Just Hop on Over
Written: Nov 27 '00 (Updated Oct 28 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: It's a Brewpub
Cons: Beer Isn't that Great
The Bottom Line: Hops is a good restaurant that brews so- so beer.
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| Bryan_Carey's Full Review: Hops |
Hops is a chain of brewpub/restaurants that feature excellent food and freshly brewed beer. There are only a few other restaurant/brewpub combinations that have developed into national chains. Hops opened up its first location in Clearwater, Florida, in 1989. There are, at present, approx. 75 locations in 16 states, mostly east of the Mississippi, with the exception of Minnesota, Missouri, and Colorado. The chain is expanding rapidly and, with only 75 locations, there is plenty of room to grow. In my area, (Dayton, Ohio) there is one location in Beavercreek, but a second location has already been confirmed, south of town, near a large mall. Hops sales volume(at the Beavercreek location) was much higher than expected, so they have decided to expand further in this area.
Food:
The food at hops is excellent! I have eaten there several times and I have never been disappointed. My favorite item is the Blackened Prime Rib Sandwich, but everything they serve is very good and the portions are fairly generous; enough to make you full, without feeling stuffed.
Although I like all the food that Hops serves, I should point out that the menu selection is not as extensive as most other full- service restaurants. They serve all the usual things you expect in a full- service restaurant, like appetizers, dinners, soups & salads, burgers, sandwiches, and desserts. But there are not that many selections within each category. In fact, the entire selection is covered on just a single, two- sided menu.
Prices at Hops are a little steep. Of course, the food is excellent, so I don't complain. But keep in mind that most all of the dinner items on the menu will set you back by 10 to 18 dollars.
I really enjoy the food at Hops, but the beer is not so great. I'm an avid fan of brewpubs, and I would like to see several of them opened up in every city in the United States. Hops brews its own beer, but it does so in a way that makes the beer "acceptable" to the most people. In other words, the beer (with one exception) is weak and forgettable.
There are four beers brewed at Hops: Clearwater Light, Lightning Bolt Gold, Thoroughbred Red, and Alligator Ale. The Clearwater Light is the type of beer made for people who want something as close to a glass of water as possible. There is little to say about this beer. It's low in calories, low in carbohydrates, and low in taste. Lightning Bolt Gold is a slight improvement, but not by much. This American- style lager is easy to drink, but still a little too light for my taste. Thoroughbred Red is a little better still; an amber style beer with medium body. It's not too bad, but it doesn't compare to other amber beers. Finally, Alligator Ale is the best beer in the bunch. It's a dark, rich beer with a roasted malt and coffee taste. It tasted better after I allowed it to warm up just a little. Hops serves all its beers ice- cold, which is a definite no- no, especially with darker beers. Alligator Ale is a great beer to drink with a burger or steak.
Hops also offers "mixtures" of these beers: Golden Thoroughbred (the Lightning Bolt Gold and Thoroughbred Red mixed together); Nectar ( a mixture of Alligator Ale and Thoroughbred Red); and Razzberry Brew (a small amount of raspberry liqueur added to any one of the other beers).
Service:
Service at Hops is excellent! The staff goes out of its way to serve the customer. When I went there for the first time, the head brewmaster even came over to my table to talk with me about the way Hops brews its beer. I advised him that the beer was so- so and could be better, and he agreed, but he also said that there is little that he could do about it, because he has to brew the beer (and serve them all ice- cold) according to the corporate specifications.
Decor:
The standout at hops, in terms of atmosphere, is the full and open view of the brewing kettles. In some locations, there is even a full view of the kitchen, allowing the customers to see the employees hard at work, preparing all of that great food.
Other than the view, the rest of Hops atmosphere is pretty ordinary. The walls typically have a few pictures and the bar area is equipped with a few televisions, but that's it.
Special Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations:
Hops is a very good restaurant, with excellent food and service. With the quality of food being so high, and with the popularity of freshly- brewed beer on the increase, I expect Hops to expand all over the country in a matter of a few years. If the beer was a little bit better, Hops would be worthy of a 5- star rating. But until they improve the beer, I will give it a 4- star rating overall.
Be Sure to Click the Links Below to Read Reviews of Other Full- Service Restaurants:
American Style Food:
Denny’s
Hooters
Perkins
Waffle House
Damon’s
Steak ‘n Shake
Cracker Barrel
Frisch’s
Max & Erma’s
Golden Corral
Shoney’s
Bob Evans
Hard Rock Cafe
Outback Steak House
Friendly’s
Red Lobster
Texas Road House
Bill Knapp’s
Ground Round
Fricker’s
Applebee’s
O’Charley’s
BW-3
Ponderosa
IHOP
Ruby Tuesday
Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q
Famous Dave’s
Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Cafe
Ryan’s Restaurant
Italian:
Olive Garden
Carrabba’s
Romano’s Macaroni Grill
Mexican
Chi- Chi’s
Cozymel’s
Chipotle
Recommended:
Yes
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