A NEW BREW FOR A NEW STADIUM
The story of the Old Aggie and CSU, a unique partnership between beer and higher education. »3B
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FORT COLLINS» Pop quiz: What kind of beer tastes best from the stands of a college football game or the tailgate of a truck outside the stadium?
For Colorado State fans, the answer hasn’t always been found in the can or a bottle from a craft brewery, which often dominate the beer marketplace with dark, heavy and sour brews.
New Belgium aims to change that by embracing the yellow and fizzy, traditional all-malt lager more easily digested by Rams’ faithful. Its partnership with CSU in donating $4 million for the oncampus stadium’s New Belgium Porch — a sold-out premium seating section on the north concourse offered to season ticket holders for an additional $200 — spurred the creation of a university-specific brew, and thus, Old Aggie Superior Lager was born.
Prominently featuring a retro Rams head logo with orange curling horns on the label, it carries the same brand as CSU’s orange throwback uniforms to honor its Colorado A&M Aggie history, and has already made its way onto university merchandise such as tshirts and pint glasses. Cody Reif, one of more than 100 CSU graduates working for New Belgium, led the development and brewing of Old Aggie.
“I would call it a craftier lager than most of the premium brands,” said Tom Milligan, CSU vice president for external relations, who also served as a judge at the U.S. Open Beer Championships the past two years. “They maintained a high emphasis on the drinkability for hot summer days and football games.”
From New Belgium’s website: “Brewed with the finest malts and brightest hops, this beer floats subtly sweet honeycomb notes across the tongue, while a citrusy snap of Cascade and Chinook hops punctuates each delightful sip.”
Demand has been high since Old Aggie’s July 1 debut as it makes its way into liquor stores across the Front Range, although it will be limited to Colorado. Portions of its sales will be divided between CSU’s Fermentation Science and Technology Program, athletics and alcohol awareness and education efforts for students.
CSU athletic director Joe Parker bought a 12-pack the week after Old Aggie hit the market and posted a photo of its packaging on his Twitter account (@JoeParkerCSU), which created an instant buzz with fans. It will be available at concession stands Saturday for the home opener.
“It’s a very comfortable, smooth-drinking beer,” Parker said.