Frozen Beer "Hopscicle", illegal in Virginia - Page 2

teedubya · 06-21-2007, 11:16 PM

http://www.yahoo.com/s/610038 [link to video]

It gets hot in Alexandria, Va., this time of year. Restaurateur Frank Morales came up with a great idea for a new menu offering at his Rustico Restaurant: frozen beer pops.

There's just one problem: The Virginia Alcohol Bureau of Control says that beer pops are illegal.

Rustico has a menu shaped around fresh American ingredients and cooking styles that lean toward Italy. They also have 30 taps and an extensive bottle selection. Morales came up with the idea to make beer pops using raspberry and plum flavored Belgian lambics, plus a fudge-flavored offering with a stout base. Rustico sells a small for $4 and a large for $6. The new offering was unique enough that an Associated Press decided to do a story on Rustico's beer pops.

This is where the old saying that all publicity is good publicity goes wrong. The AP reporter called the Virginia ABC enforcement folks to see what regulations governed frozen beer. That set off government regulations just waiting to stifle fun and creativity.

Virginia ABC rules state that beer must be served in its original container or served to customers immediately after it is poured from its original container. This is likely a good rule to stop bars from passing off cheaper beer to customers. Obviously, this is not the intent at Rustico, but the Virginia ABC is dispatching an investigator to the restaurant.

Currently, Rustico's beer pops are 100 percent beer. Morales and his culinary team are looking at ways to add other ingredients to see if that can skirt the Virginia ABC's regulations. They point out that beer is used in several recipes at the restaurant and has never been challenged.

Let's hope cooler heads prevail at the Virginia ABC and culinary creativity can live on at Rustico.

DMAC · 06-22-2007, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by listopencil

Wouldn't the alcohol drain out of the fluid when it was frozen, though?

Probably not, it's only 3-5 % alcohol.

Redrum_69 · 06-22-2007, 10:20 AM

Smirnoff Ice Pomegrante ...

StcChief · 06-22-2007, 11:42 AM

No Beer is too low %,
A freezer will freeze it, bottles do pop tops if left in freezer trust me...

DenverChief · 06-22-2007, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StcChief

No Beer is too low %,
A freezer will freeze it, bottles do pop tops if left in freezer trust me...

kc rush · 06-22-2007, 12:53 PM

One of my best friends lives in Virginia and I was shocked when I saw a guy jump out of his truck at a stop light and grab a couple of beers in downtown Norfolk. My friend said that it happens all of the time since there is no open container law (or at least none that are enforced). I guess that it doesn’t matter there unless the cops see the driver drinking.

This story surprised me considering what I had seen.

Natty_Light_Man · 06-22-2007, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StcChief

No Beer is too low %,
A freezer will freeze it, bottles do pop tops if left in freezer trust me...

Sounds like you are talking from experience....

Natty_Light_Man · 06-22-2007, 01:08 PM

Make for a good instrument enjoyed by both you and your wife. Get my drift......

FringeNC · 06-22-2007, 01:17 PM

Virginia is the same state that doesn't allow radar detectors and sends undercover cops into bars to arrest patrons for public drunkenness. Virginia seems to be the one red nanny-state.

Garcia Bronco · 06-22-2007, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FringeNC

Virginia is the same state that doesn't allow radar detectors and sends undercover cops into bars to arrest patrons for public drunkenness. Virginia seems to be the one red nanny-state.

Virginia is neither a blue or red state..recent history has shown that in elections we typically will vote either party.

FringeNC · 06-22-2007, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

Virginia is neither a blue or red state..recent history has shown that in elections we typically will vote either party.

True.

Is the "no radar detectors" popular legislation there? I don't understand how that passed.

Garcia Bronco · 06-22-2007, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FringeNC

True.

Is the "no radar detectors" popular legislation there? I don't understand how that passed.

DC and Virginia are the only places I believe that don't allow them. That legislation has been in place since I can remember my dad being a police officer and having one...that put's it at about 24 years ago.

JohninGpt · 06-22-2007, 02:13 PM

Garcia, what part of the state are you in?

Garcia Bronco · 06-22-2007, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohninGpt

Garcia, what part of the state are you in?

