Just Have the Paramedics Wait Outside For You ...

But tell them to keep the ambulance engine running.

Welcome to Hopscotch Tavern, 136 E Commonwealth Avenue, Fullerton, CA.  It's easy to find - it's across the square from the Fullerton train station.

The name is deliberately spelled that way because the restaurant deals in craft beers (75 of them, in the bar or in the refrigerated case to take home)  which is the  Hops half of the name and Scotch because they have some 125 of them.  They have flights of both.  The craft beers are offered in 5 oz. and 3 oz. glasses that look like recycled dried beef jars. 

It's a big place - after a short flight of stairs (maybe four) up from the sidewalk, you arrive in the big bar; to the right you will see four more steps down and a dining room; to the left, a deck with umbrellas.  On the lower level they have a "Cigar Room" but you cannot smoke on the patio until after 10 pm. which is when, presumably, families will have hustled the kids off to bed.

A pet peeve of mine is being expected to enjoy dining on sky-high stools.  Excuse me!  Stools are for bellying up to the bar, not dining.  Both the bar and the patio were nose bleed seating. 

We were given "Brunch" menus which was okay; it was around noon on a Saturday and I can see not cranking up a whole kitchen.  But they missed a marketing opportunity to display all of the dishes available because it was Day 2 of the Fullerton Train Days, a stone's throw from their front door.  (Photos later.)

I read the list of Epic Brunches and quietly shuddered to myself. 
Scrapple - fried pork cornbread with maple syrup, Pico de Gallo, a fried egg and "micro-cilantro."  How about a Southern Benedict?  Buttermilk biscuit, chicken-fried steak, poached eggs (plural) and hollandaise sauce?

The only thing that appealed to Richie was A Burger with cheddar, bacon, caramelized onion, tomato and "Hold the fried egg and hollandaise," said Richie.  ($12)  I ordered the Grilled Cheese Panini which came with hot sauce, caramelized onion and bacon and a little disco lettuce salad. ($9)

Richie had a 5 oz. jar of Paulaner Pilsner and I a Magic Hat India Pale Lager.   Both were $5 each.  Apparently $1 per ounce. 

We could have had (were we ready for naps) the Blue Collar Special which is listed as a craft beer, a shot of whiskey and a cigar - $15.  Paying for these on a regular basis would keep you blue collar indeed. .