Bowl Day Brew, a 50th Anniversary Collaboration with Great Raft Brewing, Begins Flowing August 14

SHREVEPORT, La. – The Independence Bowl Foundation and Great Raft Brewing have produced a special “Independence Pale Lager” to help commemorate the Independence Bowl’s 50th Anniversary. Named “Bowl Day Brew,” this pale lager is being distributed by the Independence Bowl’s beverage partner, Eagle Distributing.

“We are thrilled to brew this special beer to honor 50 years of Independence Bowl success in Shreveport,” said Andrew Nations, Co-Founder of Great Raft Brewing. “Our team at Great Raft is incredibly proud to celebrate with a locally brewed beer for our community and football fans alike.”

The beer will be available in the Great Raft Brewing taproom starting on Friday, August 14. With every pint sold at the Great Raft Brewing Tap Room, $1 will be donated to the Independence Bowl’s 1st & Give philanthropic program.

Bowl Day Brew will also be available in cans for the first time at the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl Kickoff Dinner, featuring Tyrann Mathieu, on Monday, August 17, at the Shreveport Convention Center. It will be available locally at on- and off-premise retail locations. To find a retail location carrying Bowl Day Brew, visit the “Beer Map” at greatraftbrewing.com. 

“This collaborative effort with Great Raft Brewing and Eagle Distributing gives us a unique way to not only celebrate our 50th Anniversary and support our 1st & Give program, but expand the Bowl’s engagement in the community through our great partners,” said Matt Shanklin, Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl Director of Partnership Development. “We hope football fans, craft brewery fans and anyone who wants to be a part of this milestone year heads over to the Great Raft taproom and  to the local store to get a taste of Bowl Day Brew!”

Fans who would like to get their hands on the first cans of Bowl Day Brew and hear LSU legend Tyrann Mathieu talk about his journey through football and life can purchase tickets to the Independence Bowl Kickoff Dinner at RadianceTechnologiesIndependenceBowl.com/product/kickoff-dinner or by calling the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl office at 318.221.0712 or toll-free at 888.414.BOWL. Individual tickets to the event are on sale for $75 apiece, and a table of eight is $600.

Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl fans can visit OpportunityLouisiana.gov to explore why Louisiana businesses are positioned to win. 

ABOUT THE RADIANCE TECHNOLOGIES INDEPENDENCE BOWL™

Established in 1976, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl™ is college football’s 11th most historic bowl game, with the 50th anniversary game set for Tuesday, December 22, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. CST on ESPN. Radiance Technologies is the bowl’s title sponsor through at least the 2027 Bowl Season. 

The Independence Bowl Foundation is a prominent presence in the Shreveport-Bossier City area throughout the year, hosting events to enhance the economic impact and growth of our community. The Mission of the Independence Bowl is to attract and provide quality, nationally recognized football competition oriented to the Ark-La-Tex region. For more information, visit RadianceTechnologiesIndependenceBowl.com or follow the bowl on Facebook, X and Instagram at @IndyBowl.