Pair of officially licensed and co-branded craft beers to be celebrated at December Launch Party
KINGSTON, R.I. – Rhode Island Athletics and Newport Craft Brewing and Distilling Company have released a pair of officially licensed, co-branded craft beers featuring Rhode Island Rams marks through a partnership facilitated by exclusive multimedia rights holder Rhody Sports Properties.
Rhody Ruckus Lager – a clean, crisp and light beer with 4.6% ABV that’s perfect for supporting the Rams all game-day long – and Rhody Ram IPA – a tropical, hazy hop bomb with 7.0% ABV for those fans who stay glued to the game – will be unveiled at a special event at Newport Craft’s brewery in Newport, R.I. on Tuesday, Dec. 3.
“We at Newport Craft Brewing and Distilling are thrilled to announce our partnership with the University of Rhode Island and launch Rhody Ruckus Lager and Rhody Ram IPA for the 2024-25 Season,” Newport Craft Brewing and Distilling CEO Brendan O’Donnell said. “This partnership is a testament to our shared vision of excellence and our dedication to fostering growth and innovation in Rhode Island.”
As a result of the partnership between Newport Craft Brewing and Distilling and Rhody Sports Properties, Rhody Ruckus Lager and Rhody Ram IPA will be distributed and sold throughout the state. Both products will be sold at home games in the Ryan Center, starting with the in-state rivalry game against Providence on Saturday, Dec. 7.
“This is an opportunity to reach our Rhody alumni base in a unique way while also supporting the local economy,” Rhode Island Director of Athletics Thorr Bjorn said. “As the landscape of college athletics changes before our eyes, we continue to develop partnerships that help support the mission of Rhody Athletics.”
As part of the partnership, Newport Craft and Rhody Athletics developed an early Black Friday deal. With any mini-plan season ticket purchase, fans will receive a four-pack of either Rhody Ruckus Lager or Rhody Ram IPA that will be available for pickup after the launch party. The special deal runs from Nov. 19 through Dec. 2.
Portions of the sales of Rhody Ruckus Lager and Rhody Ram IPA will benefit both the University of Rhode Island and the Rhody Excellence NIL collective.
Fans are invited to join the Dec. 3 launch party festivities at Newport Craft’s brewery – located at 293 JT Connell Highway in Newport – from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Tickets for the event – which is being sponsored by the Mews Tavern – are $20. All tickets purchased include a voucher for a pour and a commemorative pint glass.
“Having the chance to align Newport Craft with the university through the creation of two great products made specifically for the URI fanbase has been such a fun and exciting opportunity,” Rhody Sports Properties General Manager Matthew Swiss added. “We’re so thankful to the team at Newport Craft for their ongoing support, and we can’t wait for our fans to get their first taste of Rhody Ruckus Lager and Rhody Ram IPA inside the Ryan Center and elsewhere throughout the state.”
Newport Craft and Rhode Island Athletics worked closely to develop this partnership with athletics multimedia rights holder Rhody Sports Properties, the locally based team of Learfield – the media and technology company powering college athletics – and CLC, a division of Learfield and Rhode Island’s exclusive trademark licensing agent.
About Learfield
Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield’s presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.