Thursday 27th of October 2016 12:08:38 PM

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Akron, Ohio.

What's in Akron, Ohio?

As we travel across and throughout these United States, wife Persimmon and I are visiting some amazing (and not so amazing) breweries and brewpubs. In Cleveland, we spent 2 days visiting the Rock & Roll Museum (and not seeing it all!) but decided to forego a trip to the most well known brewery, Great Lakes. You can find those beers everywhere.

However, we did make a detour into Akron, thanks to our son who popped a bottle of B.O.R.I.S. the Destroyer while we stayed in Denver.

Whoever made this beer, needs to be thanked personally.

So it matters not what's in Akron for tourists. For us, it was only Hoppin' Frog.

Only one word is applicable here; Wow!

Just Wow!

Small brewpub with a variety of unique and delicious food. Small-town atmosphere (it was the 1st night of the 2016 World Series & they were expected a crowd of Indian fans). The owner and brewer, Fred was conversing with the brew-master from Tool Brewing in Denmark who was in town to present some of his beers. This afternoon, we were (for a time) the only customers but were joined later by a party of 8. The weather was cool and crisp and the beer list was not crowded with IPA's and Pale Ales. No, here stouts rule (B-odacious -- O-atmeal -- R-ussian -- I-mperial -- S-tout) and rule, they do.

There beer list includes rare bottles from as far back as 2008 to a draft list of a dozen that can be had in bottles from the nearby cooler.

"Can we have a taste of....?"

"Absolutely." No questions asked. After a few, the charge was .50 cents per. But then, as most good owners know, they won't lose a dime because they know...THEY KNOW...you will be ordering at least one full glass...or several small ones...which we did.

The Outta Kilter Scotch Red...T.O.R.I.S. (T--riple) the Tyrant...Karbinator Doppelbock...Sippin Into Darkness (a chocolate martini beer)...Infusion (peanut butter in a glass in collaboration with Cigar City)....InTENsity barley wine...there wasn't a bad brew in the bunch. And then, we watch Fred open a bottle of rare B.O.R.I.S. aged in Pappy Van Wink whiskey cask for his Denmark colleague to enjoy...then offered it to the bartenders...who then offered us a taste!!

Nope. As a friend of mine once said: "there ain't nothing wrong with that."

How could you not when you're sitting in one of the Top 100 Breweries in the World!

Hoppin' Frog Fred, bartenders, patrons...there ain't nothing wrong with what you're doing.

My only complaint: I want one of these around every corner I visit.

Can you work on that?

Sunday 6th of June 2010 12:24:59 PM

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Easily some of the best beers I have had to date. Their IIPA and the Imperial stouts are amazing. They have the best Scotch Ale I have tasted. The brewery is really nice inside. The brewmaster seemed really nice as well. I will definitely continue to buy their beers in the future. The beers are sold in 22 oz bottles. Some are more expensive, but that goes with the ingredients that are going into making the beer. So I consider it a very good deal..