Fresh Fluff
Matchless Brewing

i wanted a little more for this one, especially at 20 bucks a four pack, it seems muted and tired, and even if we are on the back end of fresh hop season, this should be doing a little better than it seems to be at this point, still tasty, not saying its not, just that i had much higher hopes and freshness is the point with these, and it doesnt present as super fresh now, a shame. fresh citra and el dorado in this, sometimes citra in its fresh form can seem a little muted, and it does here, particularly in the nose, where there is a bit of papery oxidation, quite a lot of grain starch, and some piney hop notes too. i think the fresh el dorado shows a little better in aroma, less of the orange melon thing i generally find in it, more woodsy and old school northwestern, but with a crystalline almost candied intensity in the nose thats really appealing, lightly weedy, a hint of red starburst candy, a decent bit of earthy dry grain to this as well, not overbalanced, but a bit more hearty than i think it needs to be to best showcase the fresh hops. the flavor is different than the nose, its has some green grassiness and a curious hint of coconut, but to me doesnt exactly hit like a fresh hop beer, some middle dankness, some later lime and tea, but also some middle sweetness like maybe vanilla frosting from the can for a second, some rawness in the grain as well, maybe unmalted wheat or even oats in this, a hint of white pepper too, some odd central complexity, then a little bitterness in the finish, again a flash of that hop fade too though, and even some yeastiness for a second, like its not terribly well refined, especially for these guys, who years ago could do no wrong for me, but have been a little bit more up and down lately, and for matchless, this is a down, decent as it still is. they have another fresh hop beer in stores i have been seeing but at 20 bucks a four pack and with this one fresh in my mind i am not sure i will take the leap, which definitely wasnt the case a few years ago when i was all in on their stuff no matter what...

Canned 9/23/24. Hazy pour, thick fluffy (of course) head. Mild aroma of fruits and yeasty background. Taste is moderate hop bitterness with the fresh hop kick plus, giving it a pleasing flavor. Moderately dry. Very smooth and full feel, maybe due to the oats in the mix. Great finish. It's an enjoyable beer; just not sure we'd go for more than one, even with a 6.4% ABV.

Taster at hop festival. Hazy golden pour with a light thin white head. Citrusy aroma, grapefruit peel. Taste is zesty and bitter with fruity, citrus notes.

16oz can (packaged 9/23/2024) into a tulip. Pours a murky golden color with a 1-finger white head.

Aroma is fruity and sweet—a blend of orange and peach mostly. Floral. Seems a little bit muted compared to other recent fresh hop beers I’ve had, but what I pick up smells pretty good. In a word, fragrant.

Taste is more lemony than orange, with a hint of sharp bitterness up front but then the acidity just kinds of dissolves on the palate. Honey on the finish. Hard to describe, but it feels like there’s an invisible film or barrier in the beer that keeps the true nature of the hops from being fully experienced—like looking at a painting through a thin layer of frosted glass. It takes you 90% of the way there and then refuses to close the deal. Like other hazies, this beer is a tease.

Mouthfeel is balanced but just a touch on the watery side. Still, drinkable and refreshing.

Overall an OK fresh hop beer but again I’m not convinced that hazy/NEIPA is the best canvas for this very special ingredient. Constantly leaves just a little something to be desired.

Had on tap at Matchless Brewery Tumwater, WA also at Special Brews Lynnwood, WA

 

Interesting that Matchless calls this a "Hazy IPA" because it's not hazy, in spite of being brewed with flaked oats and wheat. Just as well since it's a clean and fruity hop showcase with just a little acidity. Attractive amber brew with plenty of foam in the Orval chalice. Sudsy mouthfeel.

Aromatic with tangerine and lemon notes plus mango in the nose. Flavor of honeydew melon, a touch of citrus, and papaya. Another intriguing Matchless brew that stays clean and flavorful while delivering the hops. From the 16 oz can purchased at Community Coop. Canned 9/20/2021.

2020-09-26
16oz can served in a big snifter. Canned 9/21/20. bought it on Tuesday at Bottleworks.

Pours amber, hazy, medium head, low carbonation. Smell is dank, a little piney, citrus, a little boozy (surprising for only 6.8%).

Taste is marshmallow fluff (but not so sweet), fruit juice (mostly citrus), minor bitterness in the pine direction.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and a little sticky. Overall, not bad.

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2022-10-01
I would say most of the previous description still holds, though I would add in fruit cup or fruit juice.

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2024-10-04
Canned 09/22/24. I'd say basically agree with the 2020 description, though maybe more pine bitterness than described.

 

Can dated 9.23.19

Pours a murky orange/amber. Little fuzzy white head whose bubbles pop pop away.

Nose is sweet juicy tropics. Lush for sure with maybe a grassy balance.

Flavour comes in with the same initial impression of rich sweet mango/guava before building to an almost powdered sugar-dessert sweet kind of finish. Dessert beer for sure. The FH character could be contributing to it, but it gets kind of washed out in some of the NEIPA sweetness. There's some mild pine bitterness on the very finale, but this is a new school IPA through and through.

Medium body maybe? There's some mild small carbonation, but really all I can focus on is the sweetness.

 

 

 

 

Tasty and true to style, with great juicy (grapefruit and melon) notes and a soft full mouthful. Not sure about the fresh hops...it is a little zippier on the finish than most neipas i’ve had, but other than that, not sure.

 

 

16oz can poured into a tulip
Canned 10/04/17

A- pours a deep murky orange-brown color with a one finger foamy white head that has good retention and leaves some lacing behind

S- aroma is of pine and orange for the most part, as well as notes of grass and guava

T- hop profile is subdued up front, but eventually brings out some citrus notes of grapefruit zest and tangerine pith. Mid-palate gives some fresh grassy and melon notes. The finish gives more grass and citrus hop

M- medium-light body with moderate carbonation leads to anfosmy mouthfeel and a crisp dry finish

O- clean and hoppy throughout, it's not in your face like a NE style, but very tasty