Craft beer and cocktails are still all the rage among the bar and restaurant scene these days. With breweries popping up all over the place, it was only a matter of time until the cocktail scene blew up a little bit, too. Now, there’s a new spot called Hops & Scotch at the Contra Costa Centre at the corner of Treat and Oak.
I went to experience it myself with a couple of friends and past clients – I chose the distilled menu and have never had a better Old Fashioned (or two). The menu is an extensive list of whiskey/scotch/bourbon – from everywhere you can imagine – Scotland, Ireland, Japan…and I even saw some from south of the border. As the name dictates, they also have a good selection of microbrews and, of course, any other type of cocktail you desire. There is some food in the form of bar bites; we had the naan pizza and wings, but I saw mac and cheese, hummus, a cheese board, and gyros (which really caught my eye).
There are also TVs for all the sporting events and on Monday nights they have the Geek Squad doing Trivia night, which is always fun. Overall, Hops & Scotch is a great place to be and, come summer, look for the new patio currently under construction for some chill outdoor enjoyment, next to a couple of cool walnut and oak trees. This will help with their seating as the place can fill up quickly and it isn’t too large, which creates a cozy ambiance.
Have you ever tried cocktails at Sidebar in Oakland? One of the delicious drinks that is served is “Caged Heat”. A spicy old fashioned. The syrup used has won multiple awards.