So we know the Wet is awesome, but what do you guys think of the other offerings? 100 yard dash was a disappointment last year, but was awesome the year before that. Anyone had this years? How are the new Two Brothers Heavy Handed brews? Still really malt forward? And many others I cannot recall at the moment...
Not exactly local, but very new, the better half is bringing home some of Deschutes' Chasin' Freshies. I enjoy their Bond Street offerings, so I have high hopes for this one. I'll report back once we've torn into it. Beyond that, I always enjoy the SN Harvest ale, but rarely buy it bottles since it seems overpriced. It can usually be had on tap for a cheaper "per ounce" cost, which I find both strange and delicious.
OP: I had Heavy Handed lot #2552, & it was one of the worst "Wet Hop" beers I've had. Nothing about it tasted fresh, & I'm not sure what hop they used. Wish I could send it back to them & get a refund. I'm drinking Hop Trip from Deschutes, & this is pretty solid. Not quite Surly Wet, but you are comparing different hops, & different flavor profiles. Not sure what the difference is between this & Chasin Freshies?? I've enjoyed SN Northern Hemisphere more than Southern. Its priced for the efforts to do a fresh hop beer. Looking forward to Founders Harvest Ale, & would love, love, love to have 3 Floyd's Broo Doo fresh again this year. Such a freaking dream brew.
Right there with ya. Tonight is my 3rd bottle in lot 2672, and the same as other nights I keep asking myself is it me or am I missing the fresh hops. Had a Surly Wet right before it just to confirm it's not me. So disapointed.
I love both Sierra Nevada Northern and Summer Harvest ales, neither really have the resinous hoppy character of the premier fresh hop beers (Wet, Broodoo, etc.), but still very good for $5
So who has now drank (tasted) Chasin' Freshies? I just finished a bottle and I thought it was way below par! Way grain malt forward and the hops were there, but not in a pleasing way. I would not go back to this! Hoping Founders Harvest is pleasing!
had the 100 yard dash thought it was very good had chasin freashies yesterday it was just all right IMO worth a try
stopped by Town Hall on the way home tonight. Their fresh hop is the best local fresh hop I've had this season. would rank it this way: Town Hall Surly Indeed Brau Lift Bridge Waiting patiently for Founders, which is usually better than all those listed. btw, Day Tripper 20oz for 4.50 at the tasting room is currently the best hoppy beer option in the TC area.
I second caskstrength's rankings, though haven't had the Brau. I love the fruit in these, just great flavor and not too high ABV. I am not ashamed to say the TownHall fresh hop 100 is the best beer I have had, and that is a Westy 12 to the left.
Was there on Monday for the release, and had the flight of all 5. For me, my preference was: Surly Town Hall Lift Bridge Indeed Brau Bros I actually had a hard time forcing the Brau one down - that one really didn't work for me...
I was there with Shag as well and we came to the conclusion that the only knock for the TH release was that it's a tad too much malt forward and not hitting the right color (i know, lame, but it's still part of the makeup of the beer.) Outside of that, the overall flavor of the beer was fantastic and i don't mind tad maltier brews. My ratings were: Surly - perfect example of what a wet hop IPA is all about. Town Hall - color a tad too dark, just a tad too much malt. Brau Bros - liked it better than most people. Lift Bridge Indeed Overall, none of these i had any objection to, i mean they are fresh hop...you can't really go wrong. They were all super tasty.
I'm drinking Hop Trip from Deschutes, & this is pretty solid. Not quite Surly Wet, but you are comparing different hops, & different flavor profiles. Not sure what the difference is between this & Chasin Freshies?? Chasin Freshies is an IPA and Hop Trip is considered a wet hopped Pale Ale.
You nailed it. Wet - hop dreams. Wet dreams? Town Hall - great hop flavor, but a little too much malt The rest are OK but not wet hop juiciness.
Waiting on Founders Harvest as that is my favorite. Deschutes Hop Trip is also fantastic but certainly an APA, not an IPA, so expectations should be set. Deschutes Chasin' Freshies is also great, but the IPA name is somewhat misleading. It uses 100% Pilsner Malt (plus some oats), so it ultimately tastes more like a Citrusy, Fresh Hop Pilsner (with ale yeast) more so than a traditional IPA. Communications I had with Deschutes confirm that they also view it as more Pilsner like, but that they do not worry about style guidelines. Surly Wet is of course very good, but I prefer the above more. Brau Brothers just isn't that good. Wish it was as they grow their own hops and are local.
100% agree about Chasin' Freshies! I was totally thrown off by it's appearance. Wet is awesome this year, although I prefer last year's. I was more impressed with Hundred-Yard Dash this year than last.
Chasin Freshies is certainly a strange bird for an IPA (Tastes like a hopped up pilsner) It's very tasty though. I had one the same day I popped open a Bridgeport wet hop Imperial Pilsner. Wow, the similarities are remarkable with almost the same hop and grain profile with just a different yeast.
