Billy Grotto On Twisted Tea & Efficient Superbowl Tailgating

Started in Cincinnati, Ohio in 2001, Twisted Tea Original is a hard iced tea. Simultaneously meant to quench your thirst and give you a buzz, Twisted Tea now comes in other flavors like Half and Half, Raspberry, Peach, and Tropical. As we are now in Superbowl season, while tailgating is still in full effect, Twisted Tea is a beverage worth considering for your cooler.

I did Q&A with Billy Grotto, Special Events Manager for Twisted Tea, over e-mail. Grotto is unique from other brand ambassadors in actually being out there at live events, someone who you can approach with ease. Billy G. — who is known to travel around 25,000 miles every year with his Twisted Tea motorcycle fleet — also filled me in on the brand’s new tie-in with NASCAR.

More on Twisted Tea can be found online at www.twistedtea.com, while Billy G. keeps a Tumblr at http://ontheroadwithbilly.tumblr.com.

What makes Twisted Teas ideal for tailgating?

Billy Grotto: A great tailgate is all about the right company, good food and most importantly, plenty of cold beverages, which is where Twisted Tea comes in. Twisted Tea is a smooth, flavorful, hard iced tea that tastes just like real iced tea and is just as refreshing. It’s not carbonated like beer and many other hard beverages, so you can easily sip it while you’re unwinding with friends and family.

Does Twisted Tea work as a mixer with other beverages?

Billy Grotto: While drinkers can get creative, Twisted Tea itself is so refreshing and drinkable, it’s really best enjoyed on its own or pour it over ice. Instead of mixing it, we’ve had some fun with some tailgating hacks we call #TwistedHacks, like repurposing empty cans to create a can boombox or even creating a mini grill out of a can!

Do you have a favorite of the Twisted Tea offerings?

Billy Grotto: That’s like asking me to pick a favorite child! While I love them all, my favorites are Twisted Tea Original, which tastes just like iced tea, and Half & Half, which is half tea and lemonade. Original is the hard iced tea that started it all and tastes just like iced tea. Half & Half is a great choice when you’re looking for something with a more citrusy kick.

What’s coming up for Twisted Tea?

Billy Grotto: While I’m always sipping my Twisted Tea Original, we’re kicking off 2018 by bringing drinkers across the country Twisted Tea Blackberry. Brewed with real iced tea, Twisted Tea Blackberry has the same refreshing taste as Twisted Tea Original but with a slightly sweet, slightly tart blackberry twist.

And one of my favorite seasons is around the corner: NASCAR season! At Twisted Tea, we’ll be cheering on the #13 Twisted Tea NASCAR driven by fellow Twisted Tea-lover Ty Dillon. We’ll be throwing some great Twisted Tea parties at our primary races where drinkers should look for our Twisted Tea RV, which will be the best place to tailgate before the race. Our coolers will be packed with Twisted Tea and the grill will be hot.

When not busy with Twisted Tea, how do you like to spend your free time?

Billy Grotto: I’m a big NASCAR fan myself and really enjoy tailgating with friends before watching the races. I’m also a big motorcycle buff and could talk shop about bikes for hours on end! At motorcycle rallies, I roll in with three custom Harley Davidson motorcycles, which you can’t miss because of the Twisted Tea yellow paint scheme on each bike. They’re awesome. In addition to our Twisted Tea bikes, I always have my sidekick Tank with me. He loves riding in the sidecar and he loves Twisted Tea — but he’s under 21 and a dog so no Tea for Tank. If you find yourself at a bike rally, make sure to come and party with us. We’ll make sure the Twisted Tea is ice cold.

I know it sounds cheesy, but I have the best job in the world. So I really fill my free time with a lot of the same activities I do for “work.”

Do you have a favorite bar in New York?

Billy Grotto: With sunny Florida as my homebase, it’s not every day I find myself amidst the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple. But if I am riding through town, you’ll find me grabbing a few 24-ounce cans to enjoy right when I arrive at my next stop, which is likely a rally in New Hampshire or a NASCAR race upstate in Watkins Glen, New York.

Finally, Billy, any last words for the kids?

Billy Grotto: You bet! People tend to only think of tailgating with warmer weather and football season but I’m a strong believer that tailgating is a year-round sport and Twisted Tea is the perfect, unexpected addition to any cooler, any time of year. If you’re looking for inspiration for your next party, don’t forget to follow the fun on our Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, @TwistedTea.

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Tags: Billy Grotto, Florida, NASCAR, Superbowl, Tailgating, Twisted Tea, Twisted Teas, TwistedHacks, Ty Dillon

About the Author

Darren Paltrowitz Darren Paltrowitz is a New York resident with over 20 years of entertainment industry experience. He began working around the music business as a teenager, interning for the manager of his then-favorite band Superdrag. Since then, he has worked with a wide array of artists including OK Go, They Might Be Giants, Mike Viola, Tracy Bonham, Loudness, Rachael Yamagata, and Amanda Palmer. Darren's writing has appeared in dozens of outlets including the New York Daily News, Inquisitr, The Daily Meal, The Hype Magazine, All Music Guide, Guitar World, TheStreet.com, Businessweek, Chicago Tribune, L.A. Times, and the Jewish Journal. Beyond being "Editor At Large" for The Hype Magazine, Darren is also the host of weekly "Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz" series, which airs on dozens on television and digital networks. He has also co-authored 2 published books, 2018's "Pocket Change: Your Happy Money" (Book Web Publishing) and 2019's "Good Advice From Professional Wrestling" (6623 Press), and co-hosts the world's only known podcast about David Lee Roth, "The DLR Cast."