GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Thanksgiving 2015 in Green Bay will not just be known for its turkey and traditions, but as the day Packers legend Brett Favre will have his jersey retired and name added to the team’s ring of honor.
But Number 4 can add something else to his list of honors before that — a craft beer.
Badger State Brewing Company says before Favre’s return to Titletown, they will unveil a one-time, commemorative beer dubbed “4ward Pass”.
“What we really wanted to do was feature a specific hop in there, known as Warrior hops, and we thought that would pay testament to Favre’s ironman legacy and mentality,” says Andrew Fabry, President and Founder of Badger State Brewing Company.
The beer itself is an India Pale Ale brewed with Cajun spices.
“To pay homage to Brett’s being from down south in Mississippi,” says Fabry, adding that you can’t call this a “Chile Beer”.
“The resulting beer is a really nice, smooth IPA where you get a Cayenne kick on your tongue midway through drinking and then it finishes back kind of malty and slightly hoppy again,” describes Fabry. “So it’s a really nice combination of hops and flavors that we feel we’ve put together.”
4ward Pass will be available at Badger State’s Tap Room starting Wednesday Nov. 18 at 1 p.m. and available for one week prior to Favre’s jersey induction ceremony at Lambeau Field. It will also be available at craft retail outlets the week of Thanksgiving, wherever Badger State beers are sold.
The brewery says only 44 cases of 4ward Pass will be available to purchase and select Green Bay area locations will also have it available.
Locations will be announced on the brewery’s Facebook page.
It will be sold in 25.3 oz. (750ml) celebration bottles at 7% ABV.
“We actually use this bottle for all of our specialty releases, because we like the look, it adds to the ambiance,” says Fabry. “If you’re going to bring it to a party, or share it with someone, we like the contour, shape and design.”
Demand is expected to be high for this limited edition beer, so will Fabry be convinced to keep this recipe going?
“I can guarantee you that this will be the only time we will produce this,” says Fabry. “We will see where that demand lands, and we’re open and capable of producing a second run of the same beer prior to the Christmas holiday. That way, if there’s people who want to get a bottle who may not have gotten one, we want to be good to our customers.”
Bottom line, according to Fabry, is the beer is meant for people to share and celebrate what Brett Favre did for Green Bay and its people.
