Fresh Hop West Coast IPA (Strata & Bravo)
Black Raven Brewing Co.

This pours a beautiful golden straw color with a slightly creamy white head that provides a bit of lacing. The nose has a bit of citrus, and there’s a bit of berry (thanks Strata), but this beer primarily has a very floral nose, courtesy of the Bravo hops.

The taste has a bit of citrus, but it’s the berry and floral notes that shine in this fresh hop beer and there’s a nice bitterness to accompany those flavors .

The mouthfeel is crisp and dry, per the style. My first beer from these guys, and one I’d enjoy on the regular if it was available to me.

 

This is my first Fresh Hop with Strata and Bravo, and maybe I'm just not a fan of those hops. The appearance was cloudy, pretty murky, not a good start for me. The smell was dank hops, as was the taste. Overall, there is a lot of hoppiness in this FH beer, but it's just not the sort that makes me want more. I've generally been a Black Raven fan over the years, but not so much this time, at least not compared to all the other 2021 FH offerings from other PNW breweries.

16oz can (dated 9/15/21) poured into 16oz knock-off perfect pint glass. Poured a cloudy medium orange-yellow color with 1/2 inch of white head that had good retention and no lacing.

The aroma was hop forward, without much of a grain/malt base.

The flavors had the frooty hop flavors that Strata is known for. There was a bit of bitterness towards the back end.

The body was solidly medium, with a touch of coarseness, and had a semi-dry finish.

Drinkability was good, an enjoyable quaff.

Overall, a nicely solid and enjoyable brew. Worth the seasonal grab if you see it.

Poured into a Seattle Beer Week pint glass. Pours a medium golden amber with a half finger white head with good retention and lacing. Aroma of pale malt, citrus and dank hops, melon, strawberry, and an interesting spicy note like sesame seed. Flavor of pale malt, citrus and dank hops, hay, sesame seed, vague mixed tropical fruit and bit of earthiness. Medium bodied with light creaminess. Yay, fresh hop season is back and I'm starting one using a couple of hops I'm not that familiar with, Bravo and Strata. There is a very interesting flavor here that is earthy/spicy/field hay that I know I've tasted before, but can't pin down. I called it sesame in this review as the closest thing that comes to mind. A comforting, bakery flavor I like a lot. Moderate bitterness in the finish and supportive malt. I like this a lot, different and herbal, like a fresh hop should be.