Products debut, support colleges
ODU gets its own ice cream; CNU gets its own beer
Two businesses — one on the Peninsula, one in South Hampton Roads — are teaming with local universities to launch products that support scholarships.
The “Ice Cream and Cake” chant — from the song by the Buckwheat Boyz — is familiar to fans and cheerleaders at Old Dominion University. After almost 20 years of dancing to and screaming for the treats, a new partnership with Lolly’s Creamery answers the call.
The locally owned ice cream shop, with locations in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, partnered with ODU to create an Ice Cream and Cake flavor — a swirl of bluetinted butter cake in a sweet ice cream base.
The flavor will be revealed today in celebration of university mascot Big Blue’s birthday. There will be a limited number of samples for fans during the men’s and women’s basketball games today and for guests at Big Blue’s birthday party from 6 -7 p.m. at Chartway Arena.
Lolly’s founder Joey Launi said the business loves the Hampton Roads community and was really excited to deliver on the flavor.
“To be able to bring it to life — through ice cream — is kind of how we are built to serve this community,” he said.
The flavor will be available in scoops, sundaes and pints at the 5109 Colley Ave. shop and in take-home pints at the Virginia Beach locations.
On the Peninsula, fans and friends of Christopher Newport University will get to raise a glass of Captains Lager Amber Lager. The university began a licensing partnership with Newport News-based Tradition Brewing Co. to create the custom branded craft beer.
Ron Quinlan, associate professor of chemistry at CNU, worked with Tradition’s brewers to create the traditional style lager. Featuring a light and smooth malty sweetness coupled with subtle hop bitterness, the beer will be released during a launch party from 2-6 p.m. today at the brewery at 700 Thimble Shoals Blvd. near City Center.
The beer will also be available in local grocery stores and on draft in local restaurants.
Gray Bowditch, CEO and co-founder of Tradition Brewing, said the business is tickled to be one of several different craft breweries across the state to contractually commit to a public university — and he hopes this beer will be the first of many with CNU.
“Part of our brand is creating traditions, and this partnership extends that brand by being part of people’s traditions — whether it’s alumni events, alumni friend gatherings or post-athletic events,” Bowditch said.
A portion of royalties for both products will go toward the respective universities’ scholarship funds.