By RayJaun Stelly, The Seattle Medium
Building a legacy not only for himself but also for his family, Tre Simmons has created an entrepreneurial legacy by unveiling his own handcrafted beer, Simmons’s TR3 Beer Ale, last week at the Queen Anne Beer Hall.
The event, hosted by Chukundi Salisbury and Simply Seattle, brought together family, friends, partners, and the community to celebrate Simmons’s latest business venture.
The beer is crafted with a grain build typically used for whisky distillation. Mixed with raspberry puree and a non-apple mix, the ale has a unique flavor that can only be described as “Washington Apple” beer.
“It was a relief,” said Simmons after finally releasing his beer to the community. “I’m happy everybody enjoyed it and came to support my new venture. The great thing about this beer is that people who don’t drink beer loved it.”
On April 7, Simmons announced the creation of his beer named “TR3” in partnership with 23rd Ave Brewery, paying tribute not only to Seattle’s basketball history but also to Simmons’s personal accomplishments during his time as a basketball standout at the University of Washington (UW).
The number three in “TR3” signifies Simmons’s record-breaking accomplishment of making 80 three-pointers in a single season during his collegiate basketball career at UW.
Maintaining a close partnership with 23rd Ave Brewery, a Black-owned brewery in Seattle’s Central District founded by Mario Savage, David Dixon, and James Dixon, Simmons has ventured outside his comfort zone by beginning the process of branding TR3 Ale products throughout Washington state and beyond.
“I’m in the process of doing business with Metier Brewing Company to mass-produce and distribute to bars and restaurants,” says Simmons, who will still partner with 23rd Ave Brewery for the beer. “I’m also in talks with Wicked Rain in Arizona, a northwest hub bar that exclusively sells northwest beer. They are also excited and waiting to include my beer in their business.”
Simmons is a highly decorated athlete, having played basketball for Garfield High School and the University of Washington before enjoying a 14-year professional career. These experiences have helped guide his new journey as a state championship basketball coach, community ambassador, and entrepreneur.
Just as he has done and continues to do for the game of basketball, Simmons had to put in countless hours to create a beer that would appeal to his future consumers. With partnerships with 23rd Ave Brewery, Metier Brewing Company, and Outlier Seattle, as well as plans to expand down the West Coast, the sky’s the limit for Simmons and his beer.
“The most memorable part of this process for me is the work nobody sees,” says Simmons. “Going through adversity day in and day out makes this process worthwhile.”
TR3’s Ale is currently available at 23rd Ave Brewery, located at 2313 S Jackson St.
