HOW TO PAIR BEER WITH EVERYTHING: Hoplar by Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
Beer: Hoplar
Brewer: Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
Style: American Imperial/Double IPA
ABV: 8.50%
Description: Hoplar pours a golden auburn color with a khaki color head that recedes, leaving behind a beautiful layer of lacing on the glass. The aroma is filled with hops up front (citrus, pine), with backing notes of biscuit malts as well as delicate wood notes from the tulip poplar wood that this beer was aged with. The use of tulip poplar brings very unique and complimentary flavors to an IPA of this caliber. The taste follows the nose but expands greatly on the palate. Strong notes of citrus and pine hops dominate with a resinous quality, backed by semi-sweet caramel malts and a touch of vanilla and toffee.
The body is medium-full with moderate carbonation that leaves behind a semi-dry finish, leaving you wanting more. Hoplar is a world-class example of a Double IPA and should be tried by all who claim to love craft beer!
Ideal setting: Hoplar demands respect and attention paid to it. This is not a beer to slam while out with friends, but instead should be cherished and shared with a friend, but only one that you truly care about! Enjoy Hoplar while relaxing at home, outside or in, and just take your time with this one to enjoy all the subtleties.
Ideal music: While the 100 IBUs may sound like a beer that is going to awaken you with a hop kick to the taste buds, it is a wonderfully complex and smoothing taste inside that soothes and relaxes you. This is most definitely a classy beer that has a great hop kick, but it is not a one-trick pony. The complexities within the beer call for music that is equally relaxing and great for contemplation.
Some great albums to enjoy with Hoplar are:
- Cub Country – “Stay Poor, Stay Happy”
- Creeper Lagoon – “Remember the Future”
- Tim Barry – “Rivanna Junction”
- Beach House – “Bloom”
- Lotus – “Germination”
Ideal movie: This is a beer brewed with passion, love, and attention and calls for a film that is about following true passion. While passion can destroy some if it is not kept in check, it is also the drive towards achieving dreams, so it doesn’t hurt to have some great beers while you chase them down!
Some great films to watch while enjoying Hoplar are:
- “Crafting a Nation”
- “American Movie”
- “Man on Wire”
- “Frank”
- “Jiro Dreams of Sushi”
Ideal book: Hoplar is a beer that will make you realize how great beer can taste when brewed with care. Beer is a subject that requires little knowledge to enjoy, but a great deal of knowledge to understand. It is also a subject that is fun to research, and there is an endless array of great books available about the topic. Hoplar is the perfect beer to enjoy while reading more in-depth about beer!
Some great books to read with Hoplar are:
- “The Complete Joy of Homebrewing” by Charlie Papazian
- “Brewing Classic Styles: 80 Winning Recipes Anyone Can Brew” by Jamil Zainasheff
- “Beer for All Seasons” by Randy Mosher
- “Beer O’Clock: An Insider’s Guide to History, Craft, and Culture” by Jane Peyton
- “Brewing Up a Business: Adventures in Beer from the Founder of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery” by Sam Calagione
The perfect experience: Now that the weather is finally starting to turn for the better, it is a great time to get outside and take it all in while drinking a tasty beer as well! Hoplar is the perfect beer to enjoy while sitting outside, reading a great book about beer, and listening to some relaxing music; this is a combination that will most definitely cause true bliss!
