Fresh Hop Freshmen XV - 2025 (Citra)
Breakside Brewery - SE Taproom

insanely interesting liquid here, i mean the audacity! leave it to breakside to do something like this, a dry hopped malt liquor with fresh citra cones, who has ever done that before?! limes in here too, love the name, the whole thing is clever and weird and good, but also truly odd, i think there is genius in this. the base beer is sturdy for its lightly hazy blonde color, not as obviously adjuncty and cheap as most commercial malt liquor, thats for sure, but there is some of that in how this drinks, craft malt liquor, cool. the dry hopping, the fresh hops, and the lime all take this a place the base style never goes, and i dont know that it all the way works amazingly well, i think citra is a weird pick, like its soft and even being well dosed it does get kind of overwhelmed by the strange grainy aspect to my senses, honey and some late bitterness feel incongruent together, although honestly, i guess without breaking it down too much, this could just be fresh hop ipa, but this citra being fresh is lost a little to the malt side of this, the lime element too, which hits a little perfume-like to me, zesty and with some bitterness of its own as well, like the citra is but one of many elements, and maybe some more varietals in play would lean this a little hoppier in the sense typically expected in the fresh hop space, but its unique enough to really stand out as different, and despite the cheapness generally linked to malt liquor, this is obviously crafty, well crafted, and very on purpose. decent body here, lots of carbonation which isnt always the case in these, and fresh in a cool way. subtle orange, green garden pea, and breadcrusts as it warms, some alcohol too actually for it being this low in abv, one of a kind, fun place to toss some fresh hops! breakside is always innovating, i love them so much! this is just listed as an ipa, and i can get that out of it too, but it was presented to me, by breakside, as a malt liquor, which is where its so unique i think, not amazing but incredibly neat anyway!

Look: Dull and somewhat dark yellow with a silky white head that slowly settles to a nice lid and leaves awesome lacing behind

Aroma: Freshly cut honeydew melon, raspberries, ripe peach, tangerine, Swedish Fish candy, grapefruit juice, fresh hop cones, and Cara cara orange

Taste: A full-blown citrus fruit salad is offered upon first sip and hits hard and fast with waves of peach, tangerine, raspberry, strawberry, and oranges all in the mix and these begin to deepen. As that wanes somewhat, Swedish Fish and melon pop in to say hi before succumbing to the citrus onslaught which keeps churning until a nice bite closes it out

Mouthfeel: Full, lightly slick, clean, medium carbonation, and moderately dry on the finish

Overall: This is some tasty stuff. I’ve never had easy access to more than two of these folks’ fresh hop beers before so taking full advantage and this is yet another winner. The Citra is still fresh tasting at two weeks old and captured and showcased well in this. Check this one out if you see it

 

2025-10-10
16oz can served in a big snifter. Dated 09/12/25.

Pours slightly hazy, smallish head. Moderate carbonation. Head leaves a thin, even, dusty layer. Smell is super orangey, bubblegum and melon.

Taste is less melony, more citrus rind and orange peel, maybe a hint of lemony freshness. Some green leafiness.

Mouthfeel is light, crisp, a little prickly. Very nice beer.