Wet Hopped IPAs - Fall 2016

I walked into a beer store last week, got excited as I saw 4 packs of Founders Harvest Ale sitting on the shelf.....then when I picked one up I noticed bottled on 9/30/15

 

I just got interested in wet hopped beer a few months ago after reading an article on it. What are some things to look for on the label besides it saying wet hopped? I haven't seen any in the beer store nearby yet...and would really like to try some. Live in upstate NY, not sure what gets distributed here that's wet hopped.

 

99% of these won't leave OR/WA, but if you want a glimpse of what's happening out west this is an interesting read.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/fresh-hop-season-16.439489/

 

Many wet hopped beers are going to be strictly local. Not sure where upstate you are, but North Brewery has done some wet hopped beers, and I'm guessing Climbing Bines must do some wet hopped.

 

I'm just outside of Utica, NY, about an hour east of Syracuse.

 

I usually look forward to Sierra Nevadas Fresh/Wet hop offerings, I think this year, I'm going to go to the brewery and drink them

 

I

just called both saranac and ommegang and neither are doing wet hopped beers. They are the closest breweries to me so I figured start there.

 

wow, I know some founders wind up as shelf turds, but i'm surprised at that one. cant wait for the 2016 though!

 

What is sad is that I have been coming across lots of Founders in AZ that are old. It seems like each time I got to snag one its like 6 mos old, 8 mos old, or more. I contacted them on few occasions and mentioned the issues here. Very sad since I love their beer but won't but the old swill, waiting to see if things improve with AZ locations.

 

Another hop harvest, another time to get pedantic: be aware of Sierra Nevada's confusing terminology around hops. Hop Hunter uses extract from fresh hops but is produced year-round. Celebration says "Fresh Hop" on the label, but uses dried and baled hops from the most recent harvest. They're both great beers, but don't use wet hops fresh from the field.

SN Northern/Southern Hemisphere and Estate Homegrown IPA are beers which use undried hops within 24 hours of picking.

 

AZ seems to be getting saturated of late with so many brands. Its like everytime I go into the store I see a new brand. I saw Heavy Seas has come to the valley at Total Wine.

 

That is sweet, will have to look for it next trip over this weekend. Yes, AZ is having a nice run with lots of beer, with luck we keep getting more and more from back East, etc. Beer season is upon us with the temps now dropping.

 

You'll get Founder's Harvest Ale for sure, and that's one of the best in the style.

 

I think with so many new smaller breweries popping up, the demand for the "bigger" craft breweries is diminishing. There are so many options out there, and with more people going to their local breweries for can releases to pick up super fresh beer, the founders/lagunitas/stones of the world sit on shelves awhile.

 

I dont think that was the case until last year. I feel like they upped production and maybe made a bit too much and unfortunately it sat on shelves. Prior years past I feel like it was a beer they had to limit purchases to 1 or 2 - 4 packs a person in my area.

 

Cellarmaker Green Knuckle was quite delightful when they tapped it this past Friday. Little pricey, but it's not like any pale ale I've ever had.

 

Always look forward to Deschuttes Chasin' Freshies and Lagunitas Born Yesterday. Although maybe Chasin' Freshies isn't actually wet hop... just "fresh hop", aka annoying jargon.

 

Historically, Lagunitas' Wet Hop IPAs at the source have been much better than their standard lineup, including Born Yesterday. Looking forward to my next visit to Petaluma.