looking for a old beer name

[ZoltarRay]

I'm new to the site and love it so far.
I have a question about a beer I used to drink way back in college in the early 70's. I'm not sure of the spelling but it was called HoppinGator. If anyone might know if they remember it and if they still have it somewhere? Thanks in advance on any info you might have.

[DubbelDach]

I remember hearing about this a few years ago... A mix of beer and gatorade, basically. I brewery tried to rejuvenate this a few years back... Did you Google it?

EDIT: Iron City... Google's first item: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/hop-n-gator/58536/

[chazwicke]

Hop'n'Gator. It was disgusting stuff. There were two varieties. It was basically an attempt at a shandy. Pittsburgh brewing made it. Still makes me shudder to think about it. It was from the era of Champale, Pink Champale and Cold Duck. And It was not made with Gatorade. First malt cooler, Hop-n-Gator (sued for trademark infringement by Gatorade and ceased production). One of the flavors was lemon though. one of the cans featured a picture of a glass with a palm tree in it and the other a snifter.http://cgi.ebay.com/Hop-n-Gator-Beer-12oz-B-O-Beer-Can_W0QQitemZ290169006327QQcmdZViewItem

[ZoltarRay]

Thanks chaz for the info. It was very different tasting but I really loved it. Wish they still had it. Is there anything out there that might compare with it?

[steveh]

Originally posted by ZoltarRay
Is there anything out there that might compare with it?

I hope not! :eek:

S.

[skahtboi]

Does that can really say "Serve cold or over ice?" Gross. This is one product I am glad seemed to slip under my radar.

[jesskidden]

Originally posted by skahtboi
Does that can really say "Serve cold or over ice?" Gross.

Wait a sec- we're talking about Hop'n'Gator, and the part you're grossed out about is "serve over ice"? (Haffenreffer Private Stock Malt Liquor also suggested such a serving style on the label at one point, too.) You don't know how lucky you are...

Altho' in my case, tho' I remember it, I never tasted Hop'N'Gator. Pink Champale, yeah - but that was a local NJ brew for me and, after all, IIRC, it was "pink" because of the addition of Grenadine syrup, which is in turn made from pomegranates, so it actually anticipated one of the current "hot" fruits for some craft brewers...

I'm sure Chazwicke'll remember this, but wasn't the whole "Gatorade" thing based on the myth at the time that drinking alcohol with that product "got ya drunk quicker"? The brewers, at the time, were somewhat concerned that "the young folk" weren't drinking as much beer, since another drinking convention was that wine went better with marijuana. Granted, the "wine" in question was often Sangria, Bali Hai, Boones Farm, Ripple or (if you were going upscale) Madeus.

[BikeNBrew]

Originally posted by ZoltarRay
Thanks chaz for the info. It was very different tasting but I really loved it. Wish they still had it. Is there anything out there that might compare with it?

You might try Leinenkugel Summer Shandy. Pretty decent beer, though out of season now. Might find some on the shelves yet. Way better than Hop' N' Gator, I would bet. I remember seeing ads for that, but never tried it. If I recall, the Leinie is a wheat. I prefer a shandy made with dark lager, or a porter...very nice on a hot summer day.