Just in time for the Illinois-Kansas exhibition/fundraiser for Maui game on Sunday, there will be a new Illini-themed beer for you to try. It’s being marketed by ICON for Illini Collective, a nonprofit organization that “facilitates partnerships between Fighting Illini student-athletes and fans, alumni, businesses, non-profits and other community organizations to create meaningful Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) opportunities.”
The collective will give 20 percent of the revenue from The Iconic American Light Lager to student athletes, and the remaining proceeds from beer sales at this particular game will be given to the Hawaii Community Foundation.
This is pretty cool and fun, but the announcement is getting some frankly warranted criticism on the site formerly known as Twitter for utilizing a brewer in Minnesota, as opposed to partnering with one of our local breweries. I think Champaign Showers said it best.
not using @TriptychBrewing or @RiggsBeerCo to brew this beer is a HUGE miss by the nil collective. https://t.co/FWYUKl6ccQ pic.twitter.com/oyinw9OC7K
— Champaign Showers (@217Showers) October 27, 2023