For the RunGood Poker Series at TVPokerRoom
Jackrabbit Brewing in West Sacramento, CA. is just not all that far from Thunder Valley Casino Resort, and they have broken new ground to make a specialty beer in honor of the RunGood Poker Series. The Railbird Hazy IPA packs a punch at 7% ABV, but it is a smooth drinking beer made in the hoppy style that is popular throughout Northern California.
The brewery is hosting a beer release party Wednesday, July 19 from 8-10 pm featuring live music, food trucks, and of course the specialty beer. There is also tours of the brewery, and 30 different beers are on the menu. The new beer is going to be available on tap at the Thunder Valley Poker Room during the tournament series.
We caught up with the man behind the beer, Erle Mankin, to discuss his passion for both beer and poker, and how it came together for the Railbird Hazy IPA.
PokerLiveUpdates: “Tell me about how you guys chose the style for the RunGood Poker Series Railbird Hazy IPA?”
Mankin: “It’s easy drinking, the most popular beer in craft right now is the hazy IPAs, it’s still the haze craze. It’s not super bitter, it’s fruit-forward. A soft, mouth feel, and soft on the palate, so I chose it for those reasons.”
PokerLiveUpdates: “How did the idea come about to brew a beer specifically for the RunGood Poker Series?”
Mankin: “I’m always thinking about doing an event along with a series at Thunder Valley, and I always think why not incorporate a beer, it’s something we can do. We’re small enough where we can do projects like this. We’re able to, so why not do it? I know people enjoy something they can take home and look at as part of the experience.”
PokerLiveUpdates: “What went into the design of the poker-themed beer labels?”
Mankin: “The design was all done with AI resources to tell the computer to source a poker image of a poker table and then turn them into Jackrabbits to give us a good tie-in, I really like that image.”
PokerLiveUpdates: “I’ve seen beer sponsorships for poker tours before, but never a beer specifically brewed for a poker tour. How does it feel to be at the forefront of breaking some new ground in that regard?”
Mankin: “It’s cool to be on the cutting edge doing some new interesting things. It combines two worlds that I’ve personally been a part of for years, and gives everyone an excuse to try my beer that I’ve been playing poker with for years. It gives me an opportunity to showcase something that I’m proud of, and bring the two worlds together. It’s a great market, you’re stuck in a chair, why not have a cold one? I have great memories of sitting on the rail drinking beers. Beer and railing goes hand in hand.”
PokerLiveUpdates: “This all culminates with the beer release event you’re hosting tomorrow at the brewery. Tell me what everyone who comes down to check it out can expect?”
Mankin: “We’re doing a beer-release event tomorrow, Wednesday [July 19] from 8-10 pm that’s open to the public. We’re not usually open that late at the brewery. We have over 30 beers on tap, so there’s choices. We will also have a birria taco truck and live music as well. I’m going to open the production side and show people around a little. It’s mostly a way for poker players to come try the beer for the first time, and they can obviously try some and take some home if they like. It will be served at Thunder Valley on draft as well.”
PokerLiveUpdates: “In the craft brewing industry these days, you have to be innovative with so much competition out there.”
Mankin: “Yeah exactly, I couldn’t let someone else do the beer for the series, it’s such a perfect fit for me.”
PokerLiveUpdates: “A poker player and a brewer, it’s kind of like Sam Adams, a brewer and a patriot.”
Mankin: [Laughs] Yeah.
Jackrabbit Brewing Company is located at 1323 Terminal St. in West Sacramento, CA. Find directions here to Jackrabbit Brewing.
Ryan is one of the original PokerLiveUpdates team members, a veteran poker tournament reporter who provides live updates reporting from the World Poker Tour, along with other tours and locations. He developed the FunTour2.0 concept of providing tremendous tournament coverage while exploring the world's best craft beer venues.
