Even before his alma mater contacted him about making University of Idaho’s first licensed beer, Graham Lilly ’12 had already secured his own kind of Vandal Victory by turning a hobby into a job.
After earning his bachelor’s degree in microbiology, Lilly was planning to go to medical school when he decided he needed a break, which he spent experimenting with homebrewing beer. By the time his break ended, he had a different plan — turning his new passion into a career.
“I had a doctor friend who tried to stage an intervention,” Lilly said, laughing. “It was really awkward. My mind was already made up.”
Fueled by his interest in learning more about the science of brewing, Lilly established Hunga Dunga Brewing Company in Moscow in 2016. In 2023, after working with U of I for several years on the project, he rolled out Vandal Victory Lager.
“We’re selling kegs to local bars and restaurants, and cans out of our taproom and through local grocery stores,” he said. “It’s been one of our bestsellers, especially during football season.”
Wanting to stay connected to U of I has always been important to Lilly, so he was thrilled when they reached out to him about creating a licensed beer to represent the Vandal brand.
Lilly worked with several U of I departments and the Collegiate Licensing Company during the process of creating the beer, getting input on everything from the name to the style of beer to the design of the label, which is a hybrid of Hunga Dunga’s logo and the iconic image of Joe Vandal.
It was daunting – it was kind of a terrifying thing to embark on. But if you have something you want to pursue, even if it doesn’t make sense to others, don’t be afraid to follow your dreams because you never know what might happen.
Graham Lilly ’12
Microbiology alum
His commitment to U of I also extends to helping those who are interested in learning more about brewing by guest lecturing on beer and brewing science for the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Lilly has also shared his industry knowledge with would-be brewers by providing internships at Hunga Dunga, something he’d like to continue.
“The lectures started when a former U of I professor of mine asked me to come in and talk about brewing,” said Lilly. “There are students who are really interested in the science and nuances of brewing. Maybe we can help inspire others to go down that path.”
Looking back at how Hunga Dunga began, Lilly, who is currently working on creating a U of I-licensed hard seltzer, said it was worth going through uncertainty and fear to create a business based on something he loves to do.
“It was daunting – it was kind of a terrifying thing to embark on,” he said. “But if you have something you want to pursue, even if it doesn’t make sense to others, don’t be afraid to follow your dreams because you never know what might happen.”
Vandal Victory Lager is available at the following locations:
- Moscow – Colter’s Creek Winery, Hunga Dunga Brewing Company, Lookout Bar and Grill, Moscow Food Co-op, Rosauers Supermarkets, Seasons Public House
- Pullman – Rosauers Supermarkets
- Meridian – 127 Saloon
- Boise – Parrilla Grill and Cantina