At the end of last month, Deschutes Brewery announced Rip City Lager, its co-branded beer in partnership with the Portland Trail Blazers NBA basketball team. Available initially on draft, the brewery is rolling out cans of Rip City across Oregon and Washington starting September 1st. And, the brewery sent me four cans of the beer yesterday.

It’s the possible eve of the Trail Blazers’ run in the shortened NBA season as I write this, with the team slated to take on the Lakers in what could be the final game of the Western Conference, with the Lakers up 3-1.

Deschutes is the latest craft brewery to partner with the team; in previous years, Pyramid Brewing and Widmer Brothers Brewing both had the honors. With Rip City, Deschutes has crafted a rice lager that is 4.8% ABV and 20 IBUs. Rice joins pilsner malt and unmalted wheat for a light grain bill, and the beer is hopped with Lemondrop, Crystal, and Hallertau Mittelfruh hops.

Here’s the press release that accompanied the brews:

Deschutes Brewery, a family and employee owned craft brewer founded in Oregon in 1988, today unveiled the launch of Rip City Lager, a specialty release in partnership with the Portland Trail Blazers to coincide with the revival of the NBA’s season. Deschutes, the presenting sponsor of the Portland Trail Blazers Radio Network since 2019, has created this custom co-branded beer for Blazer fans in celebration of the fellow Northwest icon releasing this September.

“We’re ecstatic that the Blazers get to restart the 2019-20 season,” said Neal Stewart, VP of Sales and Marketing for Deschutes. “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.”

Coined during the Trail Blazers very first season, “Rip City” has become synonymous with Portland’s home team. Rip City Lager, an ode to this Portland heritage, is a bright, citrusy lager that’s crisp and clean for ultimate drinkability. “Sports fans have a more sophisticated beer culture these days,” Stewart continues. “Fans want a great tasting, high quality craft beer that they can enjoy throughout the game.”

Specially brewed with watching the games in mind, the packaging is adorned in true Rip City fashion, featuring 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 cans, will be available in 6 packs, 12 packs and 24 packs in the market.

“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. “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.

Rip City Lager features Lemondrop, Crystal and Hallertau Mittlefruh hops and is 4.8% ABV and 20 IBU. Available on draft at Deschutes Pubs and Bend Tasting Room in August, Rip City Lager will then release in 6pk, 12pk, 24pk and 19.2oz tallboys at select accounts in Oregon and Washington in September.

I’ll report on how it drinks soon.