Port Orleans Brewing Company - River Hop

River Hop is a brand new release for Port Orleans, so we’re very excited to have the opportunity to bring it to our members this month. It’s a reimagining of their flagship Riverfront Lager as an India Pale Lager that’s dry-hopped with very expressive Galaxy and Motueka hops from Australia and New Zealand, respectively. On the pour, we get the same pale golden straw color as Riverfront, capped by a head of just-off-white foam. It’s on the nose, however, that we certainly can spot the difference. The hops grab our attention right away with a luscious and inviting profile evoking sliced melon, peach-like stone fruits, a touch of white grapes, some tropical fruits tending toward passionfruit and guava, and hints of citrus breaking toward lime and orange. Look for the soft bready malts of the base helles lager to underpin the whole thing well. There are lots of complex shades here. In the flavor, those malty notes continue to offer a simple but broad and smooth base of bready and crackery notes. Dry-hopping amps up the hop character without amping up the bitterness, which keeps this brew nicely balanced to let the hops shine. Nicely dry from start to finish, this IPL will pair well with fresh southeast Asian fare with moderate heat, seafood dishes, fried foods, and grilled chicken tacos. Cheers!

Port Orleans was founded in 2017, in a somewhat unlikely partnership of investors headlined by retired Saints offensive lineman Zach Strief. He had long felt that New Orleans needed more great beer bars, and when he was approached by his father-in-law Tommy Discon and his friend Ricky Thomas, owner of Blue Runner Foods, with the idea to open a brewery, Strief jumped right in, opening a new chapter in his life as his NFL career was coming to a close. In his words, “Ultimately I wanted something that was in New Orleans, that I could be hands-on, that I could go to and see people and thank people for coming. And now I'm very into it.”

The venture really took off fast, and within four months their 30-barrel system was in full swing supporting well over 100 taps across multiple local bars and restaurants, and their canning line was producing beer for retail sale. Additionally, their attached tasting room – which was designed to reflect the ambiance of old-world New Orleans hangouts, drawing inspiration from the city's port heritage – was bringing in the locals.

The brewery has also been involved in philanthropic endeavors, including the creation of Gleason IPA to raise money for retired Saints safety Steve Gleason’s work to support those with ALS, and the launching of POB United during the pandemic to cook meals for those unable to buy their own – leading to over 100,000 meals given away in six months. The brewery currently cans four year-round beers and several seasonals in addition to a wide array of smaller-batch draft and taproom offerings. For more info on their beers and tasting room, check them out at portorleansbrewingco.com.