Source for wet hops 2017?

I missed out on brewing a wet/fresh hop beer last year because I didn't start looking for them until September. I'd like to get my hands on some this year, any variety will work.

None of the LHBS near me are doing a group order AFAIK, so online would be the most likely choice. Does anyone have any leads on places taking online preorders for wet hops this year?

 

No hop farms nearby. We're at low latitude and in the desert, so hops tend to die here. I've heard of some up in the mountains toward Flagstaff and past Tucson. I emailed the only one I can find online and am waiting for a response.

 

I may have a line on some, but now im wondering about shipping/storing these. The farm I'm talking with is pretty small and has never shipped them before, but may be willing to try. A few questions:

1. Do I really need them shipped overnight, or will 2 day shipping suffice? It is much cheaper with a USPS flat rate box.
2. Will a large flat rate box hold 1-5# of wet hops? I have no idea of the volume these things.
3. How should they be packaged? Sealed in plastic or do they need to breathe? Should ice packs be included?

I know the sooner you use them the better, but I'm finding it impossible to locate a local source. Any thoughts?

 

So that's a yes on the ice packs, then?

 

What fresh hopped beers have you had? I've found several commercial examples to be lacking as well, even to to point of not being able to distinguish it from a "regular" beer. Notable exceptions being Born Yesterday from Lagunitas, Wendigo done by Huss locally, Three Floyds Broo Doo, and 40 Acre from Mike Hess. They all have this fresh, vegetal, resinous character to them. Really the only way to describe it s that they taste "fresher" than a normal IPA. At the same time, although they are saturated with hop flavor, they don't feel as palate wrecking as a NE IPA.

I think that maybe the commercial examples that I didn't care too much for simply weren't hopped enough? Given that you supposedly need 5x the amount compared to dried hops, I can see lots of places underhopping these beers due to volume restrictions in the equipment. I've never brewed one myself, as Phoenix isn't exactly ground zero for hop farming. I'm hoping to change that this year.

 

Those were among the two that didn't wow me. Unless you're talking about the SN Estate beer. I did like that one, even if it doesn't hit you over the head with hops. I was also pretty bored with Deschutes' Hop Trip.

You didn't try Born Yesterday last year? It was quite possibly the best nationally distributed beer ever. I'm looking forward to it again this year, even if they are 100% macro now.

 

I saw that at YCH, but I don't think I can commit to 10# of hops that will only stay good for a matter of hours after I receive them. Plus the fact that shipping is over $100...

Do you know if HD or Freshops will sell in smaller quantities?

 

BY is a wet hop beer. It is also a fresh hop beer. Wet hops must be fresh, otherwise they've gone bad. Fresh hops must not necessarily be wet, just not old - at least according to Sierra Nevada. Celebration is the only "fresh hop" beer I know of that is made with dried hops exclusively.

According to every other brewery I've heard opine on the matter, fresh and wet hops are the same thing: undried hops used within ~48 of harvest. I've also heard them referred to as green or unkilned as well.