Fresh Hop Space Needle IPA
Pike Brewing Company

Poured into a Seattle Beer Week pint glass. Pours a medium golden amber with a two finger white head with great retention and nice lacing. Aroma of pale malt, dank and citrus hops, orange, grapefruit and catty dankness. Flavor is lightly caramel and pale malt, citrus, piney and dank hops, mixed light stone fruit and citrus, pine and catty dankness; solid piney and dank bitterness in the finish. Medium bodied with light to moderate creaminess. The server at Fremont told me that they are selling Pike cans because of the recent acquisition of the brewery, that Fremont was now brewing Pike beers, although the can states brewed by Pike Brewery. In any case, this is a quite nice West Coast style fresh hop. The hop bill is actually somewhat complex for a fresh hop, which are often single or two hop offerings. The hop profile is a nice one, with great WC character of citrus, pine and fruit. It's kind of a fruit punch melange, with not fruit flavor that pops out, but works well. The malt seems to have a bit more caramel than Fremont fresh hops, so if brewed by Fremont, it may be keeping its distinct flavor; it's been a while since I've had the regular Space Needle. Nicely done and a pleasant surprise.