By Kendell Worden, Hop City Krog General Manager
Pumpkin concoctions, Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, rauchbiers - of course we’ve got you covered on autumn classics, but I’d like to highlight a few of the less obvious offerings that would complement your Friendsgiving spread equally as well!
First up, Loverboy, purveyors of fine hard teas and canned cocktails, has an Espresso Martini offering ($21.99/4pk). Clocking in at 12% ABV with 8.4 oz per can, it’s a tiny, mighty, and convenient option for those looking for a peppy potable.
Michigan’s master bee whisperers at Schramm’s have a Nutmeg mead ($29.99/375mL) that is, in their words, straight-up “voluptuous.” Nutmeg lends this creamy honey wine a cozy, earthy touch that makes it an excellent pairing partner with roasted poultry, hint hint…
Atlanta Hard Cider Cranberry ($14.99/4pk) is a gluten-free marriage of fall’s cronchy and constant fruit mascot, the apple, and her tart ‘n’ tannic guest star, the cranberry. The resultant beverage is balanced towards sweetness with a complementary berry zip. Whether you’re Team Wobbly-and-Can-Shaped or Team Chunky-from-Scratch, this cider has the power to unite the sauce factions.
For those in search of an alcohol-free liftoff opportunity for leaf season, Five Flowers Apple Pie Fizz ($19.99/4pk) contains 5mg of hemp-derived delta-9 THC per 12oz serving and delivers all the warm mulling spices you could hope for, with only 20 calories per can!
And because your narrator, dear readers, is a beer girly at heart, she can’t help but highlight two malt-based fall seasonals: Southern Tier Chestnut Praline ($15.99/4pk) and Prairie Seasick Crocodile ($12.99/4pk). The former is a brand-new release from the NY-based maestros of imperial ales. It’s a honey-colored riff on a winter warmer that delivers a bounty of toasted chestnut and caramel confection. The latter - we know y’all were waiting for her return! - is a sour ale with cranberries, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Like many of Prairie’s mad scientist sours, this one sounds like a hot mess to the uninitiated, but one sip will convince you of their flavor wizardry.
So, yes, we’re Hop City Beer & Wine in name, but the libations on our shelves run a much broader gamut!
