![]() |
A glass of Long Hammer IPA from Red Hook brewery. |
On a whim, a friend called and talked me into going to the local casino, Hollywood Casino in Charles Town, WV.. Not being much of a skilled player, and without an Uno or Go Fish table in sight, I soon found myself out of my league. In no time, I was licking my wounds from the blackjack table, and I wandered past the flashing lights to find my way to the bar.
Kristy, the cute, girl-next-door brunette bartender, flashed a great smile my way. "What can I get you," she asks with that heart-melting smile.
"What beer do you have on draft?" I ask, already guessing the list in my head.
As expected, she rattles off the beer selections, which are pretty standard-issue. "Budweiser, Miller Lite, Coors Light..." Her voice trails off - a polite way of hoping I'll bite on one of them. Now, I love an ice-cold Budweiser but, to be honest, none of them really appealed to me that night, and I find myself considering a mixed drink. I'm out, but then she circles back around and says, "Oh, we also have Long Hammer IPA."
I'm back in.
Made by Red Hook, Long Hammer is a 6.2% abv India Pale Ale, with a clear, dark gold color and good carbonation. This one tastes very "East Coast" to me, meaning it's somewhat dry, with a flavor dominated by pine and a hoppy bitterness. It's not one of my favorites, but if you prefer something less grapefruit-like, this might be one to look for although, to be honest, I don't often see it on tap. If it's your first foray into IPAs, I wouldn't recommend it.
However, if you find yourself among the slots and poker tables of a casino, it's worth rolling the dice on. It may just be the one sure bet in the whole place.
So what's been a go-to beer for you when your choices are limited? Let us know or post it in the comments below.