Boy Howdy! is back!

Before there was a partnership, a collaboration, or a beer, there was a shared obsession. For us and CREEM Magazine, that obsession has always been music.

Since the day we opened our doors more than 30 years ago, we’ve proudly dubbed ourselves beer geeks with a music problem. From hosting iconic bands on our stage to creating music-inspired beers, spirits and cocktails, and collaborating with artists and cultural icons, original music has always been woven into our DNA.

And then there's CREEM.

Dubbed "America's only rock 'n' roll magazine," CREEM spent decades chronicling the artists, albums and attitudes that defined generations of music fans. Their work helped shape rock journalism as we know it today, building a legacy rooted in authenticity, irreverence and an unwavering love of great music.

So when the opportunity arose for us to put actual beer inside CREEM’s iconic prop can, Boy Howdy!, we were all in.  

The story behind Boy Howdy!

Longtime CREEM fans know that Boy Howdy! is much more than a catchphrase.

Lovingly dubbed Boy Howdy!, CREEM's milk-bottle mascot first appeared in the magazine's second issue back in 1969. Over the years, the simple-yet-psychedelic character became one of the publication's most recognizable symbols, popping up on merchandise, magazine pages and, perhaps most famously, a beer can.

There was just one catch: the beer wasn't real.

The iconic Boy Howdy! can was originally created as a prop for photo shoots. Despite never containing an actual beverage, it became a fixture of rock 'n' roll culture and developed a mythology all its own. For decades, fans wondered what a real Boy Howdy! beer might taste like.

As it turns out, we had some ideas.

An Analog-A-Go-Go exclusive goes regional

The first track on our Boy Howdy! mixtape began in 2024 at Analog-A-Go-Go, our annual celebration of analog beer, music and art held at our Milton Brewery.

We teamed up with CREEM to brew the first-ever real-life Boy Howdy! beer, available exclusively at the festival. This original batch gave festivalgoers the first chance to finally experience the beer that had lived for decades in rock 'n' roll lore and the response made it clear we'd struck a chord.

So we’re bringing it to the main stage. As part of our Small Batch Series, Boy Howdy! Cream Ale is making its way to taps and shelves throughout the Mid-Atlantic, allowing more folks than ever to experience this rockin’ collaboration for themselves.

A beer worthy of the can

Of course, when you're tasked with brewing the official beer of rock 'n' roll, we couldn’t help but aim for something as iconic as the Boy Howdy! icon himself. And what better style to carry the name than a cream ale?

Not only does a cream ale make perfect sense for a CREEM partnership, but it’s also got one pretty punk rock origin story.

Back in the late 1800s, American brewers found themselves staring down a rapidly changing beer landscape. Crisp, pale lagers were surging in popularity, but not every brewery had the time, space or equipment needed for traditional lager brewing. Rather than wave the white flag, American brewers got creative, developing a style that borrowed the refreshing drinkability of lagers while relying on ale fermentation techniques. The result was cream ale: a uniquely American beer style born from ingenuity, independence and a willingness to bend the rules.

Boy Howdy! is a real-deal Cream Ale that features the satisfying smoothness of select corn brightened by the zesty vibrancy of Michigan-grown hops, a nod to the magazine’s Detroit roots. To put an off-centered spin on this classic beer style, we split the wort and fermented it separately with two different yeasts before bringing everything back together.

The result is a crisp, easy-drinking beer with bright citrus and a touch of soulful herb. It's refreshing, approachable and a true American original that’s the perfect back beat for any rock ‘n’ roll adventure.

Boy Howdy! That's Good.

What started as one of rock 'n' roll's most famous fictional beers has officially become the real thing. From the pages of CREEM Magazine to taps and shelves across the Mid-Atlantic, Boy Howdy! is finally ready for its biggest tour yet.

Find Boy Howdy! Cream Ale on draft and in 6-packs near you using our Fish Finder, then pour a pint and turn the volume up.