Carolina Gold Burger with a Ratio Beerworks Dear You French Saison (background) and the Impossible Burger with a Ratio Beerworks Antidote IPA
Hopdoddy Burger Bar has been a favorite of mine since it came to Denver nearly 4 years ago. With numerous types of burgers, seven kinds of fries, and a strong craft beer program, what’s not to love? And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, I heard about the new rotating Brew Series.
What exactly is the Brew Series? Hopdoddy’s Brew Series highlights a different craft beer each month (with pint specials) plus a limited-time, exclusive burger that incorporates the monthly beer into an ingredient. What a great way for visitors and residents alike to not only drink beer from the featured local brewery, but eat it too.
I wanted to check out the Brew Series myself, so last week I popped into Hopdoddy to see what it’s all about. For the month of July, the special is the Carolina Gold Burger: a pulled pork patty, backyard slaw and a Saison Carolina Gold BBQ sauce made with Ratio Beerworks Dear You French Saison, the beer of the month.
Carolina Gold Burger, the Brew Burger for JulyAs I am vegetarian I did not try the Carolina Gold Burger myself, but to put it to the test I invited a guest who knows food. And I’m pleased to say the feedback was nothing but positive. My companion thoroughly enjoyed the burger and remarked on how unique and flavorful it is. Neither of us had ever encountered pulled pork in patty form, and the beer-infused BBQ sauce and backyard slaw were the perfect flavor combinations to complete the sandwich.
Though I couldn’t eat the Brew Burger, I certainly wasn’t going to go hungry. Fortunately for me Hopdoddy has a several excellent meatless options. In addition to their salads, the La Bandita signature black bean & corn burger is always a solid choice. But they also serve the Impossible Burger, so I had to go with that. It’s becoming more readily available in the Denver area but there are still only a handful of restaurants that carry it, so I was happy to see it at Hopdoddy.
The Impossible burger itself is vegan and can be prepared without cheese. But since I’m crazy about cheese I opted for the vegetarian version, with Tillamook Cheddar, Sassy Sauce, lettuce, tomato and onion. And to take advantage of the featured brewery, Ratio Beerworks, I paired it with an Antidote IPA, which complemented my meal nicely (especially the fries, as IPAs go well with salty dishes). There are several other veggie burgers on the market that attempt to imitate real meat, but this one is without a doubt the best vegetarian version of a beef-like burger I have ever had. And in my 20 years of being vegetarian, I’ve tried them all. I’m in love with the Impossible!
My guest and I left Hopdoddy extremely satisfied with our meals and beers, and very, very full. Catch the Carolina Gold Burger and Ratio’s Dear You French Saison for the remainder of July, in addition to two other Ratio beers: Antidote IPA and Domestica American Standard Ale.
What’s in store for the Brew Series in August? The South-N-Pepa Burger: a beef patty with ground up bacon, house made pimiento cheese spread, Hatch Chile and IPA chow-chow, and cracker gremolata on an egg bun paired with a Frontman IPA from Black Shirt Brewing. And Black Shirt’s Common Red Kolsch and Colorado Red Ale will also be on tap throughout the month of August. Beer and burger fans, the Brew Series is for you! Get on over to Hopdoddy to indulge in these limited time, delicious specials!
