Former Dallas Cowboy Troy Aikman announces Austin-based beer company

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman announced the launch of Eight, a new Austin-based beer company, in a Jan. 4 news release.

The beer, a light lager, will use organic grains and Hallertau Taurus hops and aims to offer a healthier option for beer drinkers.

“Eight is for the drinker who consistently puts in the hard work. These folks, myself included, are conscious of what we put in our bodies, and options for a light, refreshing beer that’s brewed with organic ingredients are virtually nonexistent,” Aikman said in the release.

Tom Shellhammer and Jeff Clawson led research efforts at Oregon State University’s Food Science and Technology Department to create the beer. Phil Leinhart, who previously worked at Anheuser-Busch, Harpoon Brewery and Brewery Ommegang, also supported the effort.

“The formulation of Eight required a lot of time, trial and error, and hard work, but we are tremendously proud of the end result,” Shellhammer said.

Aikman co-founded the company with former Brewery Ommegang President Doug Campbell, business leader Ruchi Desa and entrepreneur Jake Duneier, the news release stated.

According to a company spokesperson, the beer will be available in Texas bars and restaurants in February and in retail stores in March. The company has not yet announced specific locations where the beer will be available.