In the early days of NoDa Brewing in 2011, Suzie and Todd Ford were spending long hours each day ensuring that every beer they brewed was delicious, that every guest they served was happy and every keg was filled to the brim. So in order to ensure that they got at least a semblance of a break, they turned to one of their favorite pastimes – watching the Carolina Panthers.
“I’m cheap,” laughed Suzie Ford, recalling what led the co-owner of one of the most successful breweries in North Carolina to buy season tickets. “Knowing if we spent money on something we would for sure go, so we got season tickets and I think we’ve [only] missed one game in the past seven or eight years since we’ve had them.”
“It was kind of the perfect date night for us – or date day.”
And now the Fords, along with the rest of Panthers fans at Bank of America Stadium, will get to enjoy their local brews each week as NoDa Brewing is coming back to the home of the Panthers for the first time since 2016.
“Todd and I are huge Panthers fans – we go to away games, we’re going to London and now it’s going to be wonderful to be able to drink Hop, Drop N Roll, Jam Session and Roaring Riot in the stands again and celebrate with the Roaring Riot at the stadium.”
#ShowYourCans @Panthers @NoDaBrewing #KeepPounding @WoodyAndWilcox pic.twitter.com/AnwYb2SJ6A
— Wilcox (@WilcoxStuff) September 25, 2016
To say the folks over at NoDa Brewing, who have partnered with the Roaring Riot to brew Roaring Riot Rye Pale Ale since 2016, are excited to partner with the Panthers for the upcoming 2019 season may be a bit of an understatement.
“Very excited – in bold and bright blue letters,” said Ford. “We love the Panthers, we love everything they stand for – and even moreso now with Mr. Tepper involved, he really is making the fan experience at the forefront and that’s how it should be.”
The Panthers, who announced a partnership with Coca-Cola Consolidated naming Coca-Cola the official soft drink of the Carolina Panthers in June, have already made changes under the ownership of David Tepper, from bringing new refreshments to the stadium to announcing the future move of the Panthers team headquarters to Rock Hill to simply building a practice bubble next to Bank of America Stadium for his team to utilize during inclement weather.
The partnership between NoDa Brewing and the Roaring Riot began with a personal relationship between Ringleader of the Roaring Riot Zack Luttrell and the Fords.
“NoDa is a great partner for us, and Todd and Suzie are always open to hearing any ideas we come up with for the Roaring Riot,” said Luttrell. “[In 2016], we jokingly pitched the idea that their next Rye beer should be the Roaring Rye-ot. Of course Suzie loved the idea and Chad came up with an awesome recipe.”
“We found kindred spirits in the Riot,” said Ford. “It just has grown bigger and better every year and then two years ago, when we brewed the Roaring Riot [Rye Pale Ale], I think it was a bit of a dream come true for both of us.”
Now fans will get to enjoy one of three beers offered during Panthers games – 2014 World Beer Cup® Gold Award Winner Hop, Drop ‘n Roll, Jam Session American Pale Ale and, of course, Roaring Riot Rye Pale Ale.
Ford says she’ll have a Roaring Riot Rye on her first trip to the stadium this upcoming season.
“Over the past two years, we’ve received a lot of emails, social media comments and private messages asking us when we’re going to be back in the stadium or where can they find us in the stadium.”
“So we’re excited to give the fans what they want.”
