SF's Cellarmaker Brewing releases spicy 'taco-inspired' IPA for Cinco de Mayo

Cellarmaker Brewing will release its seasonal Taco Hands IPA on Thursday, May 5, 2016. Cellarmaker Brewing will release its seasonal Taco Hands IPA on Thursday, May 5, 2016. Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close SF's Cellarmaker Brewing releases spicy 'taco-inspired' IPA for Cinco de Mayo 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Tacos and beer are eternally a winning combo — especially for Mexican holidays — but a beer "inspired by tacos"? That's a questionable proposition.

And yet, Cellarmaker Brewing Co. in San Francisco's SoMa neighborhood has gotten very good at crafting it.

The IPA, first brewed in November 2013 in conjunction with Pennsylvania's Tired Hands Brewing Company, was dubbed Taco Hands, after "the state of having taco smelling hands for hours after eating tacos no matter how much rigorous scrubbing they see." Though it was at first a joke, it was one that stuck, and two and a half years later, Cellarmaker continues to brew up a new batch for certain occasions.

"We love making exciting, different and exceptionally fresh beers for the people of San Francisco and the Bay Area," Cellarmaker founder Connor Casey tells SFGATE. "Taco Hands is a great representation of our culinary inspirations and willingness to expand the limits of what flavors a beer can deliver."

The beer is brewed with Citra and New Zealand Motueka hops — both of which give off a tropical aroma — as well as traditional Mexican seasonings, including cumin, coriander, black pepper, cilantro, pasilla chiles, and zest from lots of limes. The malty component goes even further with the taco theme, utilizing flaked corn and chips.

"We took tortilla chips and literally crushed them with our fists," as brewer Ilya Faibushevich tells SFGATE.

Altogether, the final product is far more delicious than expected — to the surprise of SFGATE's staffers.

Some commented that they could definitely drink more than one of the beer, as it was "not as spicy" as expected, and that its subtle saltiness would pair well with a taco. "I could drink more than one of these," our Managing Editor Bill Disbrow says.

"It starts with a good hops-forward, aromatic IPA, and you really can't go too far wrong with that," our Executive Editor Brandon Mercer notes. "The only thing odd here is the corn chip aftertaste, and I have to say that it's the thing that makes it unique, and memorable, and a reason to buy this beer to share among friends. For that, I'd buy it, I'd drink it, and have fun discussing the nuances of the salt and tortilla that lingers on the palate."

That seems to be exactly what the brewers were going for.

"This [has] a rich heartiness," Faibushevich adds, "like a whiff you get when you walk past a taqueria."

Cellarmaker's Taco Hands will be available Thursday, May 5 at their tasting room (1150 Howard Street) beginning at 2 p.m. It will also be on tap around San Francisco and the East Bay at select locations, including Mikkeller in San Francisco, as well as Beer Craft in Rohnert Park and Caps and Taps in Dublin. State Bird Provisions in the city will also serve it, but likely not until after May 5.

Ed. Note: Cellarmaker Brewing supplied a sample of the Taco Hands beer for the purpose of a taste test.

Alyssa Pereira is an entertainment and pop culture writer for SFGATE. Sometimes she writes about beer, too. Follow her here on Twitter.