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Crooked Hammock’s new brews focus on everyday beer drinkers

September 3, 2020

As the craft beer craze continues to sweep the nation, consumers are beginning to seek lighter, health-conscious beer and spirit options. Seltzer, anyone?

Crooked Hammock Brewery, with its hospitality- and experience-focused concept, has recently put its stake in the sand with a new year-round lineup that focuses on the everyday beer drinker, offering easy-drinking, fresh and flavorful brews that are meant to propel the drinker into that hammock state of mind.

Crooked Hammock opened its doors in Lewes in 2015 and has finally found its man with Head Brewer and Beer Band Director Jon Schorah, a home brewer and salesman by trade and a committed, blue-collar working man by nature.

Schorah and his brew team members, along with a confident and experienced marketing squad, have spent countless hours over the last several years honing their craft, while defining their brand in a way that’s true to who they are as people, brewers, and beer drinkers. In-house artist Paul Carpenter has helped define this brand artistically with a unique illustrative style that can be seen not only on the cans, but in murals and other areas within each brewery.

Over the last three months, Crooked Hammock has rolled out five new offerings, including an American Lager, Low-Cal Blonde Ale, Session IPA, Coconut Golden Ale, and a rotating seasonal sour. They’re all under 6 percent ABV and naturally evoke that feeling that comes only when it’s time to kick back, relax and unwind with a beer.

“I ditched my 9-5 to open a brewery at the beach,” said owner and founder Rich Garrahan. “When I was in my 20s, I would get home from work, crack open something light and flavorful, kick off my shoes and unwind in my crooked backyard hammock. It’s a feeling that I hope everyone who steps foot into our brewery can relate to.”

The first of five year-rounds to be released was Beach Escape Session IPA. Brewed with light, citrus-forward hops and tangerine peel, at just 5.5 percent ABV, this beer evokes escaping the perils of everyday life for a long weekend at the beach. In the beer world where IPAs are king, this one is still crafty enough to resonate with the most experienced IPA fan, while still maintaining its sessionable, easy-drinking identity.

Four Tires Two Friends & A Radio was the second to make its debut, and its name describes the first things listed on the team’s road trip checklist. Brewed with American hops and malts locally sourced by Proximity Malt, this American lager is straightforward – crisp, refreshing, and best served ice-cold.

“There’s nothing more American than a road trip; music blaring, a best friend as your copilot, and a cooler full of beer,” said Beer Brand Manager Tom Little. “The artwork tells a story of the open road, and that’s exactly the feeling you’ll get when cracking open a can of this easy-drinkin’ lager.”

South To Somewhere is the third of the new year-round offerings, and has been an early fan favorite. Light coconut undertones give way to medium hop and malt character for a crisp and refreshing brew. “We’ve all felt like packing our bags, driving to the airport and hopping on the first plane south,” said Little. “And that’s exactly what this one will inspire you to do.

The most recent year-round release, Hammock Easy, was brewed with the health-conscious in mind. At 96 calories and 6 carbs, this American Blonde Ale won't rob people of their strides toward longevity. Brewed with honey malt and a light hop character, this beer is clean, crisp and won’t weigh a person down. “We’ve been working on this recipe for quite some time,” said Schorah. “This beer’s imagery defines that happy place we all aim to find after a long day, and the beer itself can be drunk in twos or threes without the guilt of empty calories.”

It's no secret that sours have been an in thing for the last couple years, and Brand New Day, Crooked Hammock’s rotating seasonal sour series, has really piqued the interest of the Hammock faithful.

“We were adamant on creating a sour that won’t kill the palate or leave your mouth puckering, and wanted to make sure each version used fresh fruits that are in season at the time of the beer's release,” said Schorah. “Our sours are a bit more sweet than tart, but full of fresh fruit flavors; we did that purposefully to appeal to a wider demographic.”

The illustration and colors are a bit more funkadelic on this can, differentiating it from the rest of the new lineup. Graphic designer Kate Gooding said, “This one tells the story of that moment when you wake up early enough to catch the sunrise, and decide to make the most of a new day, a new chapter. That’s exactly what each sip will leave you feeling.”

Averaging out at about 3.9 on Untappd, the spring and summer versions appeal to not only the sour beer lover, but also the cocktail and wine lover that still comprises a great portion of the Hammock’s wide-reaching demographic.

Although the team is focused on maintaining its identity as a brewery focused on creating sessionable, flavorful, easy-drinkin’ brews, it doesn’t mean the members will lose their creativity. “There’s still room in the arsenal for those big beers, like our Banana Hammock Belgian Quad and Off Your Rocker DIPA.” said Little. “That’s the great thing about this craft. A small conversion can spark something huge, and although everything may not appeal to everyone, you can bet your bottom dollar that there will be something on that beer list for every beer drinker out there.”

Crooked Hammock Brewery in Lewes and Middletown in Delaware and its Happy Camper Backyard Experience in North Myrtle Beach, S.C., currently offer all five of these new year-round offerings.

All Crooked Hammock Breweries make it a goal to create unforgettable experiences for people of all ages, and for dogs too! Oversized backyard areas feature games like cornhole and ping-pong while private porch bar areas and murals, local artwork and artifacts can be seen throughout all areas of the breweries. Guests can look for those Instagram-worthy areas to help capture the memories created while on-site.

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