Nataley Davis | staff writer

Duquesne University alumni Scott Powell came to Helltown Brewing in the Strip District on Aug. 26 with his fraternity brothers to celebrate the launch of the university-inspired beer, Bluff 78.

Supporting their alma mater is nothing new for the group, as they have stayed connected with the community since graduating in 1987.

“We all go to the basketball games together, we go to the football games together,” Powell said. “It’s just a relationship you build, and we continue to build over the years with a lot of people in the athletic department and in the university.”

Sipping on the new lager, Powell gave it “two thumbs up” as the table of alumni continued to catch up.

Bluff 78 is now available for a limited time at all five Helltown Brewing locations within the area including Butler, Export, Houston, Mount Pleasant and the Strip District. The beer is also sold at other restaurants and grocery stores in the area listed on Duquesne Athletics’ website.

The brewery was packed with Duquesne fans decked out in red and blue merchandise to celebrate the new partnership between Helltown Brewing and Duquesne.

Duquesne University President Ken Gormley welcomed the crowd with an honorary first tasting of the lager, explaining the meaning behind the beer’s name, which references Duquesne’s founding in 1878 on Bluff Street.

Gormley said the Duquesne branded beer will help grow the school’s publicity and make a statement about its strong roots in Pittsburgh.

“Duquesne has been a part of this city’s fabric for almost 150 years, and we are quintessentially Pittsburgh. We helped to build Pittsburgh. This is a great Pittsburgh beer, and it just kind of ties everything together,” he said.

The launch of the beer also corresponds with Duquesne’s first football game of the season against the University of Pittsburgh on Saturday, which was intentional, said Megan Jahrling, assistant director of external strategies for Duquesne Athletics.

“It’s our first football game of the season and we knew that [the beer] would really rally everyone to start another academic year but also Duquesne athletic sports season,” Jahrling said. “We’re excited and seeing a lot of positive feedback regarding the initiative.”

Bluff 78 will be available at the alumni tailgate before the game at Mike’s Beer Bar.

Jahrling said that the new lager is just the beginning of Duquesne branded products and partnerships.

“This is the start, but I think there are certainly other opportunities for us to explore.”

Alumni Daniel Marcinek said he appreciated Bluff 78 as a business effort from Duquesne.

“Connections like this are important because universities are able to not only reach out to their alumni but just to the city in general and get their name out there, and this is a perfect way to do it,” Marcinek said.

Nataley Davis can be reached at davisn5@duq.edu