A new beer bar? Cool. A new beer bar being opened by a veteran local brewer? Okay, now I’m really paying attention.
The Good Hop opened in June, on Telegraph in Oakland. It’s close to the ever-hip Uptown drinking district, but just far enough north of it (across the street from my favorite Korean supermarket!) to stand apart. It quickly became a regular spot for beer lovers in Oakland and beyond. On one of my recent trips there, I joked that it must be Industry Day, based on all the beer reps sitting at the bar after their daily runs. One of them told me every day is an industry day at The Good Hop. That’s usually a good sign.
Kickstarter backers (like me) got their name painted on the floor. Fun…
The 16 taps tend to lean American/west coast but there’s plenty of variety. Tap takeovers and release parties happen regularly, with breweries like Ninkasi, Golden Road, and Line 51. The bottle selection, aka the #wallofbeer, also covers a multitude of styles, breweries, and price points. There are snacks, but the focus is on beer…if you’re looking for a meal, you’re welcome to bring your own.
Did someone say “wall of beer?” Yes.
The detail that gets me the most excited — partially because I know how annoying and expensive it is to pull off — is that every beer in the place, keg or bottle, is stored cold at all times. It’s the sort of decision you’ve got to be a beer professional to make, which brings me to the staff. Owner Melissa Myers brewed in Colorado before moving to the Bay Area to brew at Magnolia, Ross Valley (which became Iron Springs), and Drake’s. Local word of mouth for Melissa and her beers is overwhelmingly positive. Other familiar Bay Area beer faces here include general manager Jeremy Wanamaker and bartender Monte Cano, beer rock stars in their own rights. The Good Hop family is so close that shortly after opening they all got tattoos of the bar’s logo. Gotta love it.
Melissa recently returned to her brewing roots after a six-year hiatus and served her own beer at her own bar for the first time. Thanks to her friend Steve at Independent Brewing (more on them in a future post), she was able brew a batch on a commercial system and serve it at The Good Hop. The Mighty Hopscotch was a Scotch ale with no peated malt (Melissa doesn’t like the stuff) based on a beer she used to brew at Magnolia. Since I just moved to the Bay Area in 2009, this was my first Melissa Myers beer, and now I’m ready for more.
Melissa will also be running beer education classes, with the first one focusing on beginning beer drinkers. If you’ve got someone in your world who needs to understand your hobby a little better before SF Beer Week takes over your life, this might be a good gift.
So…education, proper handling of the beer, good selection, knowledgeable staff, nice owner, convenient public transit access…yeah, I like this place. I’ll see you there.
The Good Hop is located at 2421 Telegraph Ave in Oakland. It’s an easy walk from 19th Street BART and is also near many bus lines. Hours are 3-10pm, closed Tuesdays. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
