Brewery Ommegang Teams Up with Ernie Clement for Upstate Hustle Lager
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Editorial Dept.
Brewery Ommegang has partnered with Toronto Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement to launch Upstate Hustle – a new limited-edition lager. The beer celebrates Clement’s hometown roots while raising support for Challenger Miracle Field of Greater Rochester. The release shows how a local partnership can bring together craft beer, baseball and community support in a meaningful way.
A press release from Brewery Ommegang revealed that Upstate Hustle is an approachable, 4.2% ABV lager.
Indeed, what started as a local connection has resulted in a collaboration that delivers on flavor and community impact.
For Clement, a Rochester native who grew up playing baseball in western New York, the partnership is deeply personal. Now an infielder for the Toronto Blue Jays, Clement represented the U.S. at the World Baseball Classic and set a major league record for most hits in a postseason. Recognized for his grit, sportsmanship and speed, Clement maintains a powerful connection to Upstate New York; a bond celebrated every November 29 on Ernie Clement Day.
The collaboration extends beyond the can to support the community that cheered Clement on from the start. To celebrate Upstate Hustle’s release, Brewery Ommegang will donate to Challenger Miracle Field of Greater Rochester. The organization provides barrier-free access to inclusive sports for people with developmental, physical or intellectual disabilities. Its affiliate, Challenger Baseball, is a Little League adaptive baseball program made up of over 500 players in the Greater Rochester region.
“Growing up in Rochester, I always valued the community that supported my journey,” Clement said. “Partnering with Brewery Ommegang to create Upstate Hustle brings that hometown pride to life while supporting the incredible work at Challenger Miracle Field. It’s a way to give back to the place that made me who I am today.”
Upstate Hustle is crafted to feature a light cracker malt and mellow hop fruitiness. Leading off with crisp, dry malts that provide a solid foundation, while Nectaron, NY Excelsior, and NY Centennial hops rally for a mellow finish, this flavor profile strings the hits together just like Clement during a playoff run. The Ommegang brewers recommend pairing it with popcorn, peanuts and Cracker Jack in true baseball fashion.
“We are incredibly proud to work with Ernie on the project, as his passion for baseball and his Upstate roots align perfectly with our commitment to brewing great beer for New York at Brewery Ommegang,” Ommegang National Accounts Director Randy Scroger said. “Upstate Hustle captures that spirit in a lager that is approachable (at 4.2% ABV), crisp and refreshing, and supports our community through our partnership with Challenger Miracle Field.”
Upstate Hustle, sold in 16-oz can 4-packs, will be sold in Rochester, Cooperstown, Syracuse, and Buffalo beginning in July. On July 11, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., a launch event will take place at Wegmans at 3195 Monroe Ave. Rochester, NY 14618. The event will include samples of Upstate Hustle and other Brewery Ommegang beers paired with Wegmans cheese and an opportunity for fans to win prizes.
Availability for Upstate Hustle can be found via Ommegang’s beer finder here.
About Brewery Ommegang
Founded in 1997 on a historic hop farm near Cooperstown, New York, Brewery Ommegang crafts imaginative beers inspired by Belgian traditions and American innovation. With a legacy of award-winning brews and legendary events, Ommegang remains a must-visit destination for beer lovers far and wide. Learn more at www.ommegang.com or follow @ommegang on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
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