Geek out. That’s what the Hoppy Monk made me do. You beer loving, draught heavy, beautiful bastard. A tap wall the length of my living room will do that. I’m simple and these types of simple pleasures are what make this journey through the world of Texas craft beer worth living.
San Antonio is one of my favorite places to visit in all of Texas. I don’t do the Riverwalk. I don’t do the Alamo. I do craft beer and I do the 210 the right way. The best way to do it is to experience the Hoppy Monk.
I won’t lie to you. If you are staying near the Alamo or the Riverwalk, you’re in for a drive, but luckily Uber and Lyft are my friends. It ended up being about a $15 Uber ride each way from Southtown, but it was so worth it. I mean, just look at the sheer number of taps they have. If you’re looking for something local, they have it. If you’re looking for a Texas favorite, they have it. If you’re looking for a national favorite, look no further. I was with a group of friends and everybody was able to find something that fit what they were looking for.
Take me for example. I’d been hearing about Real Ale’s new Axis IPA for over a week. It was on tap, so that was my first choice. Even the bartender told me that this beer was getting rave reviews and he personally was going to try it when his shift ended. That’s always a good sign. As for the beer? It was one of the single most memorable IPA’s I’ve had in a while, especially considering how saturated the style has become. This is the first beer in a while that can seriously challenge Lone Pint’s Yellow Rose for the best IPA in Texas. It’s that good. The citrus and peach flavor, the slight bitterness of the hops, the dry and clean finish, what more could you want?
When we first ordered all of our beers, one of my friends ordered a tremendous double IPA that I sampled and immediately became inquisitive. That beer was Ranger Creek’s Hard Day’s Night. A very strong imperial IPA, this beer has a different flavor with darker berries mixed with citrus. The candied fruit flavor that’s balanced out by the booziness of the imperial IPA makes this San Antonio brew a new favorite of mine.
Finally, I wanted to drink what the locals drink, so I asked the bartender what local beer he would recommend (fully expecting a Freetail favorite). When he said Branchline’s River Bend Pale Ale, I was a bit surprised, but perhaps it’s because it was the first time I’d ever enjoyed one of their beers. I’ve been missing out this whole time. Sticking with the citrus theme, I found this beer to be the perfect finisher of the night. It was highly sessionable and tart. The Chinook, Cascade, and Citra hops allow for this lighter pale ale to drink with the same flavor as an IPA, but with the drinkability of an American Pale Ale. The orange and lemon peel added in the brew allows this complex beer to be one that I’ll love to enjoy each summer.
Damn you, Hoppy Monk. I just can’t quit you. I don’t really want to quit you, but you just do everything to bring me back for more. Let’s face it…I love you.