Troy Aikman is Taking on Big Beer with EIGHT

Based in Austin, Texas, EIGHT light lager is coming to store shelves and on draft in Texas starting this February.

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman announced the launch of a new light beer offering set to hit the Texas market in February. EIGHT, described as an elite light lager and named after his jersey number, is brewed with 100% organic grains, Hallertau Taurus hops, with no additional adjuncts, fillers, or sugars, resulting in a beer with only 90 calories and 2.6 grams of carbohydrates, and 4% ABV. The company’s headquarters is in Austin; however, the beer is brewed at Faubourg Brewing Co. (formerly Dixie Brewing) in New Orleans.

“EIGHT is for the drinker who consistently puts in the hard work. These folks, myself included, are conscious of what we put in our bodies, and options for a light, refreshing beer that’s brewed with organic ingredients are virtually non-existent,” said Aikman. “Taking the time to reflect and celebrate is critical when you’re constantly pushing yourself in pursuit of your goals. I hope EIGHT helps people connect with others after a day of doing things right.”

Development of the beer has taken two years, partnering with Oregon State University’s distinguished Food Science and Technology Department working with Tom Shellhammer and Jeff Clawson, aided by award-winning brewmaster Phil Leinhart, to perfect the recipe. Their R&D efforts lead to the selection of Hallertau Taurus hops, which contain high levels of Xanthohumol, a flavonoid reported having antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. “Our team at Oregon State strives to be at the cutting edge of food science research, with a particular emphasis on using better ingredients to positively impact the quality of beer. The formulation of EIGHT required a lot of time, trial and error, and hard work, but we are tremendously proud of the end result,” said Shellhammer.

Doug Campbell, previously President of Brewery Ommegang, joins Aikman as co-founder alongside operations leader Ruchi Desai, and brand strategist Jake Duneier. After the initial launch in February, EIGHT cans will be distributed widely across the state beginning in March. As a Texas-based company, “EIGHT is committed to giving back 1% of all revenue to Texas-based causes that work tirelessly to make healthy living accessible to all,” per the release.

For more information, please visit www.eightbeer.com and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.