Fresh Hop Project 2015

Discussion in 'Northwest' started by sharpski, Aug 19, 2015.

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  1. Bitter_Better

    Bitter_Better Initiate (0) Jul 31, 2015 Oregon

    Made to TW in Vancouver...for the last single Cowiche can. It was apparently brewed on the 30th of September & I'm saving it for Monday after work. I buoyed my spirits w/ an $8 sixer of Topcutter, there (brewed on 8/25). Happy for the chance to try these WA faves! Off to fill again on Vernside.
     
    #201 Bitter_Better, Oct 3, 2015
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  2. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Went on a 10 mile run from Green Lake to Ballard and stopped for some 4 oz fresh hop pours on my way home:

    Lucky Envelope Citra pale
    Reubens Amarillo pale
    Reubens Centennial pale
    Stoup Over the Top IPA (Simcoe)

    The Reubens centennial was way too bitter. Everything else was really good.
     
    #202 distantmantra, Oct 4, 2015
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  3. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I was stunned to find out that Two Beers won first place at the Yakima fresh hop festival yesterday. It's not a bad beer, but really? REALLY?!?
     
    #203 distantmantra, Oct 4, 2015
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  4. vurt

    vurt Grand Pooh-Bah (4,504) Apr 11, 2004 Oregon
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    The D'Bomb Amarillo Fresh Hop IPA from Sunriver is excellent. Tangy, lively, and zesty.
     
    #204 vurt, Oct 4, 2015
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  5. Bitter_Better

    Bitter_Better Initiate (0) Jul 31, 2015 Oregon

    FH & Sunriver make my growler whistle...where was it? EDIT: & Amarillo, too.
     
    #205 Bitter_Better, Oct 4, 2015
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  6. vurt

    vurt Grand Pooh-Bah (4,504) Apr 11, 2004 Oregon
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    At the beer garden in the food cart pod at 28th & Division. In the words of my friend James, "Get you some."

    Also: the Montavilla Lesh Is Fresh at Imperial Bottle Shop is another good one.
     
    #206 vurt, Oct 4, 2015
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  7. Bitter_Better

    Bitter_Better Initiate (0) Jul 31, 2015 Oregon

    Nice! Green Dragon has Sodbusted & Ft. George freshie Co-Hop(erative)...as well as a couple more.
     
    #207 Bitter_Better, Oct 4, 2015
    Last edited: Oct 4, 2015
  8. Bitter_Better

    Bitter_Better Initiate (0) Jul 31, 2015 Oregon

    Do they fill growlers? Was thinking Imperial, anyway...for surety.

    I have a hard time not liking Sunriver beer, surely.
     
    #208 Bitter_Better, Oct 4, 2015
  9. Bitter_Better

    Bitter_Better Initiate (0) Jul 31, 2015 Oregon

    Went, drank a pint, took it home. Not a strong freshie, but that familiar, spicy malt/hop back quenched my Vicious thirst! Thanks for the heads-up!
     
    #209 Bitter_Better, Oct 4, 2015
  10. Bitter_Better

    Bitter_Better Initiate (0) Jul 31, 2015 Oregon

    Having a Hoppopotamus IPA from Silver Moon (good 1st from the brewer!) @ Imperial. They have Sodbusted III on when one taps out. Strongly suggest some for Simcoe fans. They blew thru their Hops & Kisses & Ft. George cans (guessing Co-Hoperative).
     
    #210 Bitter_Better, Oct 4, 2015
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  11. sharpski

    sharpski Grand Pooh-Bah (3,100) Oct 11, 2010 Oregon
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Only 1 today was DM Killer Green. It's like they're not even trying to make a juicy fruit bomb...
     
    #211 sharpski, Oct 5, 2015
  12. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I had Hales' FH ISA. They used Simcoe this year, so it's got more of that great fresh hop flavor, but it's still pretty thin.

    Got a growler of FH Johnny Utah for the Hakws game tomorrow. The taster I had on Friday was top notch.
     
    #212 distantmantra, Oct 5, 2015
  13. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I went. While I really liked the low key, low cost aspect of the fest, the beers I tried weren't really all that impressive. I thought Centurion from Oakshire and the FH IPA that planktown made with Sorachi hops were the two best beers I tried. Trying to remember who it was now, but someone brought a FH sour pumpkin beer that was interesting I thought.

    After the event, I went over to the Tap and Growler to get my fill of Breakside stuff (T&G had all three FH IPA's on tap; simcoe, mosaic and the wanderlust). IMHO, all three of the Breakside beers were considerably better than anything I had at the Eugene/Springfield fest.
     
