Thursday, January 28, 2010

Victory for the Little Guy

November 30, 2007 was a bleak day for beer drinkers across the Eastern Seaboard. Old Dominion Brewing Co., then-recently purchased by a consortium that included Anheuser Busch, ceased bottling Tupper's Hop Pocket Ale. I haven't had my favorite beer since sometime shortly thereafter.

While the new ownership group still markets Old Dominion products brewed in Delaware or some such godforsaken place, the Ashburn, VA-based brewery is no longer. Yesterday's Washington Post brought much better news as it relates to Tupper's.

Bob and Ellie Tupper, the beer aficianodos who contracted with Old Dominion to produce their private label, finally found another craft suds shop to take their business. Hampton, VA's St. George Brewing is cranking out Tupper's using the same recipe, process, and fermenting tanks employed by Old Dominion. St. George's lower overall production capacity means smaller runs and correspondingly higher prices (in this case, Tupper's will retail for $10 per 4-pack), and I couldn't care less.

I'll be scanning my local beverage retailers for the familiar red-bannered logo and eagerly awaiting my first taste of the 'extravagantly hopped' ale in two years. And when I pour that first glass and take a sip, I'll be sure to lift a middle finger to the InBev bastards that took Tupper's from me.

12 comments:

jerome said...

This post is Dumbarton approved.

zman said...

G:TB = a lot of beer a lot of girls and a lot of cursin'. Well, only two girls. And Michael.

rob said...

you seen any tupper's in your local merchant's aisles, jerome?

Whitney said...

St. George was producing some damn fine brews even before this. They are giving Starr Hill a run as best VA brewery. I think Legend's fallen to 3rd.

zman said...

Legend Porter was a great beer, do they still make that?

RIP Howard Zinn too. That book will knock you on your ass.

Whitney said...

Legend porter is still around. Legend brown ale is also a solid option.

If anyone was listening carefully, I mentioned St. George nut brown ale as my reply to Rob's "what you drank last night" inquiry. Excited for the Tupper's addition.

Whitney said...

And make no mistake, I am most pleased for my little buddy. Rob has proclaimed Tuppers' as his favorite beer for some time now, and would do so lamentingly for the last two years -- he has to be giddy to get another chance to enjoy it. Life's little pleasures.

rob said...

look at whitney making obscure podcast references. nice.

Mark said...

Who's pumped for the first night of Winter X Games?

I'll be sure to celebrate in appropriate fashion (bong hits and snow angels).

Mark said...

You know who's an underrated second banana celebrity brother?

Bob Valvano.

rob said...

shut the fuck up, donny

Mark said...

I do not enjoy watching the Magic play basketball these days.