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Drink this: Giant Dipper Golden Ale by Discretion Brewing
Do you remember the first time you rode the Giant Dipper? I was about 14 for my inaugural ride on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s iconic wooden roller coaster. I still have the photo of me and my younger brother, both screaming while we gripped the front of the cart for dear life, obviously enjoying every second. But it’s difficult to bring clear memories of that moment to my mind. I’ve ridden the Giant Dipper so many times since, with friends, with family, in the evening on Dollar Ride nights and with the sun beating down during spontaneous daytime visits. It’s all mushed together amid whoops of joy as my stomach bottoms out and I’m thrust against the carriage while the wheels clack frantically over the tracks, only to glide back to where it began.
This month, our friend the Giant Dipper turns 100, and I think that deserves a special toast. Discretion Brewing has us covered with a special-edition craft beer to commemorate the centennial. Giant Dipper Golden Ale will be released next Saturday on the same day as a ceremony and a fireworks show, but I was able to taste it during its first canning run at the Soquel brewery earlier this week.
The cold beer poured directly off the line was indeed golden, as the name suggests, with a floral and tangerine nose. The body is crisp and light but full-flavored, with gentle bready malt notes and subtle bitterness in the finish from the hops. It’s not a hoppy beer by a long shot, but it’s more substantial than a typical lager, and its low 4.8% alcohol by volume is ideal for daytime drinking.
Best of the Week Ahead
Below, find a curated list of the best food and drink events in Santa Cruz County for the coming week. At the top, I share my picks of unmissable local happenings.
News of the week
ICYMI – here are food news stories from Lookout that you might have missed.
Restaurateur-chef duo plots transformation of Aptos’ Palapas to Mexican seafood-focused Dos Pescados (Lookout)
Dolphin Restaurant to be demolished due to damage as city plans ‘reimagining’ of end of wharf (Lookout)
Lily Belli: Pulitzer joy, a downtown dining splash and channeling Ina Garten (Lookout)