Fresh Hop Organic Sustainable Harvest IPA
Butte Creek Brewing Company

Fresh Hop Organic Sustainable Harvest IPAFresh Hop Organic Sustainable Harvest IPA
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Butte Creek Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
American IPA
ABV:
6.6%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.84 | pDev: 8.33%
Reviews:
27
Ratings:
28
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 26, 2020
Added:
Oct 06, 2007
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by htomsirveaux:
Photo of htomsirveaux
Reviewed by htomsirveaux from Texas

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
22 oz. bottle tried 24 may 2008.

Large fizzy peach colored head. Almost flat. Clear peach tea color. Aromas of resin, ethanol and fresh turned soil, sweet peas. Starts earthy and sweet, with some hints of raw potatoes and green beans. Lots of caramel malt throughout, hops are well represented but not overwhelming. Aftertaste is slighty citrus bitter. Medium body, moderate ethanol.

Not bad but hops were a little lacking for a 'fresh hop' beer.
Mar 08, 2009
More User Ratings:
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.25/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Indoor times call for reviews from back in the day. This beer, and its anniversary counterparts were an annual fall pickup.

Butte Creek dropped another mostly orange colored ipa here. Off white head 1/3". Aroma wasn't super "green" per se, but they did bring the bittering hops in the aroma.

The taste was just as much a crystal malt push as it was a hoppy one, if not more. Packed a hearty degree of bitterness no doubt, but in terms of taste/flavor, it went on the malt and grapefruit/pine neede bitterness edge hard. So much so that it was to the exclusion of pretty much any other aspect of a beer. Sure this is before proprietary aroma hops exploded on the scene, but there are some world class traditionally hopped beers out there, so you don't get a pass for that reason in my book (or more accurately, review).

Basically it was another beer from BC that had "ORGANIC" front and center, and seemed to bank on that marketing angle first and foremost.
Mar 26, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by jrob21 from North Carolina

Oct 28, 2015
Photo of weeare138
Reviewed by weeare138 from Pennsylvania

3.15/5  rDev -18%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Thanks to hopdog for sharing this one...
Appears a transparent, light orange with a small white cap that quickly fades into a mild collar. Spotty bits of lacing are left around the glass.
Smell is of bitter herbs, yeast, biscuit, and caramel.
Taste is of heavy yeast, hop bitterness, and earthy herbs.
Mouthfeel is a bit thin with bitterness hitting the middle of the tongue.
Jan 15, 2009
Photo of hopdog
Reviewed by hopdog from Pennsylvania

3.07/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
22oz bottle acquired in trade with Floydster - thanks!

Poured a medium amber color with a smaller sized off white head. Aromas of fresh green hops, citrus, and I was getting a lighter butteriness. Tastes of fresh floral green hops, citrus, and a little earthy. Body on the thinner side.
Jan 09, 2009
Photo of magictrokini
Reviewed by magictrokini from California

3.51/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Auburn pour, average white head. Fragrant floral aroma, pine, sap, grass, and some grapefruit and earth. The taste unfortunately did not follow through. Nice hoppiness, grapefruit, resin; but the earthy/dirty/sour malt ruined the clean hop taste. Seems like this is a common problem among the "organics." Maybe if the malt and funk was toned down, this would have been much better.
Dec 05, 2008
Photo of Spikester
Reviewed by Spikester from Oregon

4.1/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours hazy amber with a modest head and lots of ring lacings. Aroma is floral hops.
Taste is rich bitter hops with a good amount of malts. Hops are definately more than the typical Cascade variety. Good amount of oils and resins. Very light for an IPA but exceptional flavors.
Mouthfeel is good. And drinkability is very good.
Nov 23, 2008
Photo of MuenchenerKindl
Reviewed by MuenchenerKindl from Germany

4.1/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a bomber to a pint glass the liquid is dark copper with good carbonation. The head is not quite 2 fingers but thick and fluffy, light tan and leaves nice lace.

The smell is fresh hops to be sure, both earthy and mild citrus.

The taste is very nice, good fresh hops, nice caramel malt, a great combo in this brew.

The mouthfeel is rich and creamy, very good carbonation and a great body.

