Burgers, Brews and Local Love at Hopdoddy

The Place: Hopdoddy
The Location: 2033 E. Camelback Road, Suite A13, Phoenix
By: Laura Stoddard

“hop” – of the hemp family, used especially to impart a bitter flavor to malt liquors
“doddy” – chiefly Scottish: a hornless cow or bull

Finally, I know the etymology of Hopdoddy’s name!–Many thanks to general manager Chazz VanDercook for that info, because I’d literally wondered about it every single time I drove past. Sometimes all you’ve got to do is ask!

As we all know, there are dozens upon dozens of burger places in the Valley (some better than others) but this may be one of my new favorites. The atmosphere is cool, the burger options are bountiful, the brews are 100% local, they have a killer happy hour, and for every Goodnight/Good Cause Burger sold, $1.00 is donated to Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock foundation, which provides free music, art, dance and culinary lessons to teens. Eat a burger, help a kid? We can get behind that.

They also just rolled out a pretty fantastic concept called the ‘Brew Series’. Every month Hopdoddy now highlights a different craft beer with pint specials from local breweries with a limited-time burger that actually incorporates the brew. For example, June’s feature was SanTan Hefeweizen with the Kahuna Burger (a chicken patty topped with cilantro lime mayo, Hefeweizen teriyaki sauce, a soy glazed pineapple slice and avocado). This month they’re featuring a local Saison and the Sweet Carolina Burger (with caramelized onions, bacon, and a hot honey sauce that incorporates the saison). Behold…

To find out what the upcoming month’s burger+beer combo will be, check out Hopdoddy’s Facebook, Twitter or Instagram accounts or stop by and ask!

If you just want to wing it, Hopdoddy’s menu options are plentiful (we’re a fan of the deliciously slathered Green Chili Fries presented in a large bowl with forks). Prepare for more than a dozen burger options, a variety of tasty sides and ‘shareables’, salads if you’re looking for something lighter, that awesome array of local beers, and playful craft cocktails like the Stormy Libre (Plantation Dark Rum, cola, lime and ginger) and the Skinny Dip (a 7 oz. Coronita flipped upside down into a “goblet of frozen margarita”, rimmed with black lava salt). Oh, and did we mention the boozey shakes? Choose from decadent options like S’mores, Strawberry Shortbread and Bananas Foster, and up the ante by adding Kahlua, vodka, rum or even bourbon.

Hopdoddy is located in five states around the country, and we’re lucky to have two locations right here in the Phoenix area, one in the Biltmore area, the other in Scottsdale. So the next time you’re craving creamy brews, deliciously crafted burgers, and maybe something spiked and sweet, check this place out. They also get points for a great happy hour Monday-Friday from 3:00 pm to 6:30 pm, featuring the brew burger, brewer-of-the-month drafts, wines, sips and shareables all for $5.

eat | drink | share | hopdoddy