Prodigy Brewing adds new ‘Aggie Lager’ drink

Prodigy Brewing, a local brewery and brewpub, introduced a new Utah State University-themed drink to its menu on Sept. 25. The company teased the release of the new beverage on their Instagram page, with the caption, “Utah State, hey Aggies all the way!” accompanied by a blurred image of the can.

A launch party was held at the brewpub on Thursday, Sept. 24, during USU’s Homecoming week. USU alums and staff were invited to celebrate the new drink. 

The drink, named the “Aggie Lager,” is in a light blue, one pint can featuring Prodigy Brewing’s logo and other USU colors. It is the first officially licensed beer for a university in the state of Utah.

According to Untapped, the beer contains 5% alcohol, and according to Kristin Smith, co-owner of Prodigy Brewing, the drink has received many positive reviews from consumers. 

“The Aggie Lager delivers an earthy, unfiltered, and deeply organic flavor profile that captures the essence of old-world farmhouse brewing,” said USUFans user, NVAggie. 

“Now that it’s on the menu, folks are so happy to see this come to life,” Smith wrote in an email to The Utah Statesman. 

Smith said Prodigy Brewing was inspired to create the Aggie Lager due to its connection to the Cache Valley community. 

“Tying in USU with Prodigy Brewing seemed like a natural extension of our lineup and our desire to be rooted in the valley,” Smith wrote. 

Smith and other members of Prodigy Brewing worked alongside the new USU athletics department this spring to develop the beverage. 

“While the approval process was taking place, we were working with USU Athletics, Marketing & Trademarks and our branding team to develop the concept and label. Once all the approvals were in place, the brewing and canning process took about 5 weeks,” Smith wrote.

Many students at USU have considered trying the new drink due to its connection to the school. 

One student, who would like to remain anonymous, has worked in food service in the past and appreciates local, small businesses. 

“I’ve heard a lot of good things about Prodigy Brewing,” the student said. 

Another student, who also would like to remain anonymous, also shared some interest in the new beverage. 

“I don’t love beer, but maybe an Aggie beer would be good. I wonder what they think ‘Aggie’ tastes like,” the second student said. 

According to the Herald Journal, Prodigy Brewing opened its doors to the public in July 2022. Founders Jason Smith, Matt Clyburn and Rob Paul created the idea for Prodigy Brewing after seeing a need for a brewpub in Logan. They remodeled a more than 120-year-old building at 25 W. Center St., and soon, their dreams became a reality. 

In 2023, Prodigy Brewing won New Small Business of the Year by the Cache Valley Chamber of Commerce, according to Cache Valley Daily, and recently, they won three medals at the Tasting Alliance Beer Competition, according to the Herald Journal. 

Prodigy Brewing offers 22 different beers on-tap, not including the Aggie Lager. They also have an extensive food menu, including a variety of Tex-Mex inspired cuisine from umami pork egg rolls to chipotle chicken biscuits. 

Additionally, they offer both indoor and outdoor seating, as well as live music and trivia nights. 

Prodigy Brewing regularly contributes to community events. Most recently, they gave hungry locals a place to rest and eat during the Center Street Giant Pumpkin Festival on Oct. 3. 

The Aggie Lager is also not Prodigy Brewing’s first drink inspired by USU. They also offer a drink called “True Blue,” which is a Scottish ale. Co-owner, Jason Smith, is an economic and finance professor at USU and works alongside his wife to come up with drink names and manage the business. 

Kristin shared her beliefs in only using local ingredients and giving back to the community. 

“Our community means everything to us. We want people to come into our space and feel like they are home and a part of something bigger than themselves. We launched our non-profit, Community Craft, in 2024 to support unsung heroes in our valley and raise funds to give back to those community members making a difference by hosting an annual beer festival. This year, we hosted it downtown at Church & Federal. The community was so supportive of us being downtown,” Kristin wrote.

Prodigy Brewing hopes that the Aggie Lager will be “one of many opportunities to support USU” and the rest of the community.