Deschutes Hop Trip 2011: Nice

Deschutes sent me three bottles (twelves this year, not twenty-twos) of Hop Trip, one of 37 fresh-hop beers they make (Bill has details). I usually muscle through fresh-hop beers because I love the idea. This beer, made with fresh Crystals and what must be a decent pop of bittering hops, requires no muscling. Lots of caramel in the malt, and lots of pine-to-ganja character in the nose and lively palate, which seems stouter than the 38 IBUs listed by the brewery. Quite a festival for the tongue. I tip my hat in the general direction of Bend, Oregon. Would it insult you if I said this was a fresh hop beer for those who don't like fresh hop beers?