To Lytle Pharmacy Owner, That Fat Tire in the Cooler is Personal

Lytle Pharmacy on Main Street has been around a long time. And they've been sellling beer for a long time, too. 

"We've sold beer here since the Prohibition," owner Bob Lytle said, then added with a chuckle. "Probably even during the Prohibition."

But now the Lytle Pharmacy beer cooler has a more personal touch. They're selling New Belgium Brewing Company's Fat Tire Amber Ale.

What's so personal about a beer brewed in Colorado?

Bob Lytle's son, Bo, is a brewer for New Belgium. Bo Lytle, a Rochester High School graduate, has been working at New Belgium's world headquarters for the past 10 years.

'People were clambering for it'

Fat Tire ale, named for its co-founder's bike trip through Europe, has been around since 1991. It has quite a following west of the Mississiippi river, but according to Lytle, people out here have been "clambering for it," too.

"It's a great beer. When we visit Bo in Colorado we'll bring some back and it's always very popular when we entertain and serve it at home," Lytle said. "And whenever I wear my Fat Tire gear out, people immediately would want to know where they could get Fat Tire beer."

In August New Belgium made a deal with 22 Michigan distributors to bring Fat Tire and other New Belgium products to the state.

So while there are other places you can get a Fat Tire, only Lytle Pharmacy can sell it with a father's special pride.

"It's been a long time coming," Lytle said.