Review: New Holland Hatter Royale Hopquila

Tequila for rabbits? No. New Holland, based not in Holland the country but rather Holland the city in Michigan, takes a double-distilled mash of 100% malted barley, then steeps Centennial hops in it. It’s not aged, but it comes out a Chardonnay-yellow from the hops

Hopquila, then, is not a funky tequila but rather a flavored white whiskey. Good thing you read the label, bub.

The aroma is skunky and hot: earthy and full of white whiskey character, big grain notes like those of new make spirit. On the palate, things are a bit different. The hops come across as surprisingly sweet — much like you get with a sweeter-style, light-bodied beer. Hoppy? Not exactly, but there’s a certain herbal funk in the mix that gives it a flavor unlike anything else I’ve ever reviewed. The finish is closer to honey than sugar, with an odd and difficult-to-peg edge to it.

Hopquila is like one of those oddball spirits that someone created on a dare — and that someone seems to have gotten lucky with this one. Hopquila isn’t something I’d drink every day, but on a full moon when the stars are just right, well, just maybe…

80 proof.

B+ / $50

New Holland Hatter Royale Hopquila

$50
8.5

Rating

8.5/10

Christopher Null is the founder and editor in chief of Drinkhacker. A veteran writer and journalist, he also operates Null Media, a bespoke content creation company.

2 Comments

  1. larry on December 9, 2011 at 9:16 am

    where can I buy this – around Pontiac, W. Bloomfield are

  2. larry on December 10, 2011 at 7:11 pm

    where can I get a bottle of Hopquila in the Detroit / W. Bloomfield area?

    Thanks,

    Larry Krajewski

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