When firemen brew beer
Enjoyed a bottle of Hook & Ladder Backdraft Brown the other night.
This beer has the aroma of chocolate, but has a dry finish. I think of it as a lighter yet satisfying porter. It is made by a Silver Spring-based operation started by Matt and Rich Fleischer. One of the brothers, Rich, is a firefighter in Bethesda, and now a portion of the proceeds of the sales of these beers goes to local hosptial burn units and other firefighter charities.
The beer is now brewed at the Genesee Brewery in Rochester, N.Y., but plans are to open a brewery in an old firehouse in Silver Spring. Groundbreaking for the new brewery is set for September 2009, Matt Fleischer told me.
I have also had the Hook & Ladder Lighter, which is their light beer. Not bad, considering the category.
Anybody else had these brews? Whaddya think?
They are distributed locally by Chesapeake Beverage Group. A six-pack of Backdraft Brown goes for $8 at Wells Discount Liquors.
Comments
Had a H&L Golden from a microbrew stand at Camden Yards a few weeks ago. Reasonably refreshing, not too bad as I recall.
Posted by: jus_sayn' | August 8, 2008 1:02 PM
Haven't tried it. I'm interested in the local brewery being set up. Any chance they'll be a brew-pub serving food with their beer? That's one of the reasons I like Ellicott City Brewing so much.
Posted by: Bolt | August 11, 2008 9:20 AM
I sampled the Hook & Ladder Golden Ale at the Great American Beer Festival, and bought some here at home too. I found it to be a good golden ale - pretty good flavor and not too hoppy. It was one of the better golden ales at the GABF, and I was looking for it when I returned home.
I wish more brewers would follow suit, and save the extra hops for their IPA. Leave the golden ales with just enough hops to balance out the sweetness of the malt, and maybe go for some slight citrus hints like the old Blue Ridge Golden Ale had.
Posted by: Rick | August 11, 2008 3:54 PM