Deschutes Brewery Releases Rip City Lager in Partnership with Portland Trail Blazers

As the NBA returns to attempt to finish its 2019-2020 season that was interrupted in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Portland Trail Blazers have a new brewery partner with Deschutes Brewery to close out the team’s 50th season in the association.

In recent years the Blazers pinwheel logo has been featured on beers from Pyramid Brewing and Widmer Brothers Brewing. Now when the extended 8 final regular season games are played inside the bubble in Orlando, Florida, Blazer fans will be able to grab a growler Rip City Lager at Deschutes Brewery Public Houses to enjoy while cheering on the Blazers on NBC Sports Northwest.

Rip City Lager takes its name from the phrase made famous by the one and only Bill Schonely while broadcasting a late game rally during the Blazers inaugural season in 1970. This new beer collaboration extends the partnership that Deschutes established with the Blazers as the presenting sponsor of the 2019-2020 Portland Trail Blazers Radio Network.

“We’re ecstatic that the Blazers get to restart the 2019-20 season,” said Neal Stewart, VP of Sales and Marketing for Deschutes, in a statement. “As lifelong Blazers fans, all of us at Deschutes are so proud of this partnership and the opportunity to share the official Rip City Lager with fellow fans to celebrate our beloved Pacific Northwest team.”

Ever since Schonely gleefully yelled out Rip City during the Blazers inaugural season, the saying has been associated with the team and the entire city of Portland.

Rip City Lager pays homage to Portland’s basketball heritage for the past 50 years. Expect a bright, citrusy lager that’s crisp and clean for ultimate drinkability. “Sports fans have a more sophisticated beer culture these days,” Stewart continued in a statement. “Fans want a great tasting, high quality craft beer that they can enjoy throughout the game.”

Brewed to be the perfect beer for watching the Blazers, the packaging is adorned in true Rip City fashion as it features plaid cans in salute to Dr. Jack Ramsay, the Blazers’ longtime coach who led the team to the NBA title in 1977. Two designs, “home” and “away” jersey are featured on the forthcoming cans of Rip City Lager that will be available in September.

Rip City Lager is brewed with a base of Pilsner Malt, Unmalted Wheat and Rice and is hopped with Lemondrop, Crystal, and Hallertau Mittelfruh Hops. The beer sits at 4.8% ABV AND 20 IBUs.

“Deschutes has been an Oregon staple for over 30 years, and we’re honored to be a part of their journey,” said Chris McGowan, President and CEO of the Trail Blazers and Rose Quarter, in a statement. “From the name to the can design to the packaging, the Rip City Lager doesn’t miss a detail and is a perfect partnership for our of-age fans.”

Deschutes is confident this continued partnership, coupled with the release of Rip City Lager, will enable the brewery to reach their beer-loving sports fans whether tailgating, watching from a barstool, or the comfort of their couch during televised games, and will be waiting for them at Blazers games as soon as they’re back at Moda Center. Best of all, Rip City Lager will continue into the 2020-2021 season.

Rip City Lager is now available on draft at Deschutes Pubs and the Bend Tasting Room. Then in September, Rip City Lager will be available in 6pk, 12pk, 24pk and 19.2oz tallboys at select accounts in Oregon and Washington.