NABC’s Hoptimus Inception Reception, January 31, 2014
By Peter Fingerson, NABC Brewer
While many of the facts of Hoptimus’s remarkable birth (rather, its immaculate inception), remain unknown, it can be said with inimitable truth that Hoptimus is a beer of the utmost merit. Even from its fledgling beginnings, the beer had a mind with its own agenda: It was determined to leave a mark on the craft beer scene, and it has done just that.
In early 2006, the minds of former NABC brewers Jared Williamson and Jesse Williams willed into being an unstoppable juggernaut. After a few modifications and upgrades from David Pierce over the years, including a bigger ABV and a couple hop lineup changes, Hoptimus emerged more vibrant and focused as ever, and remains a force to be reckoned with to this very day.
On Friday, January 31, 2014, at NABC’s Bank Street Brewhouse, we invite one and all to celebrate the birth of this beast of a beer with our first ever Inception Reception. Why this day in particular, you ask? Well, because it’s what Hoptimus told us (from a rough translation of binary).
Besides, do you really need a reason to celebrate Hoptimus?
Assuming BSB’s draft system can handle the sheer force of these beers, the tap list will be as follows:
Hoptimus – ‘nuff said
Oaktimus – oak-aged
Chouffetimus – small batch fermented with Belgian Chouffe yeast (the only other time this was brewed was for our 25th anniversary party in 2012)
But there’s even more.
As an added bonus, there’ll be three cask-conditioned pins of Hoptimus: Dry-hopped with Citra, Styrian Celeia and Delta.
Another reason to come celebrate, you say? We’ll be serving special dishes designed for pairing with Hoptimus, Oaktimus, and Chouffetimus, respectively, and using each as an ingredient. And, for this one day only, Hoptimus and its 5 variations will be available on a special sample tray as a flight.
The festivities start promptly at 11:00 a.m. on the 31st, with the unleashing of the pins occurring thereafter. It’s a day worthy of celebrating a beer worthy of celebration, because Hoptimus is the perennial answer to the oft-repeated question:
“What’s the best Imperial India Pale Ale brewed in Metro Louisville?”
A clue: It’s made of sterner stuff.
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Hoptimus
Imperial India Pale Ale
ABV: 10.7%
IBU: 100
Color: Tawny golden to light amber.
Flavor: Full bodied, with aggressive hops and noteworthy bitterness.
Compare to: Bell’s HopSlam, Three Floyds Dreadnaught, and other Imperial IPAs.
Description: Living vicariously through others is a sad compromise meant only for rank amateurs and subpar international lagers. Rather, we all might profit from the principled example of Hoptimus, which lives vivaciously, audaciously and capriciously through itself. With a snarky hop character that is blatantly unrepentant, Hoptimus ensures that meek palates surely will not inherit the earth.
Recipe suggestion: Imperial IPA isn’t the easiest style of beer to pair with food, so our suggestion would be to open the growler or bomber of Hoptimus, pour it onto a nice tall unchilled glass, and savor the flavor while nibbling on salty snacks, prosciutto or charcuterie. Perhaps the best partner of all is funky, aged, rind-washed cheese – like Mt. St. Francis, from our friends at Capriole Farms in Greenville, Indiana.