Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, the casual dining chain founded in 1969, has become the first national restaurant to serve Garage Beer — a light lager brand co-owned by brothers Jason and Travis Kelce. Because of this venture, both the Classic Light and Classic Lime varieties of Garage Beer's range are available at all Red Robin locations in the United States. The announcement coincides with the chain's expanded bone-in chicken wing offerings, which are now available in eight-count, 12-cound, and 16-count portions.
The partnership between Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Garage Beer is being promoted with a limited-edition Jason Kelce collaboration T-shirt, which is available exclusively through Garage Beer's website. Purchasing the apparel will also unlock a gift card for a complimentary order of wings.
Image Credit: Red Robin Gourmet Burgers
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Celebrity-owned Beer Partnerships
- Athlete-backed alcohol brands are gaining restaurant distribution as fandom, beverage trial, and casual dining traffic converge in one branded experience.
- Merch-linked Dining Rewards
- Limited-edition apparel tied to food incentives blends ecommerce, loyalty, and restaurant visits into a more collectible promotional model.
- Light Lager Menu Pairings
- Sessionable beer varieties paired with wings and burgers reflect growing demand for approachable alcohol options in mainstream dining settings.
Where This Applies
- Casual Dining
- National chains can differentiate crowded menus through exclusive beverage partnerships that connect meal occasions with pop-culture relevance.
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Emerging beer brands benefit from on-premise restaurant placement that accelerates awareness beyond traditional retail and bar channels.
- Sports Marketing
- Celebrity athlete ownership creates crossover value for foodservice promotions, fan merchandise, and branded lifestyle consumption.
