PORTLAND, Ore. – Rogue Ales & Spirits will launch a new Pilots Pale Ale this week as a tribute to the brewery's ties to the University of Portland. Rogue's innovation brewer Danny Connors is a former Pilot men's soccer player, while director of marketing Anna Abatzoglou was a volleyball player on The Bluff.
The Pilots Pale Ale will have a soft launch on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 4 p.m. at the Pilot House on the University of Portland campus. Rogue Ales will have a tap takeover and there will be a 'Meet the Brewer' opportunity with Danny Connors from 4-6 p.m.
Rogue Pilots Pale Ale will launch officially at the men's basketball regular season opener against Portland State on Saturday, Nov. 11. The Pilot House will host a Rogue Tap Takeover beginning at 5 p.m. with another 'Meet the Brewer' opportunity.
"It's an honor and privilege to brew Pilots Pale Ale," said Rogue innovation brewer and former Portland Pilot Danny Connors. "School spirit never graduates."
Chiles Center doors open at 6 p.m. for the 7 p.m. tip-off, and the Pilots Pale Ale will be served in the upper mezzanine beer garden for all home games this as well as the upcoming Pilots baseball home schedule. Rogue will have a booth at the main lobby on Saturday with samples and information about the Pilots Pale Ale.
In addition to its availability during home games and on campus, Pilots Pale Ale will also be distributed locally to all Rogue Portland pubs and other establishments after its initial launch.
"I'm very excited about this partnership with Rogue Ales, and specifically, the connection with two of our former student athletes," University of Portland Vice President for Athletics Scott Leykam said. "We are very excited for the launch at this Saturday's men's basketball season opener."
Be sure to tune in to Portside with the Pilots on Wednesday at 9 p.m. on NBC Sports Northwest for a behind-the-scenes look at how Pilots Pale Ale came to be.
See below for complete details about the Pilots Pale Ale.
Pilots Pale Ale, created by Rogue Ales & Spirits
For Pilots, by Pilots
The Story: Dedicated to Portland's college on the bluff, Pilots Pale Ale is a tribute to the University of Portland's mascot, the riverboat Pilots. Charged with providing their alma-mater its very own brew, two former Portland Pilots, who now work at Rogue Ales, Danny Connors and Anna Abatzoglou, created Pilots Pale Ale. Hazy golden in color with citrus and blueberry on the nose, Pilots Pale Ale delivers an initial fruity hop flavor, slight malt sweetness that ends with a crisp bitterness. Sessionable, aromatic and downright delicious, Pilots Pale Ale is the go-to beer for game day or catching up with your old college roommate.
Rogue Ales & Spirits
Rogue Ales & Spirits is an agri-fermenter founded in Oregon in 1988 as one of America's first microbreweries. Rogue has won more than 1,800 awards for taste, quality and packaging and is available in all 50 states as well as 54 countries. Since 2008, Rogue has remained committed to saving the terroir of Oregon hops, barley, rye, wheat, marionberries, honey, cucumbers, and pumpkins one acre at a time by growing its own.
