Fresh Hop 2020

Matchless' Stratafresh. Not bad, but not stellar.

 

Holy Mountain dropped their Strata FH IPA on the webstore today. Grabbed a 4-pack that I'll pick up tomorrow.

 

Me also. I have three stops to make now - Fremont, Ruben's, Holy Mountain. Any others?

 

True. Can't argue with that.

As for GN, I find their pricing is actually in line with their national peers (Alvarado St/Moonraker/ Trillium/ Modern Times et.al.), just out of whack for the local scene. That's still a bit rich for my blood, so, like you, I just don't shop there.

 

Just opened my first F2F: Centennial + Sabro. Very good, but possibly a notch more one-dimensional than some of the other beers in the F2F portfolio. Still definitely worth picking up a 4-pack. Cheers NWBA!

 

What Fresh Beast with Mosaic will be going into cans tomorrow. The next FH after that might be the one in most excited for, and the return of an old Breakside fav that hasn't been brewed in a few years...

 

I was able to break away this afternoon for a few stops, snagging:

• Fremont F2F
• Reuben's FH Crikey
• HUB Ace of Spades
• Hellbent FH Strata
• Single Hill Ecstasy of Green
• Ft George Fresh IPA

I also stopped in at Stoup's for cans, but alas they were sold out. I grabbed a pour of the Strata IPA and quite enjoyed it. Tame, melon forward and slightly grassy. Good, but not exemplary. Unfortunately didn't see the Holy Mountain post until after I'd left, but I'm sure it'll be around.

If I'm ranking the season so far, I'd go:

1. Mirage Pleasure Race
2. Ex Novo Eliot Centennial
3. Stoup Fresh Hop Fiend - Strata
4. Matchless CSA
5. Occidental Fresh Hop Pilsner
6. Crux Pert Near

I'm leaving off Farmers' Annuary as I can't determine whether it's a true fresh hop or not. Chuck's had it in the fresh hop section, but I can't find a Ft George source on it either way.

 

This afternoon I spotted 4-packs of Breakside Fresh Hop Wanderlust and Ferment Strata Fresh Hop IPA at the Cedar Hills New Seasons, and 4-packs of Fort George Rock, Paper, Sterling Fresh Hop Pilsner at the Cedar Mill Market of Choice.

 

If you’re returning up around the lake, it couldn’t hurt to hit Hellbent. I believe their online inventory should be up to date so you can check what they have in advance. Chuck’s (Greenwood) should have fresh hops as well.

 

I'm not 100% sure what to make of this Fresh Hop Pilsner from Occidental, but I'm definitely enjoying it.

 

Alright, whose on delivery duty to eureka for this one?

Also, supposedly Russian river will have a fresh hop IPA soon. Good excuse to order a case from them

 

If that's true, then I might be seriously considering a drive back home soon. I can only imagine a fresh hop Row 2 Hill 56 or Blind Pig.

 

I think its their "harvest ale" that is usually draught only. I'm not sure the details, the folks in the pacific forum who have Instagram told me about it

 

Rented a house for a working vacation in Bend and have basically been quarantined since last Friday due to the smoke. (Hey, we're getting our money's worth out of the house, at least.) I have ventured out for beers every so often, though. Sunriver's fresh hop Green Initiative: Excellent. Ruse FH Translator: Amazing. Market of Choice: Incredible selection. Can't wait to go snag some Bend Brewing Co. FH goodness tomorrow when it drops. Makes being stuck in a house on vacation a lot easier.

(I did play golf yesterday when the air was a lot better ... then it got a lot worse, and by the end of the round my eyes looked like I had been smoking something else all day.)

 

Pretty sure Farmers Annuary is not fresh hop.

 

Ft. George said on Instagram a couple weeks ago that it's not a fresh hop.

 

Reuben's Fresh Hop Crikey is still good, but I don't think quite as good as last year (based on my notes from last year).

 

bought a DBL MTN Fresh juicy IPA. Saw killer green too, but that beer has been pretty bad the past few years so i passed. will report back how it tastes.

also grabbed a FH Ace of Spades. kind of excited for that one

 

Headed back into Tillamook for lunch at Blue Heron Wine and Cheese. Picked up a Fort George Fanzine and Farmers Annuary. The Fanzine is a collab with GoW and it's malty and it was canned on 4/29 but still somehow pairs well with the Rogue Crater Lake Blue cheese and fresh baguette that I'm having on my balcony overlooking the bay. This one will go down fast as I'm getting impatient for the Farmers.