Alumnus champions officially licensed craft beer
Fresno State athletics and Tioga-Sequoia Brewing Company debuted Red Wave Light Lager, the officially licensed craft beer of Fresno State, in summer 2024. While the project spanned three years, its completion fulfilled a decades-long dream for Tioga-Sequoia’s president and Fresno State alumnus Michael Cruz.
During his time as a business administration marketing student in the Craig School of Business at Fresno State, Cruz interned for a local distributor who was working with TiogaSequoia’s ownership group to bring the brand to market. After graduation, he forged his own path at the company, taking on various roles and special projects, but none more meaningful than collaborating with his alma mater on the Red Wave Light Lager.
“I really, really appreciate the experiences that I had [at] Fresno State, really, that have led me to where I am today. And I have everything to thank for my alma mater and my experiences there,” Cruz said.
According to Cruz, the goal behind Red Wave Light Lager and the decision to name it after the university’s dedicated fanbase was to create a symbol of pride that represents the Bulldog Spirit of the Central Valley and the hometown team that unites the community.
The locally crafted lager is widely available at over 100 locations throughout the Valley, including Fresno State athletic events, Save Mart and Costco locations, and local establishments like Dog House Grill and Tioga-Sequoia taprooms, with multiple locations more than 50 miles outside of Fresno. As an officially licensed product, a portion of every purchase benefits Fresno State students and programs.
Cruz said this project is a testament to the community pride of the entire brewery staff, many of whom are also Fresno State alumni. “Red Wave Light Lager is truly ‘Bulldog born, Bulldog brewed,’” he said.
Written by Victoria Cisneros Soto (‘19, ‘21); Photos by Cary Edmondson (’03); Video by Michael Wootten (‘16), Jeff Phillips (‘11) and Matt Mealer (‘12)
