Rhino's Sports Pub and Bacon Bistro

Each month, we here at Rhino’s Sports Pub will sample a brand-new beer. This month, it was the domestics’ turn in the rotation.

Brewery: Grand Teton Brewing Co.

Variety: Pursuit of Hoppiness Imperial Pale Ale

Style: American Amber/Red Ale

ABV (alcohol by volume): 8.5%

Puchased at: “Adult Disneyland” BevMo!

Beer was enjoyed with … Bison burgers, off the grill … the little ticket thingee at BevMo! suggested that the Pursuit of Hoppiness would pair well with meat off the grill, and that proved to be the case. It was right.

(You know, I’m going to go on record and suggest that basically all beers go well with meat off the grill. I have a hard time differentiating between a regular beer that might not be brewed specifically to be consumed with grilled foods, and one that is. I hope you don’t think less of me because of that aforementioned admission.)

Will we drink this beer again? Absolutely, but this is not a classic “session beer,” you would have to drink this one with food. That 8.5 percent ABV will sneak up on you and you might feel some regret.

What better way to celebrate Star Wars Day (May the 4th be with you!) than with an “Imperial” red ale. Like “The Imperial March,” the Pursuit of Hoppiness can pack a punch … 8.5 percent ABV, to be more precise.

“Impressive … most impressive.”

There’s something about the Pursuit of Hoppiness that you’ll notice right away, the intricacy of the pour. Be careful when pouring it into your pint glass, otherwise you could wind up getting lots of head. Once you get past that stage in the process, the fine beer appears as a “burnt sienna” (the girl I’m sorta-kinda seeing described it as such … giving her due credit here). The flavor is, well, delicious. I’m going with “carmel-y.” On taste, Pursuit of Hoppiness is very smooth, not bitter. This is definitely a hearty effort out of the Grand Teton Brewing Co., which it should be noted is located at the base of the Teton Mountains in Victor, Idaho.

There are a couple of key points that one should keep in mind when considering consuming this fine brew selection …

• Each bottle, which is more like a champaign bottle, comes with a “bottled on” date sticker.
• It was brewed under strict compliance with the Reinheitsgebot, the Germany Purity Law of 1516, according to the beer’s official website.

“You do not realize your importance.”

That last point is most important, and will earn the Pursuit of Hoppiness an additional pint in the five-pint rating scale we use here at Rhino’s Sports Pub and Bacon Bistro.

Cheers!