Tap Handle #254: Hop City (Moosehead) - Barking Squirrel Lager

Another great toy on a stick. I love the detail on the squirrel, including the scowl.

Hop city was founded in Brampton, Ontario, Canada in 2009 by Kevin Gray and John Gagliardi. Gray started brewing after obtaining a degree in biology, while Gagliardi had been home brewing since he was 19. They formed Hop City to bring their home brewing recipes . Barking Squirrel was their first beer brewed. Hop City was created as a wholly owned subsidiary of Moosehead, but is operated independently as a craft brewery, which is why Gray and Gagliardi are the head brewers and not the owners. Currently Hop City brews five varieties and distributes throughout Ontario and to six states in the U.S. In  2011, the brewery won two Grand Gold medals at the Monde Selection in Brussels, Belgium, and Best Standard Lager at the World Beer Awards.

Barking Squirrel is is an amber lager with a distinct rich burnt orange color and subtle noble hop aroma. Its medium body, pleasant hop bitterness and caramel malt sweetness makes it smooth and drinkable with a slight hop aftertaste. Weighted average on ratebeer.com is 2.94 out of 5.

Hop City Brewing Official Website