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Go Illini! DESTIHL Brewery & ICON Collective Unleash ILL-IPA and Oskee Light for Fighting Illini Gamedays

August 21, 2024 by Dow Scoggins

CHAMPAIGN, IL – Illinois fans, get ready to cheer louder (and sip smarter)! ICON Collective has teamed up with DESTIHL Brewery—the award-winning, Illinois-alum-founded craft powerhouse based in Normal, IL—to launch two official Illini beers just in time for the 2024 football season opener against Eastern Illinois on August 29. Meet ILL-IPA, a bold, citrus-hopped India Pale Ale, and Oskee Light, a crisp, crushable premium light lager—both brewed to fuel game-day spirit and directly support Fighting Illini student-athletes through NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) funding.
Available first at Memorial Stadium for football and State Farm Center for basketball, these orange-and-blue brews will also hit select Champaign-Urbana bars, restaurants, and retailers in early September. Thanks to DESTIHL’s massive distribution network—covering Chicagoland, the entire state of Illinois, and nearly 40 states nationwide—Illini fans from coast to coast can raise a glass in support. Use the DESTIHL Beer Finder to track them down. A portion of every sale goes straight to ICON, powering NIL opportunities that help Illinois athletes compete at the highest level.

“This is NIL done right—fun, local, and fan-powered,” said ICON President & CEO Kathleen Knight. “DESTIHL’s Illinois roots and brewing excellence make them the perfect partner to bring Illini pride to every pint.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome DESTIHL as a Proud Partner of Illinois Athletics,” said Rob Louthain, GM of Fighting Illini Sports Properties. “Their quality, reach, and Illini passion mean fans everywhere can enjoy great beer while backing our student-athletes,” added Parish Mason, FISP Business Development Manager.

“Orange and blue isn’t just a color—it’s family,” said DESTIHL Founder & CEO Matt Potts, an Illinois grad alongside his wife and two kids. “We poured our craft and our hearts into ILL-IPA and Oskee Light. Now, let’s drink up, cheer loud, and send the Illini to victory!”

Want to go all in? Join ICON for Illini (individual memberships) or the ICON Business Coalition (corporate support) for exclusive perks and direct impact. Visit ICONforIllini.com or follow @ICONforIllini on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

For more information about Fighting Illini Athletics, please visit its website at www.fightingillini.com, and for more information about DESTIHL, please visit its website at www.DESTIHL.com.

National Aviation Day’s Craft Beer of the Day: Flyer Red Lager Brewed by Warped Wing Brewing in Dayton, Ohio

August 19, 2024 by Dow Scoggins

Warped Wing Flyer Red American Red Lager
Flyer Red is an American Red Lager crafted by Warped Wing Brewing Company, located in Dayton, Ohio. This beer, with an ABV of 4.5% and an IBU of 12, is a year-round offering available in draft, 6-pack 12 oz cans, and as part of Warped Wing’s Lager Party Pack. It celebrates Ohio’s rich aviation history, paying homage to pioneers like the Wright Brothers, Neil Armstrong, John Glenn, and the presence of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The beer’s name and red, white, and blue can design reflect this patriotic theme, embodying the spirit of innovation and determination. Thus, the perfect beer for National Aviation Day!

Tasting Notes
Appearance: Pours a reddish-amber or golden-amber color with a light khaki or off-white head. The head may dissipate quickly, with minimal lacing and good carbonation. Some pours may appear yeast-hazed.
Aroma: Features a clean, slightly sweet profile with notes of toasted bread crust, caramelized malts, sweet yellow bread, and gentle floral or grassy hops. Some reviewers note a slight sour or metallic scent in certain batches.
Taste: Balanced and smooth, with a light to moderate malt character. Expect hints of toffee, bready sweetness, and a touch of caramel. A mild hop bitterness provides a dry finish, though some find the flavor understated or slightly metallic.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied, crisp, and highly drinkable, making it a “crushable” lager ideal for casual sipping.
Food Pairings: Complements shellfish, light seafood, sushi, grilled pork or chicken, Southeast Asian, Latin, Mexican, and spicy dishes. Its versatility suits not-too-heavy pasta dishes as well.

National Aviation Day
National Aviation Day, observed annually on August 19 in the United States, celebrates the pioneering spirit of aviation and its transformative impact on society. Established in 1939 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the date coincides with Orville Wright’s birthday, honoring the Wright brothers’ historic contributions to powered flight. The day recognizes the advancements in aviation technology, from the Wright Flyer’s first flight in 1903 to modern jets and spacecraft, highlighting how aviation has connected the world, revolutionized transportation, and expanded human exploration.

The significance of National Aviation Day extends beyond commemorating past achievements; it also inspires future innovation. Aviation has shaped global economies, enabling rapid travel and cargo transport, while military aviation has redefined defense strategies. Events on this day, such as airshows, museum exhibits, and educational programs, engage the public in celebrating pilots, engineers, and scientists who push the boundaries of what’s possible. It’s a moment to reflect on milestones like the moon landing and the rise of commercial aviation, which have made the world more accessible and interconnected.

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August 18 is National Honey Bee Day : Celebrate with some Bee Line Honey Blonde Ale

August 18, 2024 by Dow Scoggins

This National Honey Bee Day (third Saturday in August), craft beer lovers and backyard gardeners alike are raising a glass to the hardest-working MVPs in the food chain: honey bees, the pollinators responsible for one out of every three bites we eat. Started in 2009 by a small group of passionate American beekeepers and officially recognized by the USDA, the day is all about celebrating bees, spreading real talk on colony collapse, and getting everyone from kids to brewers involved in saving them.

