EXCLUSIVE: IC Light Releases Special Pitt-Themed Cans

The City of Pittsburgh is known for many things and two of those that rank highly are its hard-nosed football and its beer.

Nearly four years in the making, the University of Pittsburgh, Pitt Athletics and Pittsburgh Brewing Company are bringing those two staples together to release a brand-new Pitt themed IC Light beer can.

“This is a fantastic collaboration,” Pitt deputy athletic director Dustin Gray told Pittsburgh Sports Now. “We couldn’t be happier with our partners at Iron City Brewing. This is something we started in 2019 and we’ve grown to this spot now that two historic brands in the City of Pittsburgh come together and produce a can for Pitt fans that all of Pitt nation will love and be proud of.”

While Pitt Athletics and Pittsburgh Brewing Company have worked towards making this partnership a reality, Pitt chancellor Joan Gabel was a critical component to crossing the finish line.

“Chancellor Gabel has been very supportive in everything our athletics department has done and pursued and she was supportive of this historic collaboration,” Gray said.

“That was the key,” President of Pittsburgh Brewing Company Todd Zwicker added. “She had already dealt with this and had similar projects when she was with Minnesota, so coming to Pitt and being introduced to this was very natural for her.”

As the Pitt IC Light cans and cases went on their journey through the Pittsburgh Brewing Company facility in Creighton, Pa. along the Allegheny River, there was resounding excitement between both parties as how they believe Pitt fans will receive this collaboration.

“I think our fans are going to love it. They are going to fly off the shelf. People are going to want to have them at tailgates, in their fridges when friends come over and excitement is going to be at a high level,” Gray said.

Pat Bostick, Pitt Athletics’ Senior Associate Athletic Director and color analyst for Pitt football games, has been around the Pittsburgh area since his playing days in the late 2000s and knows how important these two brands mean to the city.

“When you go to a game or go somewhere, if you’re in Pittsburgh, you get an IC Light. Now, it just so happens that the IC Light can, just like it has for the Pirates for many years, it’s going to have that beautiful Pitt script on it and it’s going to be special,” Bostick said.

The sharp royal blue and gold cans feature the Pitt script and comes 34 years after the last Pitt, Iron City collaboration occurred.

“I know so many people that I’ve got a chance to meet at my time here that have the can from the 80s,” Bostick said. “They have it saved whether it’s in their man cave or their office. This is bringing that back. Some old, some new. I think Pitt fans are going to storm around it.”

The old design in 1987 celebrated Pitt’s bicentennial and showcased the Pitt script, a Panther running back and the saying, “You’re In For a Game.”