happened because we all liked craft beer, found a spot we could go to, enjoyed craft beer together and built a relationship,” York said. “That’s what I’m trying to mirror here.”

And it appears he’s succeeding.

“On opening night, someone said, ‘Is this going to be the new VFW?’” York recounted with a laugh.

There is a TV set, but it is used only for the brew menu. There is no other noise or distraction, save for music played low and in the background. Outside of stools at the bar, the rest of the seating is picnic tables — “to force people to sit down together,” York said. “Especially when we’re busy, and there are no seats at the bar, you’re now going to sit down with someone you don’t know and start a conversation.”

The corporate motto is: “Building bonds of brotherhood through craft beer.”

It’s a dream come true for the disabled vet — but first, he had to live through a nightmare.

After his discharge, York went through the Army Career and Alumni Program (since renamed and rebranded as Soldier for Life – Transition Assistance Program).

“One of the classes was Boots to Business, so I went through that with the knowledge I gained about the brewing industry and started to build ideas to open a brewery. I ended up applying to Florida Gulf Coast University and got accepted in 2018. I started in business management; did all my marketing and accounting classes, and then switched over to the entrepreneurship program. … Through that, we raised $20,000 in seed funding. They were part of the Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program, which helped organize it.”

What should have been an easy victory became a series of battles, as a number of obstacles — from the pandemic to several locations falling through for one reason or another — started setting him back in the tens of thousands of dollars.

A business partner found Charlie Foxtrot’s current location. Roof damage from Hurricane Ian caused the previous tenant to move out.

Even then, York explained, an opening he had hoped to be on July 4, 2023, got pushed back until January, courtesy of a series of snafus by the county Planning & Zoning Department. In brief, he was told he didn’t need a particular permit, which the county insisted that he did. It took months before the inspection to get the permit was scheduled. When it was finally completed, the building inspector told York that the permit wasn’t needed after all, York said

“That delay cost me $20,000 in rent and insurance, and four months of operation … and another $70,000 in lost revenue for a $300 permit that I didn’t need.”

But it all worked out in the end.

“The day we opened our doors on Jan. 18, I had a line of people waiting to come in and had a nonstop line for four hours from the door to the bar ordering beer,” York said. “The place was packed, standing room only, for two hours. So, we’ve definitely been well received and have continued to grow our base. I think that’s because there’s nothing like this in the area.”

He prides himself on carrying craft beers — 90% or more of his inventory — that can’t be found anywhere else in Charlotte County. His business also supports veterans’ organizations and stocks beers from veteran-owned breweries. Most unique is a program called Beer It Forward, in which patrons can buy a beer for someone else (not necessarily a veteran) to claim in the future. There’s also a room in the back for private parties or business functions.

By late summer or early fall, York expects to start offering his own craft brews, elevating Charlie Foxtrot Brewing from a pub to an actual brewery.

“Because we’re not brewing yet, our cans and our taps rotate pretty much every week, so there’s always something new for people to try,” he added.

As for the name of his business, York chuckled and said, “I get phone calls every once in a while asking what it means. Charlie Foxtrot is a phrase we used a lot in the Army. That’s awesome because people who know what it means will get a kick out of it and want to come here just because of that.”

If you don’t know but want to, go ask him yourself — preferably over a beer. ¦

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