By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host Published Sep 20, 2018 at 11:01 AM

Tim Dillard. Maybe you’ve heard of him?

He made his Major League Baseball debut for the Brewers in 2008, and since that time he’s become even better known for his entertaining social media persona through which he hilariously chronicles elements of life in the leagues. And yeah, we caught a bit of his schtick on camera during 2017 spring training

But on Friday, you’ll get to know another side of Dillard as he debuts his first  collaboration brew with the folks from Broken Bat Brewing Co. at 231 E. Buffalo St.

"Back in January, he came out with a bobblehead, so we hosted a bobblehead signing at the brewery," notes Broken Bat co-owner Tim Pauly. "He probably stayed for three or four hours and during that time we discussed the possibility of a collaborative beer.

"From day one, we wanted to make sure his fingerprint was all over it. He’s a hop head, so we knew we’d do a pale ale. He likes a nice hazy beer that’s a little juicy with a bit of bite at the end. He says he would prefer to drink one or two really good beers and get a buzz over and above drinking more, so we bumped up the alcohol content."

And the beer is truly Dillard’s, from the beer’s flavor profile to the design of the can, which sports custom art and a description written by Dillard, which reads:

"Who? @DimTillard’s Very Pale Ale is the crowning achievement of a very pale baseball ‘legend.’ Known for its sidewinding hops… that comes off strong at first, but then settles ever so slightly over the center field wall. And with an E.R.A. of 9.10… this crafty brewer gives its heart and soul."

Meanwhile, the name of the brew was chosen by Dillard’s fans on Twitter.

The resulting brew, @DimTillard's Very Pale Ale, is a 9.1% ABV pale ale using Cascade, Nugget, Mosaic and Willamette hops. It’s a beer true to its name: juicy on the front, with a bit of bite at the back.

And you can get your first taste of the brew at Broken Bat beginning on Friday, Sept. 21 at 3 p.m. Dillard himself will be hanging out at the tap room from 6 p.m. until close with a Q&A session from 6:30 to 8 p.m. For more information, visit brokenbatbrewery.com.

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host

Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. 

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.