Bridgeport does it again, folks. As I watch prices for beer continue to steadily rise, it’s nice to know my wallet can get an occasional break when I buy Bridgeport beers. Take Bridgeport Kingpin Triple Hopped Double Red Ale, for example. I was pleasantly surprised to see this beer not long ago at my local Sherlock’s liquor store in Kennesaw, Georgia, and promptly snapped a six pack at the very reasonable price of just $6.99 for a six-pack. You don’t see many craft beers selling under $8 a six these days.

Of course, the beer would have to be good or the price would be moot; luckily that’s not a problem with Bridgeport. Bridgeport has a long history, of course, dating back to 1984 and the dawn of the American craft brewing movement. In 1995, Bridgeport was acquired by the Gambrinus Company, most famous for importing Corona and Negra Modelo. Gambrinus had already purchased Texas Spoetzel brewery in 1989 (think Shiner Bock), and went on to purchase the Pete’s line of Wicked beers in 1998. There were fears that Bridgeport beers might be “dumbed down” at first, but this beer drinker has never seen those materialize.

Back to the Kingpin. Kingpin Double Red Ale is a strong red ale with 7.5% alcohol by volume and an impressive 65 IBUs of bitterness. The beer is brewed with a dash of rye for extra flavor and Liberty hops, a grassy, herbal Noble variant developed in the United States.

Bridgeport Kingpin Triple Hopped Double Red Ale pours to a (what did you expect) russet red color with a medium foamy head formation and a slightly sweet, stewed-malt and rock candy nose. Taking a sip, I get chewy caramel and more of the sweet rock candy up front mixed with a hint of spicy rye. The grain flavors yield gently to the hops, and they’re a bit herbal and decidedly bitter in the finish. A touch of alcohol warmth pokes through, too.  I really like the sweet caramel maltiness of this beer at the fore, and the sharp aromatic hop bitterness as counterpoint in the finish.

I also like this one. It upholds the tradition of quality Bridgeport is famous for, and remains as always a breath of fresh air in a world of ever-increasingly expensive craft beers. In some respect it reminds me of a German Roggen minus the wheat and amped up a bit in body and alcohol content. It was a hit at our 2011 Memorial Day cookout, and paired nicely with the burgers and natural casing franks and Bratwursts from local Patak meats.

Update 8/30/2012: Bridgeport Kingpin at Taco Mac in honor of the Kingpin of beer writers, Michael Jackson. Glass is a bonus, tonight is pint glass night. And at $4.75 for 20-ounces of a fine beer and a glass? Hard to beat.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft

(G)=Growler

 

 



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