O’Connor Brewing Company El Guapo, a 7.5% ABV, 70 IBU Agave IPA
In a way, all of us has an El Guapo to face. For some, shyness might be their El Guapo. For others, a lack of education might be their El Guapo. For us, El Guapo is a big, dangerous man who wants to kill us. But as sure as my name is Lucky Day, the people of Santa Poco can conquer their own personal El Guapo, who also happens to be the actual El Guapo!”
| Appearance | Orange, copper, fluffy white head. |
| Aroma | Floral, sweet caramel, hint of citrus. |
| Taste | Slightly sweet, pine and citrus, a bit smoky. |
| Mouthfeel | Juicy, finishes clean and bitter. |
| Overall | This is a delightfully delicious brew. I especially enjoy how the subtle sweetness from the agave and the malts balances the intense bitterness, making this beer quite drinkable. Thank you Tom and Vicki for sharing this beer with me! |
O’connor Brewing founder, president, and brewer Kevin O’Connor started brewing beer in college. He even wrote his final thesis on starting a brewery. He learned about the industry while working at St. George Brewery and Specialty Beverage, leading up to writing his business plan in 2009.
O’Connor Brewing Company in Norfolk, Virginia was born in 2010, with Kevin brewing the first batch of beer on St. Patrick’s Day. The original line-up of beers included: Green Can Gold Ale, Norfolk Canyon Pale Ale (their top seller) and Red Nun Red Ale (all Kevin’s homebrew recipes). They soon added Great Dismal Black IPA, a seasonal that quickly moved to year-round status due to demand. Next came Great Dismal, a Dry Irish Stout.
A test batch of El Guapo IPA was first brewed in the spring of 2011. The rapid popularity of the beer made the decision to make it a year-round offering an easy one. They say that, “El Guapo, translated “the handsome one,” looks sexy, smells beautiful, and feels great!”
This medium-bodied India Pale Ale brewed with agave boasts a grassy citrus aroma, flavors of sweet caramel, and a smooth, bitter finish. Pair this attractive brew with spicy chicken wings, pork tenderloin, kabobs, or fajitas.
O’Connor recently grew from an annual production of 5,000 to 15,000 barrels with the completion of a new facility, which also increased the output of the bottling line. The new location offers loads of street parking, a loading dock, tasting room, and outdoor beer garden. The new spot also acts as an entertainment venue for live music and events.
Wanna pick this one up?
El Guapo is available on draft and in six packs. Use O’Connor’s brew finder to see if El Guapo is available near your location!
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