From the Beer Writer: Few are the hospitality institutions in San Diego that reach the half-century mark, but last week, burger must-visit Hodad’s hit that milestone. In celebration of that feat, its newly-formed suds operation, Hodad’s Brewing, conjured up a celebratory beer: 1969 Golden Anniversary Ale. Even though I could appreciate the dual-meaning of “golden” (which extends to the Golden Promise malt in the recipe), I’ll admit that at first blush the style didn’t initially inspire extreme excitement for me. But as soon as I lifted a mason-jar glassful to my nose, I became instantly enamored. The beer smells like a tangerine grove, conveying the assets of the Loral and El Dorado (the lost city of gold…get it?) hops used to brew this 5.8%, summer-friendly beer. With 40 IBUs and a snappy bite in its finish, the beer is hoppy, but not so much that it infringes on this one-time-only offering’s overall drinkability. Bossman would be proud!
From the Brewer: “For 50 years, Hodad’s has been serving up the world’s best burger. Today, we are celebrating half a century of Hodad’s and, in honor of this milestone, we are releasing 1969 Golden Anniversary Ale. Feeling inspired, we brewed with Golden Promise malt and ample amounts of Loral and El Dorado hops. Additionally, we dry-hopped this beer with a generous dose of El Dorado, showcasing tropical flavors of pineapple and mango. This beer offers brilliant clarity, a golden color and drinks well-balanced from the Golden Promise. Coming in at 5.8% ABV (alcohol-by-volume), this golden ale is a perfect beer to enjoy this summer while celebrating 50 years of Hodad’s. Cheers! “—Marlow Myrmo, Head Brewer, Hodad’s Brewing