Portland, Oregon’s Great Notion Brewing has struck a multi-year partnership agreement with the Portland Trail Blazers that will lead to the craft brewery’s flagship Ripe IPA to be sold at the NBA franchise’s home arena, the Moda Center.
Ripe IPA cans will feature a Moda Center-exclusive label starring Great Notion’s skeleton character Moss playing basketball.
“Great Notion is a staple in Portland beers and a perfect fit as a partner with the Trail Blazers,” Chris McGowan, president and CEO of the Trail Blazers and Rose Quarter, said in the release. “Their one-of-a-kind brand identity merged with our Pacific Northwest-rooted Trail Blazers brand will not only bring Rip City fans great beer, but a partnership like you’ve never seen.”
The partnership will launch at Great Notion’s Northwest 28th Street Portland location on September 19, with the new Ripe cans available on-site. Co-branded merchandise featuring Moss’ image, including hats, T-shirts, and crewneck sweatshirts, will be released as well.
Additionally, Great Notion consumers will have the chance to receive “exclusive discounts” on Blazers tickets, according to the release.
This is not the Blazers’ first beer partnership. In September 2020, the Blazers launched Rip City Lager, a partnership beer with Bend, Oregon’s Deschutes Brewery. Deschutes has been a presenting sponsor of the Blazers Radio Network since 2019.
“We’re huge fans of Rip City, and we’re stoked to partner with the Blazers and share our Ripe IPA with fans,” Paul Reiter, Great Notion’s co-founder and CEO, said in the release.
“Our goal is to keep beer fun,” he added. “We do this by continuing to introduce innovative flavors and beer styles to our fans, as well as in the marketing. Partnering with the Blazers takes this fun and excitement to a whole new level.”
Ripe will also be on tap in Great Notion’s five taprooms throughout Portland and Seattle, and will be available for shipping, delivery, and pick-up through the Great Notion mobile app.
In June, the brewery expanded shipping through its app to include Ohio, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, North Dakota, Vermont, New Hampshire, Kentucky, Virginia, Nevada, as well as Washington, D.C., and Anchorage, Alaska. They began shipping within Oregon and to neighboring Washington earlier in the year.
Great Notion also established a partnership with Doordash earlier this year, allowing it to expand delivery to consumers in Portland and Seattle within a 10-mile radius of any Great Notion taproom.