Marine Sgt. Jason Duren deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom on 6 May 2012. His plan was to become a firefighter one day after leaving the military. But while serving in Afghanistan he suffered 2 traumatic brain injuries caused by 2 separate IED explosions within 5 days in late 2012. He medically retired from the Marine Corps in 2014 due to the injuries he sustained. Marine Sgt. Jason Duren was awarded a Purple Heart, Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal and a Combat Action Ribbon. However, due to his injuries the plan to become a firefighter was no longer feasible.

Marine Sgt. Jason Duren in Afghanistan – photograph courtesy of Cider Corps. Used for educational purposes.

For two years after his injuries, he struggled through the medical retirement process that included attending speech and cognitive processing therapies. During this time, Jason found that focusing on tasks that required repetitive steps helped his mental focus, patience and recovery. He began experimenting with cider-making as a hobby and therapeutic outlet.

Jason and his brother, Josh Duren, started making hard ciders in their garage. They decided to make hard cider just to do something different from everyone else. There were no business aspirations; it was just a therapeutic hobby. During a casual meet and greet with a major restaurant supply executive, Jason and brother Josh asked him to try their ciders just to get some feedback. The executive liked the ciders so much he tried purchasing kegs on the spot. The idea for Cider Corps was born that day, but it took two years to create the business plan, acquire funding, find a location and make it through the permitting process.

Cider Corps opened in 2017 in Mesa, AZ. Beyond making and selling great ciders, the Duren brothers’ business plan incorporated their desire to serve and give back to fellow veterans. Their mission statement: “Drink Great Cider. Honor Great Sacrifice.” Jason said, “Cider Corps is a catalyst to bring people together for the sake of bringing awareness to veterans and to veterans’ hardships, as well as their successes.”

Jason Duren

When visiting Cider Corps, you’ll find up to 15 different ciders on tap. Each cider is unique and can vary in style. Many incorporate locally-sourced ingredients, like prickly pear. No additional flavoring extracts or sugars other than what is provided by the apples or other fruits are used. And Cider Corps’ ciders are absolutely delicious and balanced.

Visiting Cider Corps in Mesa, AZ

The taproom is full of military-related items including a massive U.S. flag that hangs in the back as well as hand grenade tap handles. The bar top is made from purple-heart wood as homage to Jason’s Purple Heart. Just recently Cider Corps added a pizza kitchen, partnering with Myke’s Pizza (another local business).

When in Mesa, AZ or the greater Phoenix area, don’t miss visiting Ciders Corps where you can drink great cider while honoring great sacrifice. Be certain to try the Purple Heart cider. The brothers donate $1 from each pint of Purple Heart they sell to Mesa’s Veterans Resource Center.

Drink Great Cider. Honor Great Sacrifice.

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