Following the lead of fellow Mission bars Pop's and Blind Cat, Uptown has ditched cheap beer—presumably in hopes of cleaning up the neighborhood's “scummiest dive”.  While trying to order a $2 PBR a few days ago, the bartender informed this needlessly sober customer that “we don't serve that beer anymore” and the cheapest bar on the menu was Tecate for jacked up price of $2.75.  No reason was given.

This is absolutely horrible news.  Not only will it cost me an extra 75¢ so my PBR can come in a fancy red can, but this could very well mean that the Uptown is no longer keen on barely-legal, marker-wielding clientele which the bar is known for.

Back in March, we learned that Mission dives were ditching PBR and cheap beer to reduce vandalism.  It seems, according to bartenders and managers at Blind Cat and Pop's, that dropping affordable brew gets rid of “all the problem kids that ruin the [bars].”  And, sure, it makes sense why a bar would want to get rid of taggers and other such degens who probably cost the bar money.  But it also has this nasty side effect of making drinking more expensive for everyone else.

Besides, does this mean no more bro-on-ladybro fighting?  Or asstowel-less butt-on-chair contact?  The crowd was always part of the magic of the Uptown.  Without it, isn't it just another bar serving perfectly fine $4 local beer on a street lined with prostitutes?