Fresh Hop 2020

I'm pleased to report that Reuben's Fresh Hop Double Crush is still showing no decline in deliciousness.

 

That’s good to know, I grabbed a can at the neighborhood PCC this morning.

 

I think I'll join you in that investigation if I can dig one out of the fridge next...

 

Things are looking pretty NW around Vurt Manor at the moment. I'm sitting on the porch with Mrs. vurt, who's crocheting a blanket. We're listening to the rain and sharing a fresh hop beer.



Lumberbeard Fresh Dreams IPA has significant hazy hop burn up front and a solid fresh Mosaic bite on the back end. In between, it has layers of citrus (fruit and peel) and grass. Finishes tangy with moderate bitterness. It's tasty.

 

Now moving on to Cowiche Canyon, for science

 

Earlier this afternoon, while doing some food prep for the week ahead, I split a Wander Fresh Cassette with Mrs. vurt:



This is great! A mouthwateringly juicy combo of citrus and tropical fruit on the nose, with some woody stone fruit underneath. Flavor follows the nose, and is missing the hop burn that was so prominent in the Lumberbeard beer I just posted. Lively carbonation. Good finishing bitterness. Not too sweet, with a jazzy tanginess from start to finish.

 

Yup, still good!

 

If its raining and you're restoring an antiquated piece of machinery and/or waxing a handlebar mustache you may have achieved PNW nirvana.

Whether you stay here to show the rest of us the way or ascend to the Bigfoot plane is up to you...

 

As a Midwestern transplant to the Northwest who has lived here for almost 30 years, I resent those stereotypes on behalf of a rapidly shrinking group of people who will never consider me to be a local.

 

Haha that's fair. A true PNW man should be drying storing garden seeds, mending crab pots, making sure fishing and hunting gear is ready to go, waxing skis/snowboards, and bottling that backyard fresh hop.brew about now.

My apologies for the cheap.hipster jokes

 

My grandfather was born and raised in Portland. He was a toolmaker, drank Oly, and was known to grunt at poor build quality in any home he visited.

He and Grandma would come to visit us in New Mexico in late winter "for a few days" and end up staying a couple weeks. (New Mexico actually gets sunshine in winter. Unlike, say, Grandpa's hometown.) By the end of their visit, no hinges squeaked, blinds operated smoothly, windows slid quietly, and all doors (including cabinets) closed smoothly. He viewed poorly-hung cabinetry as a personal affront.

Grandpa passed away many years before I reached legal drinking age. When I got into homebrewing, I imagined he would be pleased that I was pursuing such a noble hobby. I also knew he would have grunted at the poor build quality of my homebrewing setup.

 

Yep, Cowiche Canyon is still good.

 

Mrs. vurt and I shared a couple more fresh hop cans over the course of the afternoon: Matchless Easy Being Green Hazy IPA and Wolf Tree Tumornator Fresh Hop Triple IPA.

I thought both were rather meh, and neither had much fresh hop flavor or aroma. Ah well.

Wander Fresh Cassette was the best beer of the day, by a comfortable margin.

 

Heading to Tacoma today. Researching Peaks & Pints, is it online order only for to go cans? Or can I walk in (have a pint on draft and purchase cans to go? Do they sell singles? Or 4pks only? Thx.

 

I don't live in Tacoma, I'm in Seattle, so I don't know for sure, but I think you'll be able to walk into the store. They sell singles.

 

When was Reuben’s FHDC canned? Looking to pick up a can or 2 to take back to SoCal.

 

Any located in Tacoma or Puyallup area? Untappd showing nothing.