Il Fresh-teggiato
Varietal Beer Company

 

fresh hop american lager infused with wet centennial hops, delicate and flavorful, fresh as can be, and with a wicked hop profile, a really special beer. i have not had the original without the fresh hops, but the malt is distinctive and pleasant in this and the ferment is real tidy. it is however the hops that make this special, so cool to be in this part of the world during harvest time, they really execute these at an entirely higher level! pale yellow color and minimalist looking with a lasting inch of airy white foam, a light and soft plush haze to it, and lots of bubbles that fit the base lager well. the nose on this is floral more than anything, less intensely woodsy and resinous than i usually associate with centennial, good grain balance, light elderflower, orange blossom, and green grape, very pleasant, light grassiness too as it warms, some minerality coming through too, crazy fresh. the flavor is bright and lively, just picked to me, and the earthy barley really compliments the hops with some obvious freshness of its own. lemon curd, green tea, and a tangerine note, less dank and piney than it usually is, and the bitterness is quite low here too, although the finish does have a nice snappy crispness to it, very well lagered. this simplicity of this overall is key to its ease, the fresh hops define it but they do not dominate it, a hard line to walk. gorgeous and infinitely drinkable, had a blast drinking it right here at the source! fresh hop season is the best!