I live in a brewery town, BEER TOWN USA is what it should say on the town sign!
Breweries buy ingredients for beer in the tea shop and the 2 spice shops in Old Town. Fields of golden hops grow close by. New Belgium Brewery, Coopersmith’s, Odell’s, Feisty Spirits Distillery, Fort Collins Breweries, nine just within a few blocks of each other.
I wondered what a Hoppi Tea would taste like? With some excitement, I rushed with my little packet of Butiki Tea for Andy (tea blender) to taste. I love Stacy’s creativity and had been talking to Andy about a beer tea creation of his own for the tea shop since we’re a brewery town (but not a Peach Hoppi copy).
When I arrived at the shop, people were wandering in after classes ended at the University. It was the end of a hot (95 degree) afternoon. Today was the first NFL football game of the season with the Bronco’s playing and I was asked to explain football to a newly arrived Cambodian agriculture student who had never seen a Football game before and had just slept in a bed with a mattress for the first time.
I took a deep breath and did my best.
By the time I finished my explanation, I needed a real beer (and he probably needed one too!). He asked me why I came alone today to the tea shop, because he had seen me before with my granddaughters Schey. I knew it would blow his mind, but I had to tell him that I lived by myself and not with my daughter and 8 grandchildren. He was a bit shocked at the idea that I as a grandmother lived separate from my family.
Ah well. Culture shock. Poor young man.
I love my tea shop! There’s never a dull moment!
Back to the Hoppi Tea!
Joe did a splendid job steeping a batch for tasting and everyone had pretty much the same reaction to the taste.
The comments were:
This is a drinking tea and not a tea tasting tea!
Meant for drinking with food more than on it’s own.
A little bitter but in a great way!
I listened to the opinions and comments around me and agreed that the tea should be ‘drunk’ not ‘sipped’.
I’d prefer drinking the tea with a food like pizza which would counter the sweet-bitterness with saltiness (classic beer pairing foods would work well…chili and so on!).
I liked the flavor! Can’t wait to play with it at home some more!
Stacy, some more brewery tea’s!!!
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Nice review, Bonnie!
You always make people feel special Terri!
That’s because people are special, Bonnie! Including you! :)
Bonnie-absolutely, we have a line of beer teas planned. I would love to hear what Andy comes up with if he does decide to try a beer tea. They are very difficult to blend. The fruit and hops really fight for dominance and finding the sweet spot was challenging. I also recommend adding just a very tiny bit of sugar. It will be a little more beer like, but too much sugar will cancel out the hops.
True, true! The breweries really do get creative, especially Odell’s with some local flavors that only sell here. There’s curry beer for instance, and naturally Lugene Chocolate Milk beer, fruit beers like the current fresh fruit… raspberry cherry. The next release has pepper, banana with hops and stone fruit. One hoppi beer is pretty floral.
New Belgium pairs hops with Pumpkin juice, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Allspice, Cranberries, Lemongrass. HUM… this is their Pumpkick Beer. Oh yes, they have Yuzu and Imperial Coffee Chocolate Stout. So, you see that I kid you not when my mind wanders and wonders about BEER and TEA! (There are a dozen other breweries I could look at.)
Nice review, Bonnie!
You always make people feel special Terri!
That’s because people are special, Bonnie! Including you! :)
Bonnie-absolutely, we have a line of beer teas planned. I would love to hear what Andy comes up with if he does decide to try a beer tea. They are very difficult to blend. The fruit and hops really fight for dominance and finding the sweet spot was challenging. I also recommend adding just a very tiny bit of sugar. It will be a little more beer like, but too much sugar will cancel out the hops.
True, true! The breweries really do get creative, especially Odell’s with some local flavors that only sell here. There’s curry beer for instance, and naturally Lugene Chocolate Milk beer, fruit beers like the current fresh fruit… raspberry cherry. The next release has pepper, banana with hops and stone fruit. One hoppi beer is pretty floral.
New Belgium pairs hops with Pumpkin juice, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Allspice, Cranberries, Lemongrass. HUM… this is their Pumpkick Beer. Oh yes, they have Yuzu and Imperial Coffee Chocolate Stout. So, you see that I kid you not when my mind wanders and wonders about BEER and TEA! (There are a dozen other breweries I could look at.)