Rochester Red Wings throw back to 1879 as Hop Bitters

Another minor league team unveiled a temporary, alcohol-based identity this week, but this one has quite a bit of history behind it. The Rochester Red Wings, Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, will play a game as the Rochester Hop Bitters May 26.

The nickname is the throw-backiest of throw-backs, recalling the 1879-1880 Rochester Hop Bitters of the National Association. The team was called the Hop Bitters as an homage to a 19th-century elixir created by John D. Doyle. The medical beverage was purchased by Asa T. Soule in 1872, who increased the alcohol content, named it hop bitters, and went on to become wildly rich with the product. He used some of his income to purchase an Albany-based team and move it Rochester.

The game will commemorate aspects of the early days of “base ball,” including batter introductions being made from atop a dugout instead of over a PA, demonstrations of the 19th-century version of the game by historical reenactors, and spelling base ball with two words. There will also be a specialty beer brewed by Genesee, a Rochester-area company celebrating its 140th anniversary this year.

Game-worn, autographed jerseys will be auctioned off to benefit the Red Wings Community Foundation.