Sumerian Brewing Company - Hopruption

Winner of several awards including a gold medal at the Washington Beer Awards and a Double Gold from Sip Northwest's "Best of the Northwest," this double IPA has certainly delivered the hardware, but can it deliver the flavor? You bet! Pouring a medium amber and capped by a well-lacing head of beige foam, Hopruption offers up quite the expressive hop aroma. Look for notes of candied citrus, ripe tropical fruits, perfumed floral tones, and a bit of herbal spiciness, all underpinned by some pleasant caramelized malt undertones. On the palate, we were struck by how big and sturdy the malt backbone is here, with plenty of caramel notes and toastiness, plus some residual sweetness left in to help balance and support the huge hop presence. Being double dry-hopped with both Citra and Mosaic ensures this big brew delivers not just bitterness but also loads of bright hop flavors including a big blast of citrus zest, some softer tropical fruits, and that herbally spice note which is bolstered by the bite of 95 IBUs and a touch of spicy booze. We're often inclined to drink our double IPAs a la carte, but food pairings are very possible if you play off the beer's acidity and fruitiness. Sweet glazed ham is always a go-to pairing for us with double IPAs on the fruity side, and really many dishes on the fattier or saltier side can work well if they're boldly flavored and can stand up to the beer, particularly if they contain a fruity aspect. Cheers!

Depending on the source, the ancient Sumerians of Mesopotamia were either the first, or among the first, civilizations to brew beer. In fact, a 6,000-year-old Sumerian tablet depicts people drinking the beverage through straws from a large bowl. Many experts believe beer was invented after accidental fermentation of grain which had been harvested for bread. Some scholars, however, contend beer production predates bread, with beer being brewed specifically for its intoxicating effects. If that's true, then the cultivation of grain, and thus the Agricultural Revolution and dawn of civilization, has its impetus in the desire for beer.

Mark and Holly Ihrig named their brewing company Sumerian in honor of the ancient civilization's significant contribution to the culture of beer. It should be noted that our club's connection to Mark goes way back; he started his own beer club back in 1995, just a year after we did, and though competitors, we always maintained friendly relations. Despite his beer club business, Mark's dream was always to open a brewery, and to that aim he started Boxing Cat Brewery on a small 3-barrel system back in 2001. After a while, he had to put that on hold to focus on his other businesses, but the dream never died.

In 2012, the timing was finally right. Holly retired from consulting and her wedding planning business to go all-in with Mark on Sumerian. Fast forward to today, and under head brewer Tyson Schiffner, Sumerian offers seven year-round brews and rotating selections at retail establishments and at their pub, several of which have won multiple awards at beer competitions. It's our pleasure to bring you a couple of excellent Sumerian brews this month from the beer haven that is the state of Washington. For more info, call 425-486-5330 or visit sumerianbrewingco.com.