Celebration Question

Firstly, I disagree with your categorization of "misleading." This is what they in the business call a "point of differentiation" we are making a distinction between what we know to be the case. The first dried hops of the growing season have far higher levels of oil and resin than hops that are aging over time. This is a quantifiable fact. It is even more relevant to us to make the distinction as a whole-cone hop brewery because by the nature of using hops in their most raw form, we can use hops from batch to batch and even lot to lot to test their quality as they age. Breweries using pelletized hops do not have this luxury because the nature of pelletizing is inherently an amalgamation of lots of different hops into a pellet.

Secondly, we have used the term "wet hopped" since 1993 when we released our first Harvest ale. This beer was if not the first wet hopped ale in the US than certainly among the first commercially produced in the modern era.

Thirdly, we've used the term Fresh hop since the late 90s in descriptions of Celebration and most notably with the first release of Southern Hemisphere Harvest Ale in 2008 to call out the point of difference in using very fresh hops in their rawest form possible. i.e. within a week or so from the fields. It was a point of difference and distinction of what sort of flavors concerned party may expect from the beer.

I have to explain to someone each and every day that because a beer is dark it doesn't necessarily mean it stronger than a pale beer...that point doesn't seem to hit home very easily either. Should we stop explaining that as well?

-B

 

On my way home I am going to pick up some fresh hopped Celebration.
Thanks and keep brewing it.

 

TL;DR - Sierra Nevada was using these terms while many of today's brewers were still in high school, people. They don't need to change. Other people do.

 

Th

there is a current thread going right now titles something like "how far do you take your BeerGeekdom". If you havent yet added to that thread, nows the perfect time.

 

I couldn't find it, don't want to bump an old thread.

True or False: If Rogue made a beer called "Fresh Hop Ale" in 2010 using the explanation that Sierra Nevada uses to justify Fresh Hop, it would get shit on like no other in this forum?

 

http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/who-among-us-geeks-hardest-and-most-ridiculous.49418/

I'm really struggling to understand why others are struggling with the difference between wet hop and fresh hop. I thought the explanation given was perfectly clear.

 

Pretty sure you mean Greg (stone), and not Vinnie (RR).

 

While its true that such events can and do happen that does not mean that all olfactory memories are so powerful or persistent.

 

Modest correction, "can" be incredibly unreliable. That same Intro Psych book will explore some of the ways in which it is consistent and reliable and other ways in which it can be inconsistent and unreliable. The problem is sorting out when it is and is not to be trusted.

 

Sierra Nevada is not Rogue. They get a TON more respect than most any other brewery out there and have earned it. They can call Celebration Ale whatever they like IMHO for what they done for the industry, quality of their beer, quality control of their beer, environmental resonsibility, and the way the contribute to their own community. My .02
Rogue gets schatt on because of overpriced, non bottle dated beer that consistently subpar for it's respective style(s)


"I like you... But you're crazy"

 

I'm with you 100% on this one. About to go pick up my first case of Celebration of the season right now. I usually get a keg, but the kegerator crapped out on me last month.

Keep doing what Sierra Nevada does best, kicking ass. Also, it seems you're good with reasoning with guys on their period. Cheers!

 

I wouldn't. But even if I was silly enough to make such an assumption, as long as the beer was good (or, in Celebration's case, great) why would I get my panties in a bunch about it?

As far as I know all breweries that design seasonal beers around the hop harvest with the deliberate intention of utilizing the freshest hops (wet OR dry) to get the brightest flavors do refer to their beers as "fresh hop ales". This isn't dumb, its both technically and conventionally correct. Just because most brewers don't care to take that one step further and specify that their fresh hops are wet, doesn't mean that SN owes you an explanation. Or that you have any grounds to accuse them of being deceptive.

Get over it.

 

I have un-bunched my panties, just finished my period, and gotten over it.

I will now cite Celebration as one of the better Fresh Hop beers whenever the thread comes up, or somebody asks me which fresh hop beers I like.

 

Really? That's unfortunate. Happens to me fairly often. I think its a pretty amazing thing the brain does.

 

Hahahaha! Yup. Oops.

 

Ah... The "Grandmas Cookies" syndrome. Where the memory is sweeter than the actual cookie.. Simon...scheuster.. We got a book!

 

Can we all just say thanks to SierraNevadaBill for being one of the only highly active contributors from a nationally renowned brewery who not only answers our questions but puts up with our shit?

 

Hop Extract? This ain't Lagunitas.

 

I am glad someone brought this up, because I was worried it was just me...........maybe it still is just me. However, last year I was disappointed and was hoping that it was just an off year or I was off (nose stuffed up, sick) but I open up a bottle this year and same thing. It is the dry hopping. Just is not there anymore or not as profound. The aromas used to drive me nuts, and now it is just another IPA. Still a darn good beer, but just not the same. BTW, this was THE beer that started it for me. Ever since the early 90's this has been my can't wait for it beer.