One blustery winter evening in South Jersey, I was looking for a beverage to temper the cold and compliment my grilled chicken (yes, I was outside during a snowstorm grilling chicken, because when Benita wants the chicken grilled, you grill the chicken. And, then, you put the lotion in the basket or you get the hose!), so off to the beer fridge I went for a bit of liquid gold! I grabbed a bottle of Southern Hops’pitality from Lazy Magnolia Brewing Company which I believe was one of the many that I’d received via Benita’s generous beer-of-the-quarter gift. Sadly, I have been a little remise in hitting these beers in a timely fashion. Something I hope to rectify this year.

Lazy Magnolia Brewing Company, which was founded in 2003 in Kiln, MS, is the first brewer in Mississippi since the beginning of Prohibition. They produce 13 beers in their Porch Series, another 8 in their Back Porch Series and 2 more in their Debutante Series. They are known for their creative use of ingredients as evidenced by their award winning, Southern Pecan Nut Brown Ale which is the first beer in the world commercially made with whole roasted pecans. They also make a stout made with sweet potatoes, an ale made with oranges, and a malt beverage made with agave, honey, lemon and lime.

Before we get to the review, here’s what Lazy Magnolia has to say about their Southern Hops’pitality…

Southern Hops’pitality is Lazy Magnolia’s offering of delicious cheer to all of our fans. We pride ourselves on our porch-sippin’ and backyard grillin’ with our beloved kinfolk, and this traditional IPA offers the perfect libation to add to the Southern hospitality and charm that we hold so dear. Our session IPA has a bold citrus burst on the front end with hints of tropical fruits, such as grapefruit, orange, and mango in the finish. Lazy Magnolia’s brewers use a unique hop blend for an exciting dry-hopped aroma, and with a light straw color and crisp, smooth finish on the palate, this 6% ABV, 60 IBU IPA will help you extend some “Southern Hops’pitality” to your loved ones. From our porch to yours, Cheers Y’all!.

Now, let’s get on with the review…

• Appearance: Amber with lots of fluffy foam.
• ABV: 5.5%
• Aroma: Hops with a lot of tangerine and grapefruit and a hint of wet bread.
• Taste: Fizzy, crisp and refreshing with a bit of the hoppy bitterness that lingers in a long, pleasant finish.

The Verdict

When you cheesily work hops into the name of the beer, I fear that it might be a one-note, hop bomb. So, with a name like Southern Hops’pitality, I wasn’t expecting all that much. What I found was a nice, refreshing and not overly bitter IPA.