Old Dominion Brewing Company - Hop Lips

This IPA presents an attractive medium amber hue highlighted with orange flashes and a cap of off-white foam which laces the glass as it recedes. On the nose, expect big citrus hop notes tending toward grapefruit, with resinous pine and very fruity, tropical notes. This theme carries onward to the palate, too. Thankfully, Dominion has given their IPA a sturdy backbone of flavorful caramel and lightly toasty malt to support the impressive hop explosion of intense citrus zest and big tropical, herbal, and pine notes. Bitterness is firm at 50 IBUs, clinging to the palate and lingering in the finish. With warmth, the malt sweetness builds a bit, along with the perception of roundness. Spicy Asian dishes are a natural complementary pairing. Consider a snack of sharp cheddar, as well, or go for a pizza with spicy peppers and or Italian sausage and pepperoni; the hop acidity cuts through the fat nicely. Cheers!

Founder Jerry Bailey’s path to professional brewing began at Christmas of 1978 when he received a homebrewing kit from his brother Tom. Over the subsequent years, Jerry developed his brewing talents making beer for himself and his friends. By the late ‘80s, Jerry, who was working for the federal government in the Washington, D.C. area, began to feel restless with his official vocation and desired something more out of life. When his friends suggested he start a brewpub, Jerry knew immediately this was the path he would follow. After doing considerable research and developing a business plan, he began to search for a home for his new brewery, eventually choosing a site in Loudoun County, VA, in the D.C. metro area. In celebration of the brewery’s home in Virginia, he chose “Old Dominion” as its name and the whitetail deer (a common sight throughout the state) as its iconic symbol.

When Old Dominion opened for business in 1989, it found immediate success as the first microbrewery in the Washington, D.C. area during a time when the craft beer movement was still very much in its youth. In the years since, Old Dominion has been well-recognized within the brewing industry for their excellent products, winning a multitude of medals at the Great American Beer Festival. In 2007, Jerry Bailey passed ownership on to an equally passionate beer lover, Bill Muehlhauser, founder of Fordham Brewing Co. Over the course of a couple years, the brewing operations of Old Dominion and Fordham were combined under one roof at a very modern facility in Dover, DE. Under current president Jim Lutz, who brings decades of industry experience to the table, the two brands approach brewing with differing philosophies: Fordham focuses on sessionable and traditional styles while Dominion offers bolder and more experimental beers. For more information about the brewery and scheduled tours, visit www.fordhamanddominion.com or call 302-678-4810.