Astra
Ecliptic Brewing

*2020 Version using Cascade & Centennial hops
Look: Semi-clear orange with a quick settling head
Aroma: Lemon zest, pilsner malt, fresh cut grass, orange, and herbaceous wet hops
Taste: Follows nose but strong lemon and grassy wet hop punch are very prominent. Malt underneath is noticeable but definitely in the backdrop. Crisp finish with a bite and some dryness
Mouthfeel: Clean, crisp, a little slick from the wet hops, and a good bite as well
Overall: Delicious. I missed this last year so worked hard to try it and glad I did. Great fresh hop character atop a light lager base lets the hops shine and they most definitely do. More of a bite than I expected as well, given the style but they must not have held back on those hops and I’m happy they didn’t. Tasty and recommended

On tap at the beer store.

Well done. Drinks light and easy, like a lager should. The hops are there to make it a little more interesting, not to overwhelm you. They're flavorful, with just a touch of bitterness in the aftertaste. No bready lager funk either, just enough of the malt and grain to give it some body. It's simple and refreshing, but complex enough not to be just another lager. 5.5% is above the standard lager, but below the standard IPA, so I'd call this a great compromise beer on a sunny day.

 

a wet hopped lager done with cascade and centennial, but it doesnt drink like an india pale lager to me, its lighter than that, with the freshness of the hops real obvious but not a ton of bitterness or oily density to the feel, this remains light and drinkable, a neat use of wet hops to be sure! real light yellow in color this one, frothy headed from the tap, pure white there, and as clear as can be, delicate looking, especially by wet hop standards, real bright and refined visually. the aroma here is a little spicy from the cascade that gives this an oddly almost noble complexion in the smell, grassy and earthy and fresh, but with some bitterness too, not as radical as i thought it might be on the hops, but as soon as i get to drinking it, i am appreciative of the restrained nature of the hops, its not too intense, especially for a wet hopped beer. plenty of pine from the centennial, some grapefruit character as well, very fresh to me, and some light herbal bite though it, but i can taste some lager yeast too and this is thus balanced uniquely, as the grain is crazy light here so the yeast and the hops are kind of what stands out for me. its light and smooth to drink, not sticky or weighty from the hops as some of these can be, not real complex either, but a cool way to experience wet hops without having to drink more filling ipa and pale types, frankly i havent seen nearly enough of this sort of thing around. props to these guys for doing something a little different, very drinkable and enjoyable, still obviously done with wet hops, but a softer expression of them here.