Two-time Daytona 500 champion and Fox NASCAR personality Michael Waltrip made two notable visits to the Nashville area in April, bringing together his love for racing and beer. Waltrip’s first stop was at The Gibson Garage in downtown Nashville on April 8, where he participated in the official announcement of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Nashville Superspeedway, now named the Cracker Barrel 400.
Before that, Waltrip visited Clarksville for the unveiling of a new signature beer, Governor’s Golden Ale, at Austin Peay State University. The light beer was developed in partnership with Michael Waltrip Brewing Co. and Joe’s Garage, a popular restaurant located at Shelby’s Trio in Clarksville, directly across from F&M Bank Arena. The collaboration also ties in with the local university, creating a beer that embodies the spirit of the area.
Waltrip, who owns a brewery on Broadway in Nashville at Hank Williams Jr.’s Boogie Bar, shared his straightforward approach to brewing. “We don’t consider ourselves a craft beer company; we just make beer,” Waltrip stated. “I grew up drinking Miller Lites. That’s just who I am. And I love Governor’s Ale. It’s just a light, easy beer.” He went on to explain that while his brewery offers a variety of beers, the lighter options are his personal favorites, with Governor’s Golden Ale standing out as a highlight.
The new beer was created through a partnership between Waltrip, his business partner Joe Maynard—owner of Joe’s Garage—and Austin Peay State University. Waltrip and Maynard met through their shared interest in motorsports, and their connection led to the idea of bringing Austin Peay into the mix. “Joe’s restaurant is so cool, and he wanted to partner with us,” Waltrip said. “We brought our beer into his garage and started talking about what we could do going forward, and Austin Peay is right there. So we partnered with the school to do it.”
Governor’s Golden Ale is currently available on tap at Shelby’s Trio and Joe’s Garage and will soon be distributed in cans at local retailers. Maynard expressed his enthusiasm for the project, saying, “It’s always huge to me when Clarksville comes out to support APSU because this is a community restaurant, and we want our Austin Peay family here.”
In addition to the beer’s launch, Waltrip reflected on his usual role in naming the brewery’s beers. Although he jokingly suggested naming this new beer “Peay Beer,” Waltrip ultimately agreed to the name Governor’s Golden Ale after several discussions with Austin Peay. “We had several collaborations with the university and wanted them to name it. It’s their beer,” Waltrip explained.
Governor’s Golden Ale, already a hit among local patrons, will soon be available at additional local venues and retailers throughout Clarksville.
You Might Be Interested In:
