One of the hottest home run hitters in baseball partnered with a beloved Pacific Northwest craft beer producer to come up with a brew proudly bearing his nickname. Here’s why you need to raise a glass and toast the Big Dumper beer.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – AUGUST 25: Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates after his solo home run, his 50th of the regular season, against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at T-Mobile Park on August 25, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. He partnered with a local brewery to create a beer that bears his nickname, Big Dumper. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
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How it started
Cal Raleigh is having quite a season, making history as the first MLB catcher to crush the home run derby at the All Star game. This month, he broke long-standing records for the number of homers scored by a catcher in a season, banging out No. 50 on Aug. 25 against the San Diego Padres.
Naturally, this kind of superstar performance has led to some cool endorsement deals, but there’s one collaboration that began early in the season.
“His management team approached us about doing a collaboration,” said Phil Bannan, who runs Scuttlebutt Brewing Co., the company his parents established in 1995 in Everett, Wash., 30 minutes north of Seattle. “At first, we couldn’t believe it was real. But, of course, we were so excited. We couldn’t sleep at night if we hadn’t gone for it.”
Turns out that Cal played for the Everett Aquasox when he was in the minor leagues, and his host family brought him to the Scuttlebutt Brewing tap house.
A few months ago, Raleigh spent some time hanging at the brewery, getting the lowdown on various styles from the head brewer, Adam Chittick. “They talked about different grains we use and smelled different types of hops,” Bannan said.
Cal leaned in one the lighter lager styles in tasting through various test batch samples and, boom! The Big Dumper beer was created. “It’s a lager, but one that’s got some complexity,” Bannan said.
The Big Dumper beer launched on Aug. 15, a collaboration between Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh and local craft beer producers, Scuttlebutt Brewing.
Leslie Kelly
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh collaborated on a beer with Scuttlebutt Brewing. The project included The Big Dumper learning about different grains and hops used in the process.
Courtesy of Scuttlebutt Brewing
How it’s going
After launching on Aug. 15, the beer has been a huge hit, selling out quickly when it manages to making it to the shelf. “Our distributors have been asking for more,” Bannan said. “It’s coming.”
In the meantime, it’s been nothing short of thrilling for the folks who started the family-run business nearly three decades ago. Mom and Dad and the grandson got to meet Cal on the field at T-Mobile Park and pose for a photo. “He’s just such a nice guy,” Bannan said.
And speaking of the ballpark, if/when the Big Dumper beer ever finds its way onto the taps, it’s absolutely essential it be paired with the Big Dumper dumplings.
If you’re looking for the quintessential food partner at Scuttlebutt’s waterfront restaurant, there’s many options, but nothing’s finer than a Big Dumper beer and an order of hand-dipped and battered Alaska cod fish and chips.
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh collaborated with the team from Scuttlebutt Brewing to create the Big Dumper beer. He greeted founder Phillip Bannan, Sr., and his wife, Scuttle, and grandson, Phillip Bannan III, at a recent game.
Courtesy of Scuttlebutt BrewingForbesHitting All The Right Notes On A Music-Driven Culinary Tour Of SeattleBy Leslie Kelly