Beer brewed to honor 'Sgt. Sinkhole'
SHERIDAN, Colo. — The Sheridan Police sergeant who climbed out of a sinkhole that swallowed his patrol car in June now has a story and a nickname he can't shake.
Boggy Draw Brewery in Sheridan honored Sgt. Greg Miller Tuesday night with the release of a new brew in Miller's honor. The light beer has a light-hearted name — "Sgt. Sinkhole."
The inspiration for the brew came from what happened to Miller on June 5. Miller was driving on West Oxford Avenue near River Point Parkway when a 15-foot sinkhole opened in the middle of the road.
"[He] had to crawl out on top of the car and actually reach up and grab the pavement and pull himself out," David Miera, owner of Boggy Draw Brewery, described.
Miller walked away from the accident with some bumps and bruises, but his patrol car was wrecked. The brewers at Boggy Draw found a way to patch things up.
"First, it was 'Let's invite him to come have a beer,'" head brewer Todd Williamson said. "Then, it became, 'Well, why don't you come in and do a beer?'"
Miller accepted the offer in August and helped brew "Sgt. Sinkhole" — a traditional Hefeweizen.
"He cleaned out the mash tun," Williamson said with a smile. "That's like everyone's least favorite job. You have the guy helping clean out the mash tun."
Three weeks later, "Sgt. Sinkhole" was released to a crowd at Boggy Draw Brewery. Miller and his wife, Jackie, were there Tuesday night to give it a taste.
"I like it! That's really good," Miller exclaimed after taking a sip.
As for the name of the brew, the police sergeant can't help but laugh.
"I'll have fun with it like anybody else," Miller said.