Fresh Hop 2020

Still on the lookout for FH in the TC. Went to MCWAS today post work. There was still some pert near (pass) and a new one. Single Hill Brewing out of Yakima. Never heard of them. Well, they had two FH offerings - skyfinder FH (no canning date) and ecstasy of green FH ipa (Canned 9/3ish?). Anyway, I passed. Both were perhaps past their FH prime, but we’re still intriguing. However, the price was too high in my book. $17.95 for a 4 pack of 16 ouncers. Who do they think they are? Grape Lotion? I will patiently wait for 3 week old/month old Fremont (c’mon what gives? Still not here? Probably should pass, but Science) and Bale Breaker. Putting all my FH eggs into citra slicker.

 

FWIW, I had Skyfinder last weekend, and thought it was quite good.

Alas, Ecstasy of Green did not live up to its name. (But that's still one of the best fresh hop beer names I've ever seen.)

 

Head Full of Fresh Hops is still very enjoyable.

 

I like Reuben's Double Crush.

 

Started getting their beers down here last month. No idea how they are as the price is too high for 4x 16 from a brand new brewery. Roth's has their stuff. Will probably sit there for another month before going on sale..

 

John, FYI, this is now available at Uptown Market

 

The struggle is real. The hunt continues. Today, success. Went to Yoke’s (Kennewick) and came across Single Hill again (FH skyfinder, no date, pass), Ft George Fresh IPA (canned 9/3, pass. I know beggar’s can’t be choosers, but seemed like what’s the point? In truth probably would have bought it but...), and Bale Breaker’s Home Grown BEER release no. 4. Priced at $13.99. Canned on Sept 17. From the can “made with freshly harvested, homegrown Simcoe wet hops transported from farm to fermenter in under five minutes.”

This is FH glorious in my book. Way better than pert near (my only other experience). The aroma smacked me in the face the moment I opened it. What is the amazing flavor I am tasting? The can says “hoppy peach cobbler.” I can see this. Love to see how this ranks up with the other ones that my fellow BAers have partaken in?! I would recommend. Well done BB. Can’t wait for Citra Slicker.

Edit - PS. You know it’s good when you get the hop flavored burps.

 

That sounds real nice

 

Hopped over to Fremont last night for Head Full of Fresh Hops—picked up a full allotment of four 4-packs, and got home to discover my wife thinks it has "too much bite." This is a welcome development, as it means I no longer have to share.

(I had at least one HFOFH during all Nationals playoff games from the NLCS on last year, except for the two World Series games I attended and the one that was being played as I was flying home from D.C. Guess which games the Nationals lost? The ones during which I did not have an HFOFH. It is now my favorite beer of all time, largely because of that, but mostly because it's just damn good.)

Updated FH rankings, just for posterity. I'm quite sure there's some recency bias here.

Top tier
1. Fremont HFOFH (you saw why)
2. Fremont Cowiche Canyon (I have long said this is the best beer you can get in Seattle, period)
3. Sunriver Green Initiative
4. Reuben's FH Double Crush
5. Bend Strata FH
6. Ruse FH Translator
7. Single Hill Skyfinder
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Second tier—still very, very good
8. Single Hill Ecstasy of Green
9. Bend Fresh Trop Simcoe
10. Bale Breaker Homegrown #4
11. Stoup FH Citra
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Third tier—not bad but not necessarily seeking it out again
12. Fremont Field to Ferment (I just can't do Sabro hops)
13. Sasquatch FH Mouth Pillow
14. Matchless CSA
----
Fourth tier—I appreciate the effort, but really not for me
15. Riverbend Millennials Hate Centennials
16. Crux Pert Near

 

Just opened my first can of Head Full of Fresh Hops. Kinda similar to FH Double Crush and Harvest the Void, in that super juicy, citrusy sorta way. Quite hop-alicious.

 

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#10?!?!!? Curses!

 

Hey, it's just, like, my opinion, man. (And note that BB is still in the "very, very good" tier.)

 

And now for something completely different - Machine House have an English pale ale with fresh Simcoe. I'll need to grab some this weekend.

 

Are you at Bale Breaker? Sometimes I think I’m the only person on the NW forum who doesn’t work for a brewery, distributor etc. Which then makes me think this is all a setup to make me buy more beer (which, if it is, is working)

 

No, just a fan boy

 

Good choice

 

What'd they do? I haven't had that one in a while.