If you were scrolling through country music headlines back in 2013, you might have done a double-take at a title that felt less like a Nashville radio hit and more like something scrawled on the back of a coaster in a roadside dive. Montgomery Gentry Tittys Beer. Yeah, it's a real thing. It wasn't just a fever dream or a leaked demo that should've stayed in the vault.
It was a full-blown production. Music video and everything.
Honestly, it remains one of the most polarizing moments in a career that was otherwise defined by blue-collar anthems and "hell yeah" energy. Eddie Montgomery and the late Troy Gentry were always the kings of the "work hard, play harder" crowd, but this specific track—originally recorded by Colt Ford—pushed the envelope so far it practically fell off the desk. Some fans saw it as a hilarious, tongue-in-cheek marketing satire. Critics? They weren't so kind. Some called it a "blood-curdling scream" for relevancy.
But what’s the actual story behind the song?
The Anatomy of a Country Music Punchline
Let’s be real: the title is designed to grab you by the collar. But if you actually listen to the lyrics of Montgomery Gentry Tittys Beer, it’s a narrative song. It tells the story of "Uncle Titus," a guy who decides to get into the craft brewery game. But Titus isn't interested in hops, notes of citrus, or fancy fermentation processes. He’s banking entirely on the branding.
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The "marketing plan" involves selling the beer by the pair (calling it a "rack") and trying to get Dolly Parton for the ad campaign. It’s absurd. It’s over-the-top. It basically takes every "bro-country" trope of the early 2010s and turns the volume up to eleven.
- Written by: Craig Wiseman, Tim Nichols, and Troy Gentry.
- Original Artist: Colt Ford (on Declaration of Independence, 2012).
- The Vibe: Southern rock meets locker-room humor.
The song first appeared for Montgomery Gentry on the Mud Digger 4 compilation album in 2013. That's a series put out by Average Joes Entertainment, a label known for blending country, rap, and "hick-hop." It wasn't exactly meant for the pristine airwaves of CMT’s morning countdown, even though it did get a polished music video.
Why It Hit a Nerve
Context is everything. In 2013, country music was going through a massive identity crisis. You had the rise of "Bro-Country"—songs about tailgates, tan lines, and tight jeans. Critics were already exhausted by the lack of depth on the charts. Then comes a duo as legendary as Montgomery Gentry, veterans with hits like "Something to Be Proud Of," singing about a fictional brew called "Titty's Beer."
The backlash was swift from the "traditionalist" camp. Saving Country Music wrote a legendary rant about it, essentially saying the song was an "ode to idiocracy." They argued that while country music has a long history of double entendres—think Loretta Lynn’s "The Pill" or even the playful suggestive nature of Conway Twitty—this song lacked any sort of "veil." It just said the quiet part out loud.
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On the flip side, if you go to a Montgomery Gentry show (or did back then), the crowd wasn't there for a lecture on lyrical nuance. They were there to let loose. To many fans, it was just a funny song about a guy with a ridiculous business idea. It wasn't meant to be "The Dance" by Garth Brooks. It was meant to be played at a mud bog or a backyard BBQ.
The Marketing Satire (Or Was It?)
There is a layer to the song that people often miss because they can't get past the title. It’s actually a parody of corporate greed and gimmick-led business. Uncle Titus doesn't care if the beer tastes like dishwater. He knows that if he puts a provocative name on it, it’ll sell.
"Taste wasn't gonna be his claim to fame / What he was bankin' on was all in the name."
There’s a weirdly cynical truth there. We live in a world of celebrity brands and "shock" marketing. In a way, the song predicts the "influencer" era of products where the package matters way more than the contents.
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Where to Find It Today
If you’re looking for the track now, it’s mostly lived on through the Mud Digger compilations and the Deluxe Gold Edition of their album Rebels On The Run. It’s a relic of a very specific era in Nashville where the lines between "outlaw" and "outrageous" got extremely blurry.
Troy Gentry’s passing in 2017 obviously changed the legacy of the duo forever. When people look back at their discography now, they usually gravitate toward the soulful, patriotic, or rowdy-but-meaningful hits. Montgomery Gentry Tittys Beer usually gets relegated to the "did that actually happen?" pile of trivia.
But it did happen. And it’s a reminder that even the biggest stars in the genre aren't afraid to take a swing at something totally ridiculous just for the hell of it.
Actionable Takeaways for Country Fans
If you're diving into the deeper cuts of the Montgomery Gentry catalog, here is how to handle the "Titty's Beer" era:
- Check the Credits: Notice that Troy Gentry himself has a co-write on this. It shows his sense of humor and his willingness to lean into the "average joe" persona that the duo championed.
- Watch the Video: If you can find the music video, it’s a time capsule of 2013 country culture—Affliction-style shirts, rowdy crowds, and a very specific "Average Joes" aesthetic.
- Contrast with the Hits: Listen to "Better Me" (one of Troy's final recordings) right after this. The contrast is staggering. It shows the range they had—from the absolute bottom-of-the-barrel humor to deeply moving, spiritual reflections on life.
- Explore the Label: If you like this vibe, look into the early catalog of Average Joes Entertainment. Artists like Colt Ford and The Lacs operate in this exact space where country music meets unapologetic redneck culture.
The song is loud, it’s crude, and it’s definitely not for everyone. But in the world of country music history, it’s a fascinatng footnote about what happens when Nashville legends decide to stop playing it safe and start playing for the back of the bar.
Understand the context of the 2013 "Bro-Country" explosion to see why this song was both a product of its time and a step too far for some. Check out the Rebels On The Run (Deluxe Gold Edition) for the most polished version of the track.