Having beer for breakfast is finally about to become socially acceptable. Allow us to introduce you to IHOPS: a pumpkin pancake stout from IHOP.
To embrace fall in all its glory, the Best-of-Fall pancakes have returned to IHOPs (well, this isn’t going to get confusing) across the nation, and it only felt right to accompany them with a beverage. Is it basically a pumpkin spice beer? Yes, but we won’t tell IHOP if you won’t.
Crafted through a partnership with Keegan Ales, IHOPS merges the flavors of pancakes, pumpkins, maple syrup and more. Keegan Ales is a small brewery in Kingston, New York, that makes one of the “Top Ten Stouts in North America,” according to The New York Times.
“We’re excited to partner with IHOP on this first-of-its-kind brew and bring fans a unique craft beer that blends the deep, roasted flavors of our stout with hints of pumpkin, vanilla, and IHOP’s iconic pancake batter,” said Tommy Keegan, Founder of Keegan Ales in a statement.
This seasonal concoction is the brainchild of Droga5, IHOP’s advertising agency. The company has struggled with some branding issues lately, returning to their original name after a fitful term as IHOb (to underscore a new focus on burgers) earlier this year. This refocus on pancakes, what the people really want, is as refreshing as a stout on a brisk autumn night.
Not to be outdone, Dunkin’ (Donuts) also announced its own malty creation: the Harpoon Dunkin’ Coffee Porter. Made at Harpoon Brewery in Boston, the chocolate-y, espresso-forward beer is primed to give New Yorkers and Bostonians another reason to extend their ancient blood feud.
Now, of course, there’s a catch. You can’t just walk into an IHOP and get a cold glass of pancakes. This limited-edition brew will only be available in the New York metropolitan area at select bars and beer festivals. IHOP will do a lot for a pun, but getting liquor licenses for all of its locations would have been overkill on this dad joke commitment.
But hey, it’s not too late to book a flight or take a mini road trip to New York. You can find this small batch brew through October 28 for roughly $7 a glass.
