Fort Road Fresh Hop
Elliott Bay Brewing Co.

Poured into a Seattle Beer Week pint. Pours a medium to dark coppery amber with a fine, two finger cream colored head with great retention; interesting looking. Aroma of biscuit malt, citrus and fruit hops, lemon, orange, ripe mixed fruit with some tropical notes. Flavor follows biscuit malt, citrus, fruit and grassy hops, lemon, vague tropical and ripe light stone fruit and hay. Medium bodied with light to medium creaminess. A quite different take on a fresh hop, which around here are usually very light malt; this is old fashioned with English malt influence. Quite light herbal hop character. To be fair, we are weeks past the fresh hop season, so the freshness is not as forward as it could be. I visited Elliot Bay for a reunion gathering and saw an opportunity for a mixed six of canned Elliot Bay brews that included this, a pumpkin beer and a bock among other things, that were not on tap where we were gathering. It seemed like a great opportunity to catch up with Elliott Bay, since I've always enjoyed their beer with the food they offer. I had no idea they made a fresh hop, so I'll have to come back next year while the season is still active. Although it is not very exciting as a fresh hop, I'm a fan of biscuit malt IPAs and I liked this quite a bit. Rated for enjoyment rather than fresh hop character.nt glass.

2023-10-20
12oz can served in a big snifter. Can is dated 23269 16634.

Pours a dark nutty amber with a small head and not much carbonation. Smell is earthy hops and a little grapefruit pith.

Taste is wandering somewhere in between an amber and an IPA, with a surprisingly pleasant sweetness and a kiss of fresh hops and a nutty bitterness. But I want it to be a slap of fresh hops and a resin bitterness. Keep that sweetness and the confusion between amber and IPA, though.

Mouthfeel is medium-ish. Overall, it's not bad. Little hints of really good -- small tweaks would make a big difference.