The Bay Area is in the midst of a mega heat wave and as a dark beer drinker, it’s been difficult to stick to my usual chocolaty porters and stouts. Until October starts feeling like October, I’m going to continue to try and expand my palate. IPAs and reds, here I come!
My friends and I ventured to Beer Rev this past Friday to 1) try a variety of beers (obvi), and 2) enjoy the outdoor deck during a smoldering 80-degree evening in Oakland. It was my turn to buy a round, so I headed back to the fridge area to select a bottle. I had tried Knee Deep’s imperial red ale the day before only to be left a little disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, Knee Deep is one of my favorite breweries. Their Simtra triple IPA is killer and their Tanilla porter is like drinking a bottle of vanilla ice cream. I hate to say it, but their imperial red ale, McCarthy’s Bane, felt a little too bitter and not one I’d seek out again. So after minutes of examining the numerous options at Beer Rev, I convinced myself to give imperial reds another go.
I had heard that Auburn Alehouse would make for a great pit stop when travelling to Tahoe. Unfortunately, I could probably count on one hand the number of times I’ve been to Tahoe. I know, seems kind of pathetic for a Bay Area native such as myself, but I never quite picked up skiing or snowboarding. Needless to say, I have yet to make it to Auburn Alehouse, but I was pretty stoked to learn that they bottle some of their beers. The Hop Donkey label caught by eye because it was simple yet informative. I felt like I knew exactly what I was getting into even before I cracked open the bottle. And sometimes on a hot Friday night, you just want to drink something cold and refreshing.
My expectations for this beer were pretty low because I don't usually seek out beers made by brewpubs. Whelp, I was wrong. Hop Donkey was the best beer of the night. Actually, I think all of us were a pretty surprised with how good the beer tasted. Each sip was almost shockingly better than the next. And when I woke up the next morning to check out the Great American Beer Festival medalists, I was thrilled to read that Hop Donkey had won silver in the Imperial Red Ale category. I mean, who knew?! Having “discovered” the beer the day before, I was ecstatic over the news. It was almost as if I had won the medal myself…well, almost.
Hop Donkey is a malty yet pleasingly crisp red ale, perfect on a hot day for a dark beer drinker.
My friends and I ventured to Beer Rev this past Friday to 1) try a variety of beers (obvi), and 2) enjoy the outdoor deck during a smoldering 80-degree evening in Oakland. It was my turn to buy a round, so I headed back to the fridge area to select a bottle. I had tried Knee Deep’s imperial red ale the day before only to be left a little disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, Knee Deep is one of my favorite breweries. Their Simtra triple IPA is killer and their Tanilla porter is like drinking a bottle of vanilla ice cream. I hate to say it, but their imperial red ale, McCarthy’s Bane, felt a little too bitter and not one I’d seek out again. So after minutes of examining the numerous options at Beer Rev, I convinced myself to give imperial reds another go.
I had heard that Auburn Alehouse would make for a great pit stop when travelling to Tahoe. Unfortunately, I could probably count on one hand the number of times I’ve been to Tahoe. I know, seems kind of pathetic for a Bay Area native such as myself, but I never quite picked up skiing or snowboarding. Needless to say, I have yet to make it to Auburn Alehouse, but I was pretty stoked to learn that they bottle some of their beers. The Hop Donkey label caught by eye because it was simple yet informative. I felt like I knew exactly what I was getting into even before I cracked open the bottle. And sometimes on a hot Friday night, you just want to drink something cold and refreshing.
My expectations for this beer were pretty low because I don't usually seek out beers made by brewpubs. Whelp, I was wrong. Hop Donkey was the best beer of the night. Actually, I think all of us were a pretty surprised with how good the beer tasted. Each sip was almost shockingly better than the next. And when I woke up the next morning to check out the Great American Beer Festival medalists, I was thrilled to read that Hop Donkey had won silver in the Imperial Red Ale category. I mean, who knew?! Having “discovered” the beer the day before, I was ecstatic over the news. It was almost as if I had won the medal myself…well, almost.
Hop Donkey is a malty yet pleasingly crisp red ale, perfect on a hot day for a dark beer drinker.
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