As Dan Snyder moves closer to finally selling the Commanders, Virginia’s Old Ox Brewery has released an IPA commemorating the moment: Bye Dan. Within an hour and 15 minutes of its debut last Friday, all 350 cases were sold out.
“We are a community focused brewery, and when we see opportunities for a community celebration, we really want to embrace that,” says Old Ox owner Chris Burns. The Ashburn brewery, located near the Commanders’ headquarters, shows games every Sunday during football season and has hosted players over the years. “They’re a big part of the brewery. And frankly, it’s just felt like there’s been this gray cloud over the team for the last 23, 24 years. That cloud was lifted last week.”
The beer has actually been in the works for six weeks. Sports radio 106.7 The Fan had been looking for a place to do a live broadcast when news of the sale broke, and Old Ox was an obvious fit given its location. Also obvious: the brewery should make an IPA to commemorate the moment.
“IPAs are traditionally a bitter style. And we’ve kind of associated Dan’s reign over the team as a bitter period in Commanders history,” Burns says. Bye Dan also has some tropical notes: “It’s kind of like your mouth has taken a vacation. So from our perspective, it represented this new beginning for the team.”
The label features hog mascot Major Tuddy waving goodbye to Snyder and saying “tastes like 23 years of bitterness!”
The beer was actually brewed three weeks ago, but by pure coincidence, last Friday was the first day that the brewery would have been able to get it packaged and ready. “Dan did us a favor by holding off until Thursday afternoon to get the sale announced,” Burns says.
While the first batch of cans has sold out, you can still find Bye Dan on draft at the brewery. Old Ox is already working on a second batch, which you can pre-order for pick-up at the brewery on May 12 ($16 for a four-pack). It will take a little longer to get the approvals for wider retail distribution.
“This is a big deal for Washington sports fans, and if we can be just a tiny part of the larger celebration, we will keep going with it for sure,” Burns says.
This story has been updated to clarify that the Commanders have not yet been sold.
Jessica Sidman covers the people and trends behind D.C.’s food and drink scene. Before joining Washingtonian in July 2016, she was Food Editor and Young & Hungry columnist at Washington City Paper. She is a Colorado native and University of Pennsylvania grad.
