Our mission at HOPS N SCOTCH is to enrich the lives of our valued guests and the Brookline community through providing above and beyond customer service, consistent comfort food and delicious beverages. At HOPS N SCOTCH, we thrive to provide our guests with a knowledgable and satisfying experience. With enough hops to keep you happy, food to feed your soul, and scotch to keep you satisfied, HOPS N SCOTCH promises that our selections will keep you coming back for more!

When the Finale in Coolidge Corner closed its doors last New Year’s Eve, it was brushed off as another casualty of the economy. But where some saw abjection, Darren Tow and David Ng, owners of Coolidge Corner Wine & Spirits just two doors down, saw possibility. “It was about five years ago that we first thought about opening a restaurant,” says Tow, a Brookline native. On Aug. 8, that thought comes to fruition as HOPS N SCOTCH, the team’s latest business venture, opens in the old Finale space. True to its name, the “gastrolounge” features a variety of craft beers (read: West Coast IPAs and local favorites like Backlash and Harpoon), with 10 of its 40 taps in rotation. As for the liquor menu, the choice of 80 Scotches and pages of whiskeys and bourbons will have you quoting Anchorman. In the back of the house, Executive Chef's plate comfort food featuring Southern favorites and a few inventive fusions. The Scotch eggs, for instance, are soft-boiled, wrapped in house-made chorizo, then breaded, fried and served with a runny center and a bourbon-mustard sauce. Also look for classic fried chicken—buttermilk-battered with a side of cheesy grits and sautéed collards. Though they’ve been developing the concept for years, Tow says that he and Ng will continue to listen to feedback and tailor the restaurant to the community. “I think that’s natural for us,” says Tow. “The last thing we want to do is disappoint anybody. We customize it all.” He adds, “A lot of the beers you see on tap, it’s because someone asked for it.” True Southern hospitality.

A new Brookline bar and restaurant isn’t playing schoolyard games. HOPS N SCOTCH focuses on the grown-up pleasures of craft beer and whiskey. It’s operated by David Ng and Darren Tow, formerly of Coolidge Corner Wine & Spirits. “I like my beer and he likes his Scotch,” Tow says. “We wanted to have a restaurant. For 10 years, we’ve been talking about it.” When the space once occupied by Finale opened up, the time seemed right. HOPS N SCOTCH is a two-story establishment decorated fittingly in shades of caramel, peat, and deep brown, as if one is spending the evening in a comfortable barrel of whiskey. Tow says the beverage program offers 40 beers on tap, 40 more in bottles, and 120 kinds of Scotch and bourbon. There are also classic and original cocktails. The menu, serves up Southern-inspired comfort food — fried green tomatoes, Scotch eggs with bourbon-mustard dipping sauce, and an assortment of salads; grilled pimento cheese, blackened catfish po’boys, and burgers; fried chicken with grits, grilled pork chops with apple-poblano chutney, and vegetable risotto; fried pie and ice cream for dessert. After dinner and a drink or two, hopping on one foot might be a challenge.