Fun (and slightly mind-blowing) fact: it takes roughly 2 million flower visits for a hive to make just one pound of honey. That means every pour of Track 7 Brewing’s fan-favorite Bee Line Honey Blonde Ale represents about 260 million tiny bee flights—talk about liquid gold earned the hard way!

“National Honey Bee Day brings together beekeepers, brewers, schools, and neighborhoods to turn awareness into real action,” say the folks at Pennsylvania Apiculture Inc., the nonprofit that’s steered the celebration since 2010. The best part? Anyone can join for free: plant native wildflowers, ditch the harsh pesticides, buy local honey (or a honey beer), or just share a bee-friendly post. Small moves, massive impact—one flower, one pint, one hive at a time. Save the bees, then toast them

National Honey Bee Day
National Honey Bee Day, celebrated every third Saturday in August, is the one day America collectively says “thank you” to the tiny superheroes that pollinate one-third of everything we eat and make every honey-infused craft beer possible. Started in 2009 by a handful of passionate U.S. beekeepers and officially recognized by the USDA, the day is all about raising awareness for honey bee conservation, supporting local beekeepers, and turning backyards into pollinator paradises. Fun fact that will blow your mind next time you sip a honey blonde ale: a single colony has to visit more than two million flowers to produce just one pound of honey! Whether you plant native wildflowers, skip the pesticides, buy raw local honey, or crack open a bee-friendly brew like Track 7 Bee Line, Five Threads Honey Kolsch, or Rogue Honey Kolsch, every little actions on National Honey Bee Day help keep hives healthy and our plates (and pints) full. Save the bees, then raise a glass to them, cheers!

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Asbury Park Brewery Releases ‘Stay Lucky’

August 13, 2024 by Dustin Scoggins

ASBURY PARK, NJ — Asbury Park Brewery is back with their fourth limited-edition beer collaboration with a musician. This one is a beer called “Stay Lucky” which gets its name from The Gaslight Anthem song off of their American Slang album.

The collaboration came along when the band’s lead singer Brian Fallon expressed his love for the brewery’s Sea Dragon IPA and the idea of collaborating on a beer came to life. This launch comes ahead of The Gaslight Anthem’s performance on Friday, August 16th at The Stone Pony Summer Stage.

Stay Lucky is available until it’s sold out and can only be purchased at the brewery’s tasting room at 614 Cookman Ave, Asbury Park, NJ. It’ll be available in 4-pack, 16oz cans for $15.99 and on tap at the tasting room. Stay Lucky is a 6.5% ABV hazy IPA with aromas of peach and mango. The flavor is described as a hoppy beer with haze, low bitterness, mango, tangerine, citrus and a little dank.

The collaboration will also give back to the music community, a portion of proceeds from sales of Stay Lucky will go to Red House Music & Rehearsal Studio, a music school located in New Jersey.

Asbury Park Brewery previously collaborated with The Front Bottoms, Jack Antonoff, and Panic! At The Disco on limited-edition beer releases.

About Asbury Park Brewery

Asbury Park Brewery is located at 614 Cookman Avenue in Asbury Park, New Jersey. The space spans 3,180 square feet and features the brewery and tasting room. It is open 7 days per week. A total of 12 beers are on tap and will allow growler and crowler fills, takeout can sales and merchandise. The award-winning beer selection includes a combination of year-round, seasonal and new releases. Customers can enjoy live performances from musicians in the tasting room and are able to book the location for private events.

For more information please visit https://www.asburyparkbrewery.com/

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StormBreaker Brewing will Release 17 Fresh Hop Beers

August 12, 2024 by Dustin Scoggins

North Portland’s StormBreaker Brewing has become known for their pop culture referencing beers and neighborhood favorite pubs, but it may be the hop harvest season that has them digging deepest into their tanks for an incredible rollout of releases. This 2024 hop harvest season, StormBreaker Brewing anticipates releasing 17 or more fresh hop beers in a variety of beer styles.

StormBreaker Brewing has gained significant recognition for its fresh hop offerings, earning a total of seven medals over the past two years at prestigious events such as the Best of Craft and Oregon Beer Awards. The brewery’s celebrated brews include Fresh Hop Nobody Puts Hazy in a Corner, Triple Double Imperial IPA (2022 + 2023), Ella Rose Hazy IPA, Fresh Hop It Don’t Drop It Hazy IPA, Mississippi Red, and Set Freshies to Haze Hazy IPA.

This year, fans can look forward to the release of Fresh Hop Total ReKolsch and Handfuls of Fresh Hops between 08/16-08/20. These highly anticipated beers are expected to sell out quickly, so beer enthusiasts are encouraged to visit the pub promptly to enjoy these limited-edition brews.

For those who prefer to enjoy their fresh hop beers at home, StormBreaker Brewing is offering the option to pre-order fresh hop cans for takeout. This ensures that fans can secure their favorite fresh hop creations without missing out.

Don’t miss the chance to experience StormBreaker Brewing’s renowned fresh hop beers. Visit the brewery or place your pre-order today to be part of this exciting hop harvest season.

About StormBreaker Brewing

StormBreaker Brewing is an award-winning craft brewery co-founded in Portland, Oregon by Dan Malech and Rob Lutz in 2014. The brewery focuses on a wide range of craft beer and specialty craft cocktails and mocktails in two distinct locations, and strives to constantly produce innovative and high quality offerings.

For more information please visit https://www.stormbreakerbrewing.com/

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