Local Brewery Destihl Celebrates Homecoming with Two New Beers

NORMAL, Ill. – In a collaboration with Illinois State University, Destihl launched two new beers over the Homecoming weekend.

“We’ve been working on trying to get something done in partnership with ISU,” Bob Ryan, director of sales for Destihl said. “We’re really, really happy that it came together this year.”

The local brewery partnered with ISU to launch two brand new flavors of beer: Red Bird Ale and Battle Bird Lager. Both beers debuted at the Redbird volleyball game against Murray State this past Friday.

“Really just being a part of the community in Bloomington-Normal and supporting our friends and our customers,” Ryan said about the goal of this partnership. “We’ve had a close association with the university for many years, so it felt like the natural thing to do would be to do something together, and also do something that benefits the university.”

Royalties made from the sale of the beers will go back to the university to support Redbird Athletics as well as several other initiatives within ISU. Redbird Ale and Battle Bird Lager are currently available at local bars, restaurants and retailers.

“Beyond Homecoming we’re going to keep the beers in production to make them a regular year-round item that you see in your local stores, bars and restaurants,” Ryan said. “We want to keep it going all the time.”

Along with supporting local farms, Destihl believes in being an environmentally responsible business.

“Our founder and owner Matt Potts grew up in a farming family and his family still operates a farm. In fact, we work closely with the Illinois Farm Bureau, we’re doing a beer with them coming up at the end of the year using Illinois grown hops. Any chance we get to team up with the community in any way we can, it all does boil down to giving back to the community and supporting the local businesses and institutions.”