Toppling Goliath XHops Experiment

If we get 2 new XHOPs beers AND Golden Nugget bottles next week, it will be the best Christmas present ever!!

 

I think it would be hard to get feedback on their brews from the kegs. I think their whole purpose of this is to gain feedback on what is most likely going to become another regular beer.

 

Golden Nugget tomorrow in Hudson?

 

I believe an additional purpose(s) of this is to best figure out how to use these hops, and or, the possible naming of these hops.

They're experimental for a reason.

Either way, I'm eager to try these.

 

Seriously considering going up to TG on Saturday, if anyone wants to carpool, or is already planning on going, start a convo with me.

 

These won't become new regular beers, at least not for a long time. There is only one variety that has gone into the next phase of growing on a commercial level. For now, the experimental part of X-Hops is that the hops themselves are experimental. Relatively unknown in all ways; characteristics, demand, name etc.

Nugget is taproom only this time around. As soon as new crop hops are done, Nugget will get bottled much more regularly.

-Mike

 

Normal taproom hours tomorrow? Open at noon?

 

so much TG fluff, I WANT SUE.

 

Golden Nugget is solid if not overtly impressive, but I'm very excited to try the XHOPS beers.

 

Had the Red Label today (thanks SaulTBauls!!). Its very good, nice citrus/tangerine hop flavor. Cant wait to try the others!!

 

Sounds like they are outta XHOPS for the moment...more are "en route"? I guess I'll just hang out here.

Cheers! Glad you enjoyed it!

I tried it again and I decided it definitely had a huge tangerine/mandarin orange thing going on...almost an orange Flinstones push-pop.

 

My full review of XHops Red is here - http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/23222/108232

 

I need to take the time to say thank you to you, pkassel, and everyone else who will share their thoughts and descriptions of these beers via review or simply sending an email to [email protected].

For the sake of saying it, these hops are brand new, they don't even have names and may not even be grown again. Whoever tries them is really helping to get a say in whether these hops are grown again and a part of coming up with official descriptors of these hops.

I'm brewing the next two tomorrow, so more will be on the way soon!

-Mike

 

^^^ @TgBC - No..Thank you for making these awesome beers and going out on a limb to brew with varieties that nobody has used before and especially making them available to us to drink!

 

I'm going to drink them both tonight with friends, and I'll do my best to document their opinions.

 

Shoot, if they don't have names, I nominate Orange Flinstones Push-pop for XHops Red. It's got a very similar hop profile as a lot of the beers Treehouse does. That is not a bad thing at all. I'm still trying to get a good grasp on Green. It's a lot lighter in the flavor department.

If anyone isn't able to find XHops in Des Moines today (sounds like they're out for delivery now) shoot me a BM, we might be doing a bottle share with both varieties.

 

Cassanova in Hudson just tweeted that they received X-Hops Green and Red. 2 bottle limit. Not the best weather for a trip across the river but thought someone in the Twin Cities might be interested . . .

 

I no longer live in Iowa, but I continue to keep an eye on a true favorite brewery of mine -- Toppling Goliath. As I understand it, they have recently started a fascinating experiment that involves releasing 5 variations of a new pale ale (differentiated by their cap color). I assume that they will decide which recipe to repeat in the future based on the response.

In essence, it sounds like Toppling Goliath is using a market wide blind taste test to hone their recipe and figure out exactly what beer they want to add to their lineup. Personally, I think this is something other brewers should consider doing (even if only between 2 or 3 variations) as a way to perfect beers before adding them to their lineup.

What say you beeradvocate community? Genius use of the craft beer community to perfect a beer, or a ridiculous marketing stunt (I feel like that is the alternative read on this move)?

 

whatever it is I'll be one of the guineau pigs...I have the red and the green that are out so far and am anxious to try them both and see what they are all about..TG has always been a little different in how they do things and this seems to be no exception