Red Fox IPA Makes Its Long-Awaited Debut

A few cans of the Red Fox IPA which is now available. Photo by Kate Chorbajian '27

In less than a month, the new Red Fox IPA has gained rapid popularity among the Marist University community. 

“They’re flying off the shelves, people are constantly asking for them,” said concession worker Maya Rawls ‘28.

The idea of a Marist-branded beer began in 2019, led by Marist Director of Athletics Tim Murray and former Chief Financial Officer John Pecchia. However, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the project, and with Pecchia’s retirement in 2021, the idea was put on the back burner.

Murray renewed planning for the beer’s development this summer, aiming for the beer to be from a Hudson Valley brewery. He met with a few local breweries, some founded by Marist alumni, but none had the capacity needed for this project. A conversation with the men at Rossi’s Deli brought up Sloop Brewing Co.

After a round of golf in the summer of 2024, Murray decided to take a very forward approach and walk right into the brewery. He struck up a conversation with Justin Taylor, co-founder of Sloop, and they started making plans soon after.

Taylor and his business partner, Adam Watson, founded Sloop Brewing Co. in 2011, selling their brews at local farmer's markets and quickly gaining popularity. By 2018, Sloop bought a former IBM plant located in East Fishkill. Sloop now sells across the entire East Coast, with its reach stretching to Florida. 

After partnering with Sloop, Marist began prepping its transition from college to university. The goal was to release the beer in late January to coincide with Marist University Day, giving them five months to prep the project.

“We didn't want to take away from the announcement of the university, but it would be a good parallel with that announcement,” Murray said. 

With this in mind, Taylor wasted no time coming up to Marist in the fall. He brought with him Sloop’s full selection of beer to work on flavor development. President Kevin Weinman opened up the tasting to anyone in his cabinet, and the cabinet members who attended were educated on the different types of beer, hops and the ranges of alcohol levels. From there, the citrusy, low-alcohol, dry-hopped IPA was born.

“I really was hoping it would be an IPA because that's my favorite, and it's such a specialty in this area,” Weinman said. “I really like that they made it low-alcohol, so it's a very drinkable, enjoyable beer, but it has a lot of flavor to it.”

The label was designed by Sloop’s marketing team. While the IPA is a collaboration with Marist, Sloop took the reins on primary marketing and development, making it fit the Marist profile while also being distinctly a Sloop brew. 

Daryl Richard, Marist’s vice president of communications and marketing, and his team came in at the end of the marketing design process and made final edits to the label. After this final step, the Red Fox IPA was ready to roll out, just in time for Marist University Day. 

The Red Fox IPA is being sold in the James J. McCann Center during men's and women's basketball games, as well as football games and other selected athletic events. The IPA will also be available during any other Marist event that sanctions alcohol. It is currently sold in cans but beer taps are being fabricated.

While the beer is available for on-campus events, soon the Red Fox IPA will expand outwards into the greater Poughkeepsie area. On Feb. 13, 2025, Sloop produced a large batch that is currently being packaged and shipped out by Craft, a beer, wine and spirits distributor.

Shoppers will soon see the Red Fox IPA in major stores like ShopRite and Chestnut Market, as well as local restaurants like Cosimo's and Tavern 23. Murray is in contact with many other local businesses on integrating the IPA into their inventory. 

While those outside of the Hudson Valley may not be able to get their hands on the Red Fox IPA, Sloop is working on a new mailing system for New York residents due to such high demand. This will allow families and alumni across the state to join in on the celebration of Marist University. 

“The reaction has just been tremendous, so I feel really grateful about that,” Weinman said. “The can is beautiful, and it's a really fun idea to see it come to fruition so quickly, and right in time for Marist University Day.”