Every week The Hop Hub will choose an event, a setting, or a state of mind and try and fine the perfect local beer to go with it. This week: Red Sox Opening Day.
So today is Opening Day in Major League Baseball, which means that at 1:00 PM EST the Boston Red Sox will begin their quest to not come in last place in the A.L. East by handing the ball to John Lester in Yankee Stadium. Now, it’s entirely possible that Lester will return to his pre-beer and fried chicken days and re-assume his place as the staff’s ace this spring. What’s Opening Day for if not hope? Either way, I think I’m going to need a beer.
Luckily, I’m not the only one to blatantly pander to some vague notion of the sports-lovin’ Bostonian. Indeed, a handful of local breweries have been churning out Sox-themed beers in anticipation of the upcoming season. So let’s take a look at two IPAs to be our Major League Maror and remind us of the bitterness of last season’s Bobby Valentine helmed debacle (semi-obcure, week-late passover jokes anyone?).
Wachusett Green Monstah IPA
The best beer in the country named after a piece of baseball stadium architecture (don’t check if there are any others, I didn’t), it pours a deep amber with a small eggshell-white head. The aroma alludes to strong pine and grapefruit flavors, which are fully realized in the taste along with a sweet toffee backbone and a nice dry, resin-y finish. This is a really nice IPA from the folks out in Central Mass. Plus the significant piney hop flavor can remind you of Trot Nixon’s pine-tar covered helmet circa-2005. Continue reading
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