A Few Quick Fresh Hop Recommendations
The New School’s Ezra Johnson-Greenough has been organizing sampling sessions of fresh hop beers this season, and we had another one last night. I don’t want to step on Ezra’s big post, which will have comments on all two dozen beers we sampled. Since time is of the essence when sampling these beers, however, I did want to give a shout-out to a few favorites so you can track them down now.
Two brief notes before we get to the recommendations. First, I encourage everyone to embark on their fresh hop journeys bearing the approach of Bill Night, who said, shortly after we poured the first sample: “I just like beer,” and offered an enthusiastic appraisal of a mediocre example. That’s the essence of fresh-hop season: fun. These beers are often wild rides, sometimes bristling with weird flavors. Not every one is an objective aesthetic winner, but the point is the journey. Remember why you’re on it. Second, do go out and buy these beers in the can (of the 40-odd I’ve had this year, just one was in a bottle)—they’re holding up pretty well. After our exchange earlier this month, Zach Beckwith from Bend Brewing sent me his Fresh Trop (incredibly intense and highly recommended!) and a week after receiving it, the character was holding up well. Don’t sit on them, but don’t be afraid to buy them in a can, either.
Okay, the recs…
StormBreaker. We had three different beers and they were all very near the top, and two, Handfuls of Fresh Hops and Citra Red, were my faves. (The third, House Martell, a hazy, was also great.) Tremendous green flavors, resinous and oily, but totally clean and bright—no funky vegetal or heavy plantlike notes. Pure fresh hop goodness.
Old Town Hopicana. Another sticky, resinous, and dank example, made with fresh Citra and Mosaic. Intensely green.
Gigantic Last Simcoe. For those looking for a more subdued, balanced beer with perfectly clean lines and bright, if delicate, fresh hop character.
West Coast Grocery “Fresh Hop Strata” (no other more formal name noted). Another mellow example, with a sweet, lemony center, some yeast character, and an oily finish. The nose is vegetal but the palate isn’t.
For Central Oregonians, in addition to the Bend Fresh Trop, you might give Crux Sabro a spin. It is another super intense beer, and it’s all Sabro. Has a savory and chlorophyll nose but a soft, creamy palate. It’s weird and I didn’t actually love the hop, but it was so unusual—and a great example of a fresh hop—you might give it a try just for the rush.
Two events should help you in your pursuits. From October 2-11, Threshold Brewing is hosting a curbside fresh hop market including 14 breweries (cans) and another four on draft (and the list is growing, I believe). There’s also a fresh hop pop-up with draft beer ongoing through October 4th at the Prost Marketplace/Interurban on North Mississippi.
Go forth and sample!