Hulk Hogan is exchanging prayers and vitamins for hops and grains.
The wrestler, whose real name is Terry Bollea, has announced the launch of Real American Beer, an adult beverage that shares the name of his in-ring theme song. The lager will initially be distributed in Florida and ultimately will be sold in 16 other states by the end of summer. So far, the only announced states are Florida, Minnesota, Colorado, and Missouri.
It’s made, the company says, with 100% North American ingredients (brother) and weighs in with an ABV of 4.2%, about the same as a Bud Light.
The beer made its debut a week ago at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.—and will be sold at Hard Rocks around the country. Hooters will also carry the brand.
“Real American Beer is bringing America together, one beer at a time,” said Hogan in a statement. “We’ve formed an all-star team to make it happen, and I'm excited to introduce Real American Beer to fans and beer lovers everywhere."
Outside of restaurants (and military bases), the beer will be available at ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, Albertsons, Safeway, Sam’s Club, Total Wine & More, and Walmart.
The release did not mention who is actually brewing the beer. (Celebrity beers are often contract brews from larger companies.) The team is led, though, by Terri Francis, who came from foodmaker The Not Company and Anheuser-Busch InBev.
Hogan is hardly the first wrestler to capitalize on his fame with a beer launch. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, who made beer drinking part of his character, long ago launched Broken Skull beers, which offers three varieties (two IPAs and an American lager), made in partnership with El Segundo Brewing.