I was born in Portsmouth(1975), grew up in Virginia Beach(1982), lived in Blacksburg(graduated 98), moved back to Chesapeake(98), and then moved to Richmond(99) until last december when I moved to Denver, Colorado...and I am never coming back for good....but I love Virginia.

My dad was a Police Officer in Portsmouth.

JohninGpt · 06-22-2007, 02:27 PM

I'm at the South end of the MMBT, officially Suffolk, but really Churchland/Portsmouth/Chesapeake.

ArrowheadHawk · 06-22-2007, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinyEvel

Damn! there goes the loophole I was looking for in my 20 days without DRINKING alcohol plan.

you could always take an alcohol enema

i think you would still pass a Breathalyzer this way too

06-21-2007, 11:16 PM
teedubya Most Valuable Poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Casino cash: $9460002	Frozen Beer "Hopscicle", illegal in Virginia http://www.yahoo.com/s/610038 [link to video] It gets hot in Alexandria, Va., this time of year. Restaurateur Frank Morales came up with a great idea for a new menu offering at his Rustico Restaurant: frozen beer pops. There's just one problem: The Virginia Alcohol Bureau of Control says that beer pops are illegal. Rustico has a menu shaped around fresh American ingredients and cooking styles that lean toward Italy. They also have 30 taps and an extensive bottle selection. Morales came up with the idea to make beer pops using raspberry and plum flavored Belgian lambics, plus a fudge-flavored offering with a stout base. Rustico sells a small for $4 and a large for $6. The new offering was unique enough that an Associated Press decided to do a story on Rustico's beer pops. This is where the old saying that all publicity is good publicity goes wrong. The AP reporter called the Virginia ABC enforcement folks to see what regulations governed frozen beer. That set off government regulations just waiting to stifle fun and creativity. Virginia ABC rules state that beer must be served in its original container or served to customers immediately after it is poured from its original container. This is likely a good rule to stop bars from passing off cheaper beer to customers. Obviously, this is not the intent at Rustico, but the Virginia ABC is dispatching an investigator to the restaurant. Currently, Rustico's beer pops are 100 percent beer. Morales and his culinary team are looking at ways to add other ingredients to see if that can skirt the Virginia ABC's regulations. They point out that beer is used in several recipes at the restaurant and has never been challenged. Let's hope cooler heads prevail at the Virginia ABC and culinary creativity can live on at Rustico.
Posts: 36,664

06-22-2007, 10:20 AM	#17
Redrum_69 Banned Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: your nightmares Casino cash: $10004900	Smirnoff Ice Pomegrante ...
Posts: 6,358

06-22-2007, 11:42 AM	#18
StcChief Playing for #1 Draft Pick Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Just West of Lambs land Casino cash: $10004900	No Beer is too low %, A freezer will freeze it, bottles do pop tops if left in freezer trust me...
Posts: 25,901

06-22-2007, 12:53 PM	#20
kc rush Blah Blah Blah Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: In front of the computer. Casino cash: $3859559	One of my best friends lives in Virginia and I was shocked when I saw a guy jump out of his truck at a stop light and grab a couple of beers in downtown Norfolk. My friend said that it happens all of the time since there is no open container law (or at least none that are enforced). I guess that it doesn’t matter there unless the cops see the driver drinking. This story surprised me considering what I had seen.
Posts: 12,557

06-22-2007, 01:08 PM	#22
Natty_Light_Man mdomino Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: West of STL Casino cash: $10004900	Make for a good instrument enjoyed by both you and your wife. Get my drift......
Posts: 141

06-22-2007, 01:17 PM	#23
FringeNC MVP Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: NC Casino cash: $1356014	Virginia is the same state that doesn't allow radar detectors and sends undercover cops into bars to arrest patrons for public drunkenness. Virginia seems to be the one red nanny-state.
Posts: 10,174

06-22-2007, 02:13 PM	#27
JohninGpt Dammit Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Busted Stick, IT Casino cash: $5228304	Garcia, what part of the state are you in?
Posts: 4,161

06-22-2007, 02:27 PM	#29
JohninGpt Dammit Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Busted Stick, IT Casino cash: $5228304	I'm at the South end of the MMBT, officially Suffolk, but really Churchland/Portsmouth/Chesapeake.
Posts: 4,161