I.C. Light will debut blue & gold Pitt can

A collaboration between Pittsburgh Brewing Co. and Pitt Athletics on a limited edition Pitt I.C. Light can has been brewing for about two years.

The can features royal blue and university gold team colors in addition to the recognizable “Pitt” script and “Hail to Pitt.”

It is available this week at beer distributors and grocery and convenience stores where I.C. Light is sold. Depending on the outlet, the cost will be in the $12.99 to $15.99 range for 15-packs of 12-ounce cans.

“We’ve been working on this for a few years,” said Todd Zwicker, president of Pittsburgh Brewing. “These collaborations are important because there is a synergy between the two brands.”

Pitt opens its season Aug. 31 when the Panthers host Kent State at noon at Acrisure Stadium on Pittsburgh’s North Shore.

“You most likely will spot these Pitt cans at tailgates on Aug. 31,” Zwicker said. “And we imagine fans will want these cans for the Backyard Brawl.”

This year’s Backyard Brawl, Pitt versus the West Virginia Mountaineers, will be at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at Acrisure Stadium.

Pittsburgh Brewing has been making specialty cans for decades. The last time Pitt and the brewery connected was in 1987 with an Iron City can for Pitt’s Bicentennial.

Colleges and universities connecting with breweries isn’t new — Pitt’s new chancellor, Joan Gabel, was involved in a similar collaboration when she was in Minnesota, Zwicker said.

“Collaborations outside of our brewing community are so valuable,” Melissa Larrick, executive director of the Pittsburgh Brewers Guild, said via email. “In this case, it shows Pittsburgh Brewing Company’s commitment to the city by deepening a sense of regional pride while triggering a sense of nostalgia for both Pitt alumni and current students; not to mention, the can design looks awesome!”

The first cans were filled on July 21 at the brewery in East Deer. A limited amount is being canned with the intention to last through the college football season into Pitt’s basketball season based on demand and how quickly they pull through the market, according to Rachel Semelbauer, marketing director at Pittsburgh Brewing.

The cans are being produced by Ball Metal Beverage Container in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The beer will be distributed through Frank B. Fuhrer Wholesale Co.

Semelbauer said it was satisfying to see the finished product as she watched the cans being filled and making their way along the conveyor belt.

“The can is really shiny and that blue really stands out,” Semelbauer said. “Pitt fans will notice it right away. It’s pretty cool.”

Zwicker said they would consider doing another collaboration if the cans sell well. It would not be the same as this one but another fresh idea, he said.

“Pittsburghers are proud of their city and their sports teams,” said Dustin Gray, deputy athletic director at Pitt. “This is a fantastic collaboration to kick off the college football season. There is always excitement this time of the year and so much emotion and pride when it comes to sports. When you bring two iconic brands together, it’s a perfect partnership. When fans spot the blue can, they will know right away. It’s been worth the wait.”