The drinkability is very good this brew is a must try.

Prosi, MK
Aug 07, 2008
Photo of mikesgroove
Reviewed by mikesgroove from South Carolina

4.18/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A nice twenty two ounce bottle that was acquired several weeks ago in a trade and carefully stored in the fridge until last night. Opened up at fridge temp and poured not an imperial pint glass. Consumed on 08/05/2008.

The pour was very nice with a rich dark amber color, actually very dark, with almost a caramel brown appearance to it. Some nice lacing and some really incredible retention. There was a thick, creamy head of brown that stayed over the top of this one for most of the session, almost having that finely carbonated, nitrous like quality to it. One of the better looking ales I have seen.

Incredible balance here in the aroma, rich notes of pine tar hops were blended seamlessly with delicate biscuit like malts and a nice touch of bready like character. The flavor was more of the same. Very well balanced, in fact one of the most balanced ales I have seen in quite some time. Lots of malt in here, with big notes of pine tar mixed in. Very smooth with a chewy consistency and lots of biscuit like flavor tucked away in the middle of it. I was really impressed by how full it was, usually you will find the style bordering on the light side but this was very well done. Long lasting taste of resin like hops stuck to your mouth and thoroughly dried it out.

Overall a classic ale here from Butte Creek. I would have no issues at all with having this one again any day! Can't wait till the next release, for an organic beer, well any beer, this is damn good!
Aug 07, 2008
Photo of philbertk
Reviewed by philbertk from Washington

4.32/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Remarks
Dense rich lacy off white head.Clear bright rich amber red color.Big floral fresh hop malt ester front.Creamy earthy Hop Infused risch mild toasted cloying caramel mild sweet fruit doughy malty body.Cloying malt mild citrus rich hop spice end.Red Ale IPA
Jun 30, 2008
Photo of bradybeer
Reviewed by bradybeer from California

4.1/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours a deep orange brown with a quickly disappearing off white head. Aroma of fresh citrus, pine, and citrus hops in the pour. Malt is there but is dominated by the hops. Finish is thick pine resin that coats the tongue. Mouthfeel is medium-with drinkability is good-not sure I can drink more than a 22oz bomber though
May 19, 2008
Photo of oberon
Reviewed by oberon from North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Easily the best offering from Butte Creek to come my way and maybe the best organic beer that I have had as well.Poured into a standard pint glass a rich clear bronze with a tight one finger white head that turns into a frothy mass,sharp grapefruit rind and underlying pine and caramel in the nose.A good mix of hop flavor profiles here starts out somewhat citric and piney melding into a big earthy raw finish,a sweet caramel note hits the finish as well.A very nice fresh hop beer not quite on par with Great Divide but the hops provide good complexity to a fine brew.
Apr 25, 2008
Photo of GClarkage
Reviewed by GClarkage from California

3.85/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
04/14/08- Purchased at Whole Foods in San Mateo, CA.

Presentation- 22oz bottle with no freshness info. Poured into my Duvel tulip.

Appearance- Very deep copper in color. Clouded with microscopic yeast particles. About a 1/2 inch head on pour. Leaves light lace traces.

Smell- A slight touch of that wet cardboard yeast note that I usually get from most organic brews. Not to much to ruin it though. Really nicely balanced fresh floral hop notes as well a some caramel malt aroma.

Taste- Well I'll be....a above average tasting organic brew from Butte Creek? I'll have to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming. Carried by heavy mid range sweetened caramel malt, this beer also delivers a really nice fresh hop flavor. Mild grapefruit rind and a mixed bag of floral and herbal hop flavors. Also it gives a nice what seems like chocolate flavor which I am assuming is from the malt.

Mouthfeel- Nice carbonation level with a medium lasting semi-bitter sweet chocolate-malt aftertatse.

