Fresh Hop Hazy IPA (Centennial, 2024)
pFriem Family Brewers

2025 vintage now, they just call this fresh hop hazy ipa, i believe its done with centennial again and also amarillo, so im not sure it needs to be readded as a new beer, didnt have it in 2024, but loving it now, a somewhat subtle take compared to what others are doing, which is to say its more drinkable, something i could make a night of, and want to, leave it to these guys to do it right! just a little richer than blonde, not crazy dense, lighter haze to this, frothy white head from the tap, good carbonation evident, looks nice. the aroma and flavor bring a fruitier side of centennial than i think most usually suspect, less woodsy and high alpha, more tangerine and meyer lemon folded in, light juniper, herbal lush freshness, and maybe a hint of good pure hash oil, but not super dank or weedy, light spice in the mix too later on and as it warms, melon rind level bitterness and sort of wetness to it without being green in a way thats harsh, fairly dry but with some oils helping the hops linger a bit on the palate. just enough grain on this for it to be balanced, softy earthy cereals set the hops up well, but the malt overall is not a huge factor here, and the ferment is clean, so this is rightly all about the hops. i think maybe centennial doesnt get as much love as it deserves in this context, and this is a fine way to feature it. this is far and away the best time of the year to be a beer drinker, stoked its finally fresh hop time again!

2024-10-09
16oz can served in a snulip. Can is dated 09/12/24. Bought it at Ridgewood on the 30th.

Pours a slightly hazy whitish-yellow with about a finger of dense, uniform head. Smell is light lemon, light blossoms, light grass and pine. Maybe a bit heavier on the pine.

Taste is piney and lemony and earthy, mostly lemon rind and earthy bitterness on the finish.

Mouthfeel is medium, clean, dry. Overall, it's pretty good.

Why do they call this hazy? It pours a completely clear golden color with creamy foam in the nobbly glass. It does not have the slippery oats 'n' raw grain feel, nor the usual acidity. Aroma is light and lemony with something like carrot cake in the nose. Some pleasant sweetness to start. On the tongue this is also light and spritzy with a lush mouthfeel.

Flavors are fruity but tangy, in the pineapple vein with some lime peel and maybe there was a touch of lemon bars. There is just a modest bitterness and some herbaceous notes in the aftertaste. This is an intriguing surprise and like no other fresh hop beer. But it's so totally drinkable and if it really is in the NEIPA category it wins the gold for me. From the 16 oz can purchased at Bridge and Tunnel Bottleshop in Astoria. Date not legible.