By WJBC Staff
NORMAL – Illinois State University is partnering with DESTIHL Brewery to launch two new officially licensed beers, the Redbird Ale and Battle Bird Lager.
Both beers will debut at ISU’s volleyball game this Friday and at the Homecoming football game on Saturday.
The University-branded craft beer was developed by DESTIHL in collaboration with ISU’s trademark licensing and athletic departments. Royalties from the sale of Redbird Ale and Battle Bird Lager will go back to the University to support a variety of initiatives.
“We recognize that growing the Illinois State Athletics brand is one of our top priorities and look at this partnership with DESTIHL as continued progress toward that goal,” Illinois State Deputy Director of Athletics Paul Kabbes said. “This partnership provides our fan base the opportunity to support our student-athletes in a unique way by supporting a great local business. Be on the lookout for Battle Bird Lager and Redbird Ale at a retail location near you soon.”
The beers will be available at Hancock Stadium and CEFCU Arena for Redbird Athletics events served by Sodexo Live and at DESTIHL Brewery’s Beer Hall and DESTIHL Restaurant. The beers will also be made available through local retailers, bars, and restaurants that want to join in support of Illinois State and Redbird Athletics.
“Our team at DESTIHL is thrilled to partner on two new officially licensed beers with Illinois State University,” DESTIHL Founder and Chief Executive Officer Matt Potts said. “We look forward to making these beers available to Redbird fans and alumni and cannot wait to be part of the gameday experience at Illinois State athletic events. Given our deep roots in the Bloomington-Normal community, we are proud to support the University and student-athletes through the production and sales of Redbird Ale and Battle Bird Lager.”
Redbird Ale is an American red ale brewed in celebration of the Illinois State Redbirds. It is the first beer ever brewed by DESTIHL just before opening its first brewpub location in Normal in 2007, and it has been brewed ever since then. The beer has a medium caramel malt sweetness balanced by pleasant hop bitterness, aroma, and flavor, with an ABV of 5.3%.
Battle Bird Lager is a refreshing Munich Helles-Style Lager with a radiant golden hue, delicate malt sweetness with light biscuit attributes, low bitterness, and a subtle noble-hop flavor that imparts a gentle floral aroma, all resulting in a light-bodied brew with a smooth, crisp finish with an ABV of 5.1%.