Drinkability- This is quite a complex IPA here. Tons of nice flavors and characters. Seems more like a pale ale, but still quite incredible to see this is from Butte Creek. Two thumbs up. Right up there with my other favorite Butte Creek beer...Train Wreck.
Apr 15, 2008
Photo of Reidrover
Reviewed by Reidrover from Oregon

3.88/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Amber coloured, clear beer, nice thick ,semi-creamy lite tan head. Hoppy aroma but backed up by toffeeish maltiness, quite pleasing. Pretty balanced taste with the creamy soft toffee malts blending well with a floral hoppiness, the hops do take over as expected near the end and leave a pleasant after taste. Very nice on the palate, thick and creamy for the style. Overall a nice drinkable IPA.
Mar 26, 2008
Photo of hops4me
Reviewed by hops4me from Virginia

3.88/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - a little darker then most IPAs I have had. Deep amber down the middle and lightens up along the sides. Creamy tight bubbles in a tanish head. Sticky lace clings to the sides of the glass.

S - some hop aroma but not much. A little floral and grassy. Some fruitiness as well. Maybe some peaches, bananas in there as well? A little bit of some toasted biscuit smell.

T - Grassy and floral bitterness right up front. A little chalky followed by some fruit. All bitterness in the aftertaste.

M - Medium creamy mouthfeel. Not a whole lot of CO2 prickliness.

D - Not great. Just good. Could have several of these because they are balanced well. If faced with other IPAs on the shelf I would probably take the others.
Mar 20, 2008
Photo of TheManiacalOne
Reviewed by TheManiacalOne from Rhode Island

3.92/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Acquired from rayjay courtesy of Secret Santa 2007, so a big Thank You goes out to him. Poured from a 22oz bottle into a US Tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep reddish amber color, with a short off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of fruity citrus, floral hops and some caramelized malt.

T: The taste is pretty well-balanced with a nice burst of grassy hops up front along with some citrus and caramel sweetness. There malt character is on the thin side for the style but it's enough to provide a good amount of substance. As the sweetness fades, the hops bitterness takes dominance and covers the little bit of the organic bite that's present. The after-taste is slightly bitter.

M: Smooth and very crisp, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is dry and slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, good kick, nice representation of style, one of the better organic beers that I've had, in fact, if I tasted it blindly, I probably wouldn't guess that it was organic, which is something that I don't think I could say about too many other organic beers.
Mar 04, 2008
Photo of sinistermadman
Reviewed by sinistermadman from Oregon

3.88/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Nice sunburst amber color with a slight head. Aroma is more malt than hops, but pretty solid. Solid caramel malt base with a nice, balanced hop bitterness on top. Medium-full body with a slick mouthfeel. This brew is malty for an IPA, but who cares? Not bad.
Feb 27, 2008
Photo of rkuhnel
Reviewed by rkuhnel from California

3.8/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
From a 22 oz bottle this poured a reddish amber with an off-white head and good lacing. Nose of caramel malts and floral hops. Mouthfeel is medium. Flavor is malts and floral hop again. Medium bitter finish. This is a very nice IPA that I would buy again.
Feb 24, 2008
Photo of ChainGangGuy
Reviewed by ChainGangGuy from Georgia

3.53/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: Pours a crystal clear, dark amber body with a small, off-white head.

Smell: Citrusy, herbal hop aroma with a bit of maltiness and a quick whiff of wet dog.

Taste: Mild caramel malt flavor with a little sweetness shining through. Hint of sweaty grapefruits served over a bed of herbs. Medium bitterness. Finishes bittersweet.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: It's not so bad, I guess, though I did consider it a pale ale until I got a closer look at the front label.
Feb 22, 2008
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Appearance: Pours a hazy amber color with a beautiful beige head that sticks well and leaves layers of lacing on the sides of the pint glass

Smell: Surprisingly malty, with a strong caramel aroma, but there is still plenty of piney hop action (as a fresh hop with 4-5 months in it, I expected the hops to start to fade)

Taste: Opens with a nicely balanced profile, with the fruity grapefruit and caramel battling one another to be prominent; after the swallow, there is a brief moment for the biscuit, after which the grapefruit shines; some residual sweetness on the tip of the tongue, while the bitterness moves to the back

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: This is a very nice beer meant to be consumed while young; its starting to fade so drink it now
Feb 22, 2008
Fresh Hop Organic Sustainable Harvest IPA from Butte Creek Brewing Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 28 ratings