Exciting things are happening for Southern Charm’s Austen Kroll, and they happen to come in four fruity flavors.
The Trop Hop Beer founder just launched his new line of non-alcoholic, THC-infused coolers under his brand, a project in the works for some time. The South Carolinian entrepreneur previously teased a “big announcement” on Instagram and listed several stops in North Carolina where fans can sip as part of several in-person tastings. Southern Charm-er Shep Rose commented, “Guess I know what we’re doing tomorrow in ctl,” presumably a reference to Charlotte.
“Surprise!” Austen captioned the Oct. 22 Instagram post unveiling four colorful coolor cans.
On the Trop Hop seller’s website, buyers can choose any of four refreshing flavors in a four-pack, 12-pack, or 24-pack starting at $30. Drinks containing five milligrams of THC — the psychoactive chemical found in the cannabis plant — include a blueberry pomegranate with a “smooth and vibrant blend” and black cherry and Meyer lemon, where “richness meets soft citrus sweetness.” For double the THC, a “zesty and bold” blood orange and a “bright, tropical” passion fruit are also available for purchase.
Austen irst teased plans for the recent drink collection at DIRECTV’s Plot Twist – Featuring Bravo event in New York City on Aug. 12. As he told Bravo’s The Daily Dish, “I’ll just say it: I’m coming out with a THC seltzer. Very soon, in fact. I just inked that deal with a THC brand.”
Related: Austen Kroll Reveals Major “Doubts” About Relationship With Girlfriend Audrey Pratt (VIDEO)
Continued the Charleston-based businessman, “Look, I know that there are other people, and everyone’s got all sorts of products — tequila brands and seltzers and spritzes and beers — [but] the space is wide enough for everyone. And I’m very excited.”
What is Austen Kroll’s brand, Trop Hop?
Trop Hop is the brainchild of Austen’s idea to create a beer brand with a tropical flair. It started in 2018 after Austen found himself tired of “slinging someone else’s product” when working at an Atlanta-based brewery. That was where, according to his website, he had “a lightbulb moment.”
Per the brand’s mission statement, “While there have been many ups and downs within the highly humbling beer industry, it still gives me the greatest pleasure to see, or hear, the reaction of someone who has tasted a Trop Hop for the first time. With so much more on the horizon, with flavors, and new states coming on board, I can’t wait to see what the future holds, and thank each and every one of you for being a part of my journey!”
His flagship flavor was “heavily fruited” with grapefruit and passionfruit, followed by a peachy wheat ale.
Details on Austen Kroll’s businesses, including collabs with Craig Conover
Joining Austen at the NYC event was longtime friend and business partner Craig Conover, sharing details about their new Charleston-based wedding venue, The Waverly. Said Craig, “Our story’s just beginning, you know? Our fairy tale is the beginning of the movie. But we want to help people celebrate the middle chapter of their fairy tale, and it all coming together.”
Related: Go Inside Shep Rose’s Birthday Weekend with Austen Kroll and Craig Conover (PHOTOS)
The face of Sewing Down South said the all-in-one space was a way of “expanding [their] footprint in Charleston” with the same business partners who were part of his and Austen’s Charleston restaurant, By The Way. Craig added, “Investing in our backyard.”
Austen and Craig also co-host the Pillows and Beer podcast.
“Working with friends is interesting,” Craig said on the Feb. 6 episode of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. “Work ethics are just different. I think Austen and I know we have something good.”
However, Craig’s kind words came before the Southern Charm Season 11 trailer teased a love triangle between the close friends and Salley Carson.
