Local, legacy craft brewery Redhook has partnered with the Seattle Sounders as the official craft brewery. This according to a press release at www.BrewClick.com. The extent of the relationship will still be discovered, but with Redhook celebrating their 30th anniversary it is a strong sign for the team and the brewery to have a partnership.
"Partnering with our home team, the Seattle Sounders, seemed the perfect way to celebrate our 30th birthday as Seattle’s original craft brewer," said Robert Rentsch, brand manager for Redhook Ale Brewery. "We are psyched about the opportunity to give soccer fans the chance to root for their favorite team while drinking a great beer. We all know you can’t give your full 90 with a parched throat."
While this is small news to me it is an advancement. The Sounders get a craft beer partner (money) and get better beer into Qwest/CenturyLink Field. One should expect Redhook ESB, LongHammer IPA, Copperhook and probably some beer inspired by the team, because why not?
Sure there are smaller, craftier brews locally. But could they have afforded a sponsorship and navigated the legal issues with InBev's relationship with MLS through Anheuser-Busch? InBev has a distribution relationship with Redhook.