Lance Rice, a 55 year old man from Vermillion, Ohio, is a gifted beer historian. Lance has a photographic memory and a passion for all things beer and brewery related. He has spent over 40 years of his life collecting facts as well as memorabilia related to beer and brewing in America. His dream is to travel around the United States to visit all of the breweries that he has studied and then compile this information into a beautiful encyclopedic collection reflecting his vast knowledge of the American beer culture, past and present. Lance also happens to be autistic.
With the help of his nephew, Aaron Rice, Lance’s dream is coming true. Aaron, who has been living in Los Angeles for a few years working as a TV writer, developed a Kickstarter campaign earlier this year to raise funds to help Lance visit breweries. Aaron is also documenting Lance’s journey with a film produced by his production company, Rare Brain Studios. Lance’s Brewery Tour kicked off in Cleveland, Ohio at Great Lakes Brewing Company on June 20th and rolled into Downingtown, PA.’s Victory Brewing Company on July 3rd where I had the pleasure to meet both Lance and Aaron.
Lance spent his day at Victory getting a rare behind the scenes look at the brewing operation while sampling several of Victory’s finest beer offerings. When I met up with him in the brewpub during a fundraising happy hour, it was hard to miss his smile and it warmed my heart to see how happy he appeared. When I asked about his favorite style of beer, he didn’t hesitate at all, “I like porters, stouts, lagers, ales and cream ales,” confirming to me that this gentleman’s brew palate is as extensive as his knowledge of beer facts. I asked him which brewery was his favorite so far on his tour and he was ever so politically correct by telling me, “I like them all the same.”
The crew from Victory went out of their way to make Lance and his team feel at home and even offered a toast officially welcoming them to the brewery. During the toast, Matt Kreuger, Victory’s Vice President of Retail Operations, told all the attendees that Lance’s Brewery Tour was not only helping him achieve his dream of writing a book about beer but helping him accomplish developmental goals as well. Lance has a fear of enclosed spaces and heights and walking up a long flight of stairs by himself had been something that Lance would have previously refused to do. While at Victory, Lance completed this task without any assistance and without any fear. This was just one small personal victory at Victory!
As the happy hour continued, I was sitting with some friends at a table next to Lance. Suddenly, he stood up and approached our table. He looked directly at one of my companions, Michael, and said, “My name is Lance, I don’t think we have been introduced.” Michael stood up immediately and offered Lance a handshake and an introduction and we all began a conversation. We talked about Lance’s trip so far, some of his plans for future brewery visits, his impending visit to Philadelphia the next day and, of course, beer.
At the end of our talk, Aaron told us that something amazing had just happened. Lance had never approached a stranger and started a conversation before. This was no small victory, but rather a huge leap in development. Aaron explained that Lance had always been considered very low functioning, was diagnosed as severely mentally retarded and was treated with methods that are inhumane and illegal now. After being institutionalized in the mid-1960’s, Lance’s family was told to accept his limitations, that he would forever be slow, anti-social and unable to connect with others. Aaron stated, “for the first time in his life Lance has left behind his routines, his mother and the comforts of his home to pursue a dream and inspire others with autism.” He told us that he has witnessed more developmental growth in his uncle in just 2 weeks on the road than in all of Lance’s 55 years.
It was at this moment that I realized how important Lance’s Brewery Tour is, not just to Lance, but to everyone who has the opportunity to meet this remarkable man. To dream a dream for so long and to achieve your dream is one thing, but to grow in immeasurable ways and to affect everyone you meet along the journey is the true gift.
Lance’s Brewery Tour only has enough funds to reach a small number of destinations, but you can help Lance continue his remarkable journey. Donate directly via paypal (100% goes to fund the tour), purchase an official Lance’s Brewery Tour T-shirt at The Brew Store, or give via the Kickstarter campaign.
View the first trailer for Lance’s Brewery Tour below.
Photography credited to Nina Lea Photography.
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