Since the very first Yard House opened its doors on December 7, 1996, along the waterfront in Long Beach, California, at least one tap handle (usually more) has been dedicated to Rogue Brewery. The longstanding relationship between Rogue and Yard House has resulted in a special, limited-release beer: Rogue Spruce Tip IPA, which gets tapped on December 7th at all Yard House locations.
It seemed inevitable that after 19 years the restaurant that catapulted craft beer to the forefront and the brewer that changed the brewing status quo would collaborate on a signature beer that can only be savored at Yard House. The restaurant’s beverage team, led by Executive Chef Carlito Jocson and Beverage Manager Gregory Howard, made the pilgrimage to the brewery in Newport, Oregon, in early September to meet with Brewmaster John Maier and his team at Rogue to join forces in creating a commemorative brew.
“We’re very excited about this partnership with Rogue,” said Gregory Howard, beverage manager for Yard House. “From the very beginning, Rogue has been a part of our family and our menu at every Yard House location. They’re true pioneers in the American craft brewing industry and have continued to evolve—challenging both the industry and themselves—to produce new and innovative styles.”
With hints of citrus, spruce and fruit on the nose, Spruce Tip IPA comes through with solid caramel malt flavor mid-palate followed by a pleasant sharp, clean finish. When it came to brewing the Spruce Tip IPA no one had to forage for the right ingredients. That’s because one of Rogue’s farms is situated in Oregon’s Willamette Valley on a sprawling parcel of land boasting its own crop of hops and barley, which are harvested along with several other vegetables and fruits that often find their way into the signature beers.
“Being part of the brewing process was such a great experience,” added Carlito Jocson, executive chef for Yard House. “Our team was in the trenches working side-by-side with John Maier, who is considered one of the original American craft brewmasters. Both teams collaborated on the recipe taking John’s lead. The result is a very innovative IPA that we’re extremely proud of.”
While spruce tips have been used to brew beer for centuries, very few breweries today offer such a varietal. During the brewing process, the Rogue and Yard House teams let the fresh spruce tips, grown in Sitka, steep in the brew temporarily imparting their flavors into the Spruce Tip IPA.
“It was a team effort and pleasure to brew with Yard House,” said Rogue Brewmaster John Maier, “Using a revolutionary ingredient like spruce tips not only results in a unique ale worthy of a celebration, but the needles are also symbolic of our partnership with Yard House: evergreen. I can’t wait for their guests to enjoy it.”
The Spruce Tip IPA pairs nicely with just about anything on the Yard House menu, but is especially complementary to some of the offerings available on the restaurant’s holiday menu, such as the Lobster Mac N Cheese and Apple Cider Brined Pork Chop.
The Spruce Tip IPA, which will be tapped at every Yard House location on Monday, December 7th, 19 years to the day since Yard House welcomed its first guest, is part of the restaurant’s Chalkboard Series–seasonal beers and small-batch selections–that rotates frequently. Each location will receive a limited quantity of the Spruce Tip IPA that is expected to last through mid-January with select locations offering the beer by the bottle for those who want purchase it to enjoy it at home.
Yard House is open daily for lunch, dinner and late-night dining and is known for its great food, classic and alternative rock, and more than 100 tap handles of beer. For more information, visit yardhouse.com or follow Yard House on Facebook at facebook.com/yardhouse or on Twitter @yardhouse
About Yard House
When Yard House opened in 1996 in Long Beach, California, it revolutionized the restaurant industry by creating a 250-tap draft beer system. Nearly 20 years and 61 restaurants later, Yard House still leads the way with great food, classic rock and a vast selection of draft beer while evolving into an award-winning dining destination known for its menu of American favorites, crafted cocktails and endless fleet of tap handles featuring the best American craft beers and imports. The exhibition kitchen creates more than 100 items made from scratch infused with quality ingredients and globally-inspired flavors. The menu includes everything from shareable plates and appetizers to grilled burgers, steaks and seafood. Each Yard House has its own distinct beer list with a handful of taps reserved for local and regional brewers along with an offering of seasonal and small-batch selections as part of its rotating “Chalkboard Series.” The glass-enclosed keg room showcases hundreds of steel barrels containing some 4,000 gallons of beer that flow to the island bar through an extensive network of tubing positioned overhead. From there the beer is fed to the taps where it’s served ice-cold by the pint, 9-ounce shorty, goblet or half-yard glass container. Yard House is also well-known for its classic and alternative rock boasting a library of 5,000 songs with each location having its own distinct playlist. Yard House is open daily for lunch, dinner and late-night dining.
Rogue Ales and Spirits
Rogue Ales and Spirits is an agri-fermenter founded in Oregon in 1988, as one of America’s first microbreweries. Rogue has won over 1,800 awards for taste and quality and is available in all 50 states and 50 countries. Since 2008, Rogue has remained committed to saving the terroir of Oregon hops and barley, one acre at a time, by growing its own. For more information visit rogue.com
Note: The above was taken directly from an official press release
Leave a Reply