Hey Tony, What’s Up? You Used to be Cool!
August 23, 2008
“Oh no! What have I done? I smashed open my little boy’s piggy bank, and for what? A few measly cents, not even enough to buy one beer… Wait a minute, lemme count and make sure … not even close.
- Homer Simpson
One place that I always thought nicely bridged the gap between pathetic loners sitting at a bar enjoying lunch and a beer to happily married men having brunch with their families on a Sunday, sipping a local craft beer was Tony Packo’s in Toledo. One day I hoped that the bridge would span to bringing our kid along and enjoying lunch while our kid drinks from a sippy cup while I enjoy my beer. Yes, taking the kid to Dick Waters pool (our local public pool) and then going down to Toledo for a hot dog would be a fun-filled family day. Thanks to Tony Packo’s, unless things change, that day just got less fun.
Okay, it’s a long way to go to mention that Tony Packo’s no longer serves Great Lakes Brewing Co. (and also to point out that our public pool is named Dick Waters.) I know there is no way that Tony Packo’s will read this but, Tony! Why did you make that decision? Okay, you replaced it with Shiner Bock which is fine if you live in Texas but you aren’t in Texas. You are in Ohio and you are an institution. When presidential candidates come through Toledo and they want to seem like regular guys they stop at your place. When Gabe Kaplan comes through Toledo pushing his autobiography and needs a photo op to promote his signing at Border’s he stops at your place. When once popular bands that used to play stadiums are down to playing old movie theatres with their one remaining member, they stop at your place. And now, these people can’t enjoy the best that Ohio has to offer? The Crickets deserve to have local craft beer. They’re from Texas. They can have Shiner Bock anytime.
The remedy is simple. Put Great Lakes back on tap and/or serve it in bottles. You would be supporting a local brewery and spotlighting that great beer can be made in Ohio. To not serve GLBC is taking a step back in time. A time when the greatest accomplishment in American brewing was to get Mean Joe Greene to push your product.
Posted in Beer and Food
August 23rd, 2008 at 11:04 am
Aw man. That’s horrible news. That was my favorite part of going there. Hopefully it’s just temporary….
August 23rd, 2008 at 11:07 am
Ok gang, if you feel as heartbroken as Kevin and I do about this – do your part and send Tony Packo’s a letter. Include the link to this blog post (both posted below). Hopefully we can get someone to respond to say “sorry guys, just a temporary thing, it’ll be back on tap soon!!”..
http://www.tonypackos.com/contact.php
link to mibeerbuzz blog post: http://www.blogsmonroe.com/beer/2008/08/23/hey-tony-whats-up-you-used-to-be-cool/
August 23rd, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Man, that sucks. That Tony’s used to be the best place to get Great Lakes.
Shiner Bock is going to be a problem for a while. It was like that when Coors came to town too. Coors is just like all the other american light lagers but it was something we couldn’t get before so all the idiots wanted it.
My problem with Shiner Bock is it claims to be something good, a bock beer, but it’s just another light lager (but darker in color) with a misleading name.
August 24th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Shiner? Say it ain’t so. Packo’s at the Park is a good pre-Mudhens option because they had Great Lakes.
August 24th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
I am not sure about the Packo’s at the park. I was at the Front Street location. I hope they still have GLBC at the Park.
August 24th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
That stinks!
I liked Shiner Bock, but that was when I lived in Texas and didn’t know any better. My Beer Horizons have been tremendously widened since 2000. I’m saying this now because I have to get the guilt off of my shoulders.
Several months ago Kevin said he saw Shiner Bock for sale in Toledo. I believe it might have been The Andersons, but I could be wrong. Any hoo, I asked him top pick some up for me because I hadn’t had any since 2000. I remembered great things about it, but remember that’s when I lived in Texas and my mind wasn’t right. Long story short Shiner Bock didn’t taste anything like I remembered it and honestly, didn’t taste that good.
My growing love of hops these days have shadowed my dark lager days and I hope for the sake of Tony Packo’s it’s just a trial period.
My name is Josh and I’m a Hopaholic.
August 24th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
OK guys: Are we truly ready to take matters into our own hands??? Here’s the info on the Front Street address:
Tony Packo’s – Front Street Restaurant; 1902 Front Street, Toledo, OH 43605; Phone: (419)691-6054; Fax: (419)691-8358
Can we all call within the next few days and ask for the manager? Let them know we heard the sad news on this blog. Also, here’s a link to send your written thoughts to Pockos:
http://www.tonypackos.com/contact.php
Let’s turn the tide and get Shiner back to Texas! Yuck!!!
PS: Who ever gets the name of the manager at the Front Street location, please post it so we know who to ask for!
August 24th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Okay guys and gals, I put my money where my mouth is. Here is a copy of the e-mail I just sent to Packos. I encourage you to do the same:
To whom it may concern,
I have been a big fan of Tony Packos for many years and visit you every time I visit Toledo. I have recently read an article on a blog (Michigan Beer Buzz) stating that you no longer carry beer from the Great Lakes Brewing Company. I hope that this information is incorrect or only a temporary situation. Being from Michigan (and a lover of good craft beers), I look for other craft beers when I travel. To discontinue serving an Ohio institution and replace it with a beer brewed in Texas needs to be explained. I trust that you will reconsider this decision and bring back GLBC and support your fellow brothers from Ohio!
Sincerely,
Craig Belanger
Craft Beer Locator
August 26th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Shiner Bock? Are you kidding me? Ugh. I had a six pack of that seven or eight years ago. It took me over a year to finish it. After the first bottle, the remainder was relegated to “crap corner”, which is the section of my beer fridge that houses the stray bottles of junk that the unenlightened leave at my house after parties – ya know, wine coolers, MGD Light, etc.
I shouldn’t keep that garbage in my fridge at all, but I’m a nice guy.
I’ve never been to Tony Packos, but if Shiner Bock is their idea of variety, it’s unlikely I’ll ever find a reason to visit.
August 26th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
I will be at Fifth Third Field on Friday and will do my best to stop by Packo’s At the Park to see if they still have Great Lakes on tap. If they do, I’ll stop and have one. Otherwise, I’ll pray to the beer gods that I can find a vendor with Shocktop (i.e. AB’s answer to Blue Moon) available inside the stadium gates.