When Arkansas-based Flyway Brewing Co. took over the High Cotton Brewing brand in early 2024, they streamlined High Cotton’s lineup to just three core beers: Mexican Lager, Scottish Ale and Riverking IPA.
The new Flyway Memphis operation shifted its focus to brewing and selling Flyway’s line of Little Rock-born beers, including Bluewing Berry Wheat, Honeybird Blonde Ale and Early Bird IPA.
But the legacy High Cotton brand is stepping back into the spotlight with its first new release in cans since 2023: High Cotton Hooligan Irish Red.
The 4.5%-ABV beer was released last week, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day.
And, according to the brewers, even more High Cotton-branded offerings are on the way.
“We’ve got a little more freedom to play around with recipes and beers under the High Cotton brand,” said Teddy Pepper, who was recently hired as head brewer at Flyway Memphis and High Cotton.
“We just put a cider in the tank that will be a High Cotton cider. …. We put a big stout in the tank that will be a High Cotton beer.”
Even more, they’re considering reviving some older High Cotton recipes.
“It’s been important from the get-go from ownership to keep the High Cotton brand alive,” Pepper explained, “while also doing it the best we can.”
High Cotton was founded in 2013, in the same year Wiseacre Brewing Co and Memphis Made Brewing Co. opened their doors.
It was one of Memphis’s original craft beer brands.
More than a decade later, in February 2024, Flyway Brewing announced that it was taking over High Cotton, 598 Monroe, and the former Edge Alley space next door.
The new ownership group pledged to continue brewing some High Cotton beers and maintain the legacy branding.
Flyway has since opened a brewpub in the adjoining space, with the entire location rebranded as Flyway Memphis.
About High Cotton Hooligan
The idea for an Irish Red emerged a few months ago when the brewery team was working with its distributor on plans for the year.
Tucker McCormack, a Flyway/High Cotton brewer and rugby player, proposed the idea and inspired the name.
“There’s a saying that … soccer is a gentleman’s sport played by hooligans, and rugby is a hooligan’s sport played by gentlemen,” McCormack said.
“We figured it’d be a good homage to all the rugby folks out there, and, you know, it’s a pretty damn good beer.”
Brewer Kaleb Tanner developed the recipe with a nod to tradition — but a distinctive High Cotton twist.
“I always liked that High Cotton would use rye, so I really wanted to sneak some in there,” Tanner said.
In Hooligan Irish Red, chocolate rye replaces the more typical roasted barley, adding complexity while keeping the finish crisp and dry.
Pepper said they were aiming for a more traditional Irish Red, something less sweet than the Killian’s many people are familiar with.
“We wanted the traditional biscuit nose, some of the caramel throughout, and a dry finish. It’s got the perception of sweetness, but it finishes dry and is also very crushable,” Pepper said, noting the 4.5% ABV.
McCormack summed up the beer this way: “It’s almost like we sent a Killian’s off to college, and it graduated with full honors.”
Where to find High Cotton Hooligan
The brewing team at Flyway/High Cotton hopes Hooligan’s debut, just ahead of St. Patrick’s Day, positions it as a great beer for holiday celebrations.
Aside from Hampline Brewing Co.’s Irish Goodbye and Wiseacre Brewing Co.’s Quiet Man Dry Irish Stout, there aren’t many local beers custom made for the Irish holiday.
Hooligan Irish Red is available now on draft in the Flyway taproom, while kegs and cans are making their way into the Memphis market.
Look for the beer at area Kroger stores, the Memphis Zoo, the Slider Inn Downtown, Corks Wine & Spirits (Village Shops location) in Germantown, and Cheers Wines & Spirits in Collierville, with more locations coming soon.
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