I like beer. I also like sports. In NY, there is a pair of guys that a pretty much king…Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton. They host the Boomer & Carton morning show on WFAN-NY and CBS Sports [TV] Network, the top sports radio channel in the US. They are hysterical and work very well together. Given their local juice, they also wield some heavy influence. As far as beer, Smithwick’s is a favorite of mine. I visited the 300 year-old brewery in Ireland a few months back and didn’t want to leave! That’s why it’s nice to see these two favorites teaming up to do something good for American Veteran’s.
Smithwick’s is collaborating with Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton to release Smithwick’s Blonde Ale and to make a contribution in support of the Veterans Education Challenge, a charity that helps veterans attend college by providing scholarships not covered by the GI Bill. Supporting veterans’ rights to earn an opportunity for higher education has always been at the heart of the organization, and the contribution from Smithwick’s, as well as the awareness generated by the new beer’s limited time release, will go toward making this a reality.
The beer as debuted last night in NYC and here are some of the top quotes of the night:
From Boomer:
“Last year, I had the chance to travel to Ireland to meet with the Smithwick’s team at the brewing site and help the brewers create a batch of Smithwick’s Blonde Ale.”
“From the first time I sampled Smithwick’s Blonde Ale, I knew Craig and I had to be a part of it. Smithwick’s has an amazing track record with creating quality beers, and we couldn’t be more excited to collaborate with such a longstanding brewer and a great foundation. It’s a win-win.”
From Craig:
“Over the years, Boomer and I have worked with different charities to help give back to causes important in their lives as well as our own,” said Carton “We’ve always enjoyed working with Diageo in the past, and we thought this Smithwick’s collaboration was the perfect fit for us.”
From Avis Richards, Founder of the Veterans Education Challenge:
“These service men and women loyally defend our country and often go on to serve in both the public and private sectors. It is our duty to help them achieve their educational goals. We are very excited to pair with such a supportive partner, Diageo, and to receive support from the likes of Boomer and Carton to help spread the word about the Veterans Education Challenge.”
These pics aren’t great since the event was very low key, but it just shows how down to earth these guys are. Good stuff.
With more than 300 years of brewing experience and a focus on delivering premium beer to be enjoyed responsibly, Smithwick’s created Blonde Ale with Polaris hops for a delicate, refreshing-tasting ale with a smooth finish. The golden, crisp session ale gives off a citrus and floral aroma with hints of grapefruit and provides subtle malty biscuit flavors, with an ABV of 4.1% and 18 IBUs.
Smithwick’s brewery was founded in 1710 in Kilkenny, Ireland, and Smithwick’s remains the country’s oldest and best-selling ale. Almost 300 years into its history, Smithwick’s first came to the U.S. in 2004 and has become an iconic Irish brand in America.
Smithwick’s Blonde Ale is a limited-supply release available in the New York metro area only, for a manufacturer’s suggested six-pack retail price of $9.99 and only while supplies last. Whether it’s Smithwick’s Blonde Ale with Boomer and Carton this winter, or Smithwick’s Red Ale come March 17, remember to enjoy your beer responsibly.
Get on it…and support a great cause, too.
To find out more about Smithwick’s, check out:
To find out more about Veteran’s Education Challenge, check out:
- VeteransEducationChallenge.com
- Twitter.com/vetedchallenge
- Facebook.com/VeteransEducationChallenge
- Instagram.com/veteranseducationchallenge
1 comment
THAT is fully awesome. Our vets deserve to be remembered and helped. They’ve sacrificed everything for us from their time to their families to their physical and mental health.