Fresh Hop 2020

Pardon my French, but fuck! fresh hop Pallet Jack! It floats like a butterfly and yet it stings like a bee! A crowler doesn't suffice!

@John_M , @vurt , thank you for putting this on my radar!

 

...grumble grumble...I know I have nothing to complain about and I just picked up eight new fresh hops today, but someday I hope I get to try fresh hop pallet jack...

 

Oh, good sir, I did too. Its just that one of the 8 was this crowler. And now, I'm afraid to approach the other 7..

 

Oh, good sir, you're not making me feel much better...

Don't worry, I'm not sad about Wet Wired or Splash Waterfalls.


Splash Waterfalls is what I would call a nice, clean hazy pale ale. Not loud on the fresh hop front, but a very tasty and enjoyable beer nonetheless.

 

Hey Terry, should i follow up a FH PJ with FH Cassette from Wander?

 

The first time me and Mrs. vurt went to the Fresh Hop Fest in Yakima, she made FH Pallet Jack her first half-pint.

Her reaction after the first sip: "WOOOOOOOO!! Found mah brand!" And aside from a few sips from my samples, she didn't drink any other beers all night. Just kept going back to the Barley Brown's booth and holding out her glass, grinning.

Good times.

 

Needless to say, @beertunes is legit. I'd never have picked up this Wander Fresh Cassette if not for him. Cheers!

 

Old Schoolhouse West Coast Fresh Hop IPA. Pretty good, not top tier though.

 

Canned 2020-10-02. Future Primitive's Social Strata Fallacy is interesting and good.

 

For what it's worth. For some reason I am on the Zeek's Pizza email list, even though I'm not a regular. I got this email yesterday from them. Italics in second paragraph (where fresh hops are defined) for emphasis.

Also, just picked up a 4-pack of wetwired this morning, looking forward to opening one a little later. It's been a very good fresh hop season this year, despite all the challenges.

Fresh Hop

Winter, Spring, Summer...Fresh Hop. Zeeks has formally submitted a request to the Ministry of Season Names to change what was formerly known as Fall, to Fresh Hop. Fresh Hop Season is the Super Bowl of beer and since the world revolves around beer (and pizza!), we figure it will just be easier on everyone if we go ahead and change the name.

What is fresh hop beer? Fresh hop beers are brewed with hops that are fresh off the bine. In the Northwest, the time between cutting and the kettle is typically 24 hours or less. It's longer in other parts of the world because the rest of the world isn’t the center of the hop growing universe like Washington State is. So, while Fresh Hop is a worldwide phenomenon, we have extreme good fortune in the PNW.

None of this Northwest hop-awesomeness would matter if it didn’t show up in the flavors of the beers, but it does, big-time! Beer Geeks and regular human beings alike agree that when you have your hands on a well-made fresh hop beer, it is an apex drinking experience. The linkage to harvest make them feel very celebratory. It also makes them feel very special because the hop harvest is fleeting and fresh hop beer season only lasts about 8 weeks.

Naturally, Zeeks has you covered for Fresh Hop Season. We have six options (3 draft and 3 cans) for you below. Six is a lot, so you better order some pizza and beer and start drinking…

Everything Is Blossom Fresh Hop Hazy IPA
Varietal Brewing + Zeeks Pizza

Our partnership with Varietal Brewing Co. embodies why it pays to be in the Northwest. Varietal is deeply embedded in the hop culture that exists around Yakima. Growing their own hops, Varietal is manned by hop industry vets that are expert-level and well connected. They are a perfect Fresh Hop partner and we couldn’t be more stoked to have made Everything Is Blossom with them.

We have two different versions of the beer going. Both are big, juicy and aromatic like any good hazy should be. The kegged version is made with simcoe hops – earthy but still bright and citrus-y. You can get this draft beer delivered in crowlers or growlers.

Lateral A Fresh Hop IPA (HBC 586 Hop)
Single Hill + Zeeks + Sip Magazine

The Zeeks Hype-Machine devoted an entire email to the “regular” version of Lateral A, so you may already be familiar with it. Lateral A has been our most successful launch ever, mainly because the email author is a genius, but also because the beer is other-worldly. Again, deeply embedded hop knowledge and culture went into this beer. Single Hill is right in the middle of the action in Yakima. They are new kids on the block and we are fans of their enthusiasm and innovative spirit. Lateral A is so cool and experimental that the featured fresh hop doesn’t even have a name yet—unless you want to call “HBC 586” a name. This beer has buzz among even the most informed aficionados and they will tell you it tastes like tangerine and orange creamsicle. Who are we to disagree? We just know we have been drinking a lot of it since we launched it with our partners Single Hill and Sip Magazine.

 

Is Zeeks selling single cans? I haven’t had a Varietal FH this year but I need to. Those guys are really good people. Back when they were brewing at Snipes I got to hang out with them in the brewery area after showing up for lunch in the restaurant.

 

Grabbed several fh beers yesterday. Seems like the majority are hazies this year. That kinda bums me out. Anyway, after a couple Bodhizafas with lunch, I hit Lumberbeard.
While there I had Fresh Dreams, brewed with fresh Mosaics.
Afterwards a visit to Community Pint included a 12oz pour of HFOFH. Grabbed a fh hazy of some sort at Perry Street, and finally scored a WCIPA freshie at Whistle Punk, one that I'd been particularly looking forward to and now CANNOT FUCKING REMEMBER anything about it because I was fucking hammered by then.

 

Putting some miles on the bike between the rain showers. Currently enjoying a Wayfinder Stairs and Flowers Fresh Hop IPA at Noble Hop Bierhaus in Hillsboro.



Reasons this beer is making me happy:

• West Coast IPA.
• Still a lot of good fresh Strata hop flavor.
• Wayfinder.
• Named for an early Skinny Puppy track.

Cheers!

 

Yes. Well, 4-packs. I couldn't include all the info in the email in the post (photos etc.) but it appears that Everything Is Blossom Simcoe is available on draft and in crowlers/growlers and Everything Is Blossom Citra is available in cans ($16 for a 16oz 4-pack). Lateral A Fresh Hop IPA is available on draft, crowler, growler, and in 16oz 4-packs (also $16). Email also mentions F2F and Cowiche but we know about that.

 

My buddy Mark just texted me the board at Hidden Mother Brewing.

It's a fresh hop tap takeover. Hangover be damned, I'm going.

 

Energy Cone from Single Hill is pretty good.