UM’s turnover chain inspires a made-in-Miami golden beer

It has inspired T-shirts and a Migos-style hype song. Soon, fans will have a beer brewed in honor of the University of Miami football team’s mythical turnover chain.

Wynwood brewery J. Wakefield Brewing is working on a Turnover Chain IPA that they hope to make available before the undefeated Hurricanes play in a bowl game or perhaps in the College Football Playoff, where they currently sit in the No. 3 spot out of the top four teams.

Johnathan Wakefield, the namesake and founder of the brewery, said he’s been a fan of the Canes since the days of Jimmy Johnson, Bernie Kosar and Vinny Testaverde.

“I’ve been a Miami Hurricane fan since Day One, basically. I’ve remained a Canes fan even through the rough times,” Wakefield said.

The beer is expected to have some Miami “flavor” and be “citrus-filled.” And, Wakefield said, it will have a golden look just like the game-changing chain it’s named after.

The brewery has also partnered with former Hurricanes linebacker D.J. Williams to produce the beer. Williams founded the Dyme Lyfe clothing company, which has produced turnover chain shirts, hoodies, even an ugly Christmas sweater. He and Wakefield met and decided to collaborate.

“I was gonna do this beer anyway just as a Canes fan but I know D.J. had been doing the shirt, so what better way to do this than to get with D.J. and do this as a tandem and really make this a city of Miami beer,” Wakefield said.

The turnover chain is a big, gold “Cuban link” necklace complete with a jeweled Hurricanes logo that was the brainchild of defensive coordinator Manny Diaz II. Players rush to the sideline to sport the gold chain after intercepting a pass or recovering a fumble, and it has become a catalyst for plenty of hate from UM critics but loads of adoration from fans.

Unfortunately the beer won’t likely be available before the end of the regular season. At the earliest it could be on sale by the time the Hurricanes face the Clemson Tigers in the ACC Championship game next month.

The Turnover Chain IPA — once complete — will be on tap at the brewery’s taproom in Wynwood, 120 NW 24th St., and for sale in packs of four 16-ounce cans for $16.

This story was originally published November 15, 2017 at 3:23 PM with the headline "UM’s turnover chain inspires a made-in-Miami golden beer."