The husband and wife duo behind Lucky 19 Brewery are blending school spirit, entrepreneurship, and hops in one of a kind collaboration with SHSU.
HUNTSVILLE, Texas — In Huntsville, every pint poured at Lucky 19 Brewing tells a story — and for owners Jacoby and Lauren Reece, that story started at Sam Houston State University.
The couple, both criminal justice majors and proud SHSU alumni, turned a longtime hobby into a full-blown business.
“We joked about it, and it definitely came up, but we definitely didn’t think it was going to become a reality until the cards kind of set in place,” said Lauren Reece.
The couple launched Lucky 19 Brewing in October 2022, but one beer holds a special place in their hearts: the Bearkat Blonde.
“We wanted to make something that was representative of where we came from,” said Jacoby Reece. “So, when we had the idea, we approached Sam Houston State about it, and they were all on board for it.”
The blonde ale first brewed in late 2022 marks the university’s first branded consumable product. The couple worked closely with SHSU’s marketing and branding team to design the artwork and packaging.
“It just shows how much the university is changing and how we’re taking advantage and leveraging the successes of our university programs,” said Russell Martinez, SHSU’s Assistant Vice President for Marketing and Branding.
The beer hit shelves outside the taproom in December 2022.
“The beer manager at the Huntsville H-E-B brought in basically every case of Bearkat Blonde that we were able to manufacture right at graduation,” said Jacoby.
The university says the partnership reflects what SHSU stands for: opportunity.
“Whether you get your degree in criminology and then open a brewery, or you stay in your field of study, it just speaks to the opportunities here at Sam Houston State to achieve anything you want,” said Martinez.
The Reeces hope the Bearkat Blonde becomes more than just a drink. For them, it’s a way to give back to the university that shaped them — and to inspire others to turn their own passions into something lasting.
“It’s not just for Bearkats. It’s for everyone, you know, but it brings us together,” said Lauren. “And it also gives us a way to give back to our university.”