In celebration of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s 75th anniversary, two local breweries have partnered with the school to launch Island University-branded beers. Both brews have been curated with an island state of mind, meaning they each pair perfectly with warm weather and the beach.
Lazy Beach Brewing has added the Islander Wave, a kölsch-style beer known for its light and fruity aroma to the menu, while Lorelei Brewing Company has introduced the Shaka Blonde, a light and well-rounded beer with hints of lime and sea salt.
Both breweries are Islander alumni owned or managed, with a percentage of proceeds supporting Islanders Athletics scholarships. Associate Athletic Director and Chief Revenue Officer Josiah Castro has long dreamt of an Islander-inspired brew, stating, “I always thought a university-branded beer was a creative way to connect with alumni, fans and constituents of the university. As it turns out, we were lucky enough to have two alumni-run breweries in Corpus Christi.”
Cory and Jess Matthews of Lazy Beach and Trever Belicek of Lorelei are all excited to be partnering with the school, celebrating the growth and progress over the years. “As alumni and business owners, this city and university are a part of who we are, so when Josiah approached us with this idea, we could not have been more on board,” said Jess Matthews.
President and CEO of Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, Dr. Kelly Miller states, “Partnering for research, internships, endowments or innovative opportunities such as this are valuable to both the university and the business community. In the case of Lorelei and Lazy Beach, partnering with alumni entrepreneurs is that much more exciting, as our alumni success, in turn, benefits our current students through scholarships.”
Both beers are currently available for enjoyment at the respective breweries, just in time for the season.