    #213 John_M, Oct 5, 2015
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  14. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I've been drinking Killer Green since they first made it (I believe) back in 07. Back then, the beer was flat out amazing, and along with Vernon the Rabbit Slayer (RIP - rabbit test from the original brewer was impressive, but it was no Vernon), it really stole the show at the Hood River fest back then. The beer was hugely hoppy and in your face, and I just loved it. I think there's been some fluctuation in the beer's flavor profile since that time, but up until last year, I thought it among the best FH IPA/DIPA's I sampled every year. Last year though, it really seemed as if there was a significant drop off or change in the recipe. Last year's version was much more malt forward I thought, wasn't nearly as hoppy/bitter, and I thought the FH character was muted. This year's version was a bit better, but was still nothing like the awesome beer I recalled from years like 07, 08 and 2010. The difference is not something I would simply ascribe to a change in my palate or an off batch. It seems pretty clear that DM has made a conscious change in the recipe (for whatever reason). Frankly, the current killer green reminds me of bottles of the stuff I was still drinking in late November or December in 2013, when of course the FH flavor and hop profile had really dropped off.

    Anyway, I'm with you Ryan. I don't know what's going on at DM, but the current version of Killer Green is really a disappointment.
     
    #214 John_M, Oct 5, 2015
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  15. westcoastbeergeek

    westcoastbeergeek Initiate (0) Sep 16, 2015 Canada (BC)

    I enjoyed Killer Red quite a bit last year, but overall I haven't been thrilled with their beer for some time. It's good and I'm happy to drink it, but nothing mind blowing that's worth seeking out. Also seems to be a lot of aged product on the shelves too.
     
    #215 westcoastbeergeek, Oct 5, 2015
  16. sharpski

    sharpski Grand Pooh-Bah (3,100) Oct 11, 2010 Oregon
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Been thinking about a way to visualize the fresh hop activity. Anyone know of a good online resource for mapping data? My lack of imagination has me entering 300+ brewery addresses into a Google Map, which sounds tedious. Obviously, I'll have to do some data entry regardless, but is there anything more batch oriented than google searches to add each brewery individually?
     
    #216 sharpski, Oct 5, 2015
  17. bfields4

    bfields4 Savant (1,171) Dec 11, 2007 Colorado

    Oh man I'm upset I missed the breakside stuff at T&G loved the Simcoe this year need to try the others. I thought planktown and payette beers were pretty good.. but yea all the Belgian pales didn't really play with the fresh hops to nice... Really enjoyed the space I'm going to have to visit claim 52 down there sometime, and at the end of the day $10 bucks for a nice glass, live music and oh yeah the 3 tasters haha. I'm not complaining love to see them do some more fests down there. Was it Mancave's pumpkin FH thing?
     
    #217 bfields4, Oct 5, 2015
  18. maltmaster420

    maltmaster420 Initiate (0) Aug 17, 2005 Oregon

    A couple more for you @sharpski

    Cascade Lakes Wetsmack - Hop Smack IPA with fresh Citra hops 7.5%
    Buoy Crop of Monte Crystal - session IPA with fresh Crystal 5.9%
    Two Kilts Fresh Hop Crystal Sunshine - Crystal Sunshine IPL with fresh Crystal 4.8%
     
    #218 maltmaster420, Oct 6, 2015
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  19. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I think that was it, now that you mention it (ManCave). Also, while it appears the Simcoe and Mosaic are gone, the online list still shows that they have the FH Wanderlust on tap. They're holding their annual FH taste off this week, and for all I know, they may still have one of the Breakside FH beers on tap as one of the "secret participants."

    One of my friends from work has been prodding me to go check out the Abbey/Sprout space for some time now, and after stopping by the fresh hop event, I can see why. I agree, it's really a very nice space (especially for Springfield. LOL!).
     
    #219 John_M, Oct 6, 2015
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  20. Bitter_Better

    Bitter_Better Initiate (0) Jul 31, 2015 Oregon

    Any idea how many FH brews are entirely freshies, @sharpski? I'd venture to guess the trio of Breakside bitters might be, & I'm nearly positive Vernside is all freshie Cascades.
    Say what you will, but it was the best, most nuanced offering not named (unfiltered) Breakside FH Simcoe.
    Cowiche is likely to be #2, even as yet unquaffed.
    My Sunriver D'Bomb FH Amarillo growler just begged to be drunken 1st...& it's fantastic!
     
    #220 Bitter_Better, Oct 6, 2015
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2015
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