Wet-hopped beers: Michigan edition

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by LambicPentameter, Aug 18, 2015.

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  1. LambicPentameter

    LambicPentameter Initiate (0) Aug 29, 2012 Nebraska

    You've probably seen the thread in the Beer Talk forum about wet hop beer season being almost upon us. I'm a huge wet hop fanboy but having moved to Michigan in June, I'm still getting a feel for the beer scene up here.

    I did a forum search and couldn't find anything, so I was hoping my fellow BAs could help give me the skinny on wet hop beers from/available in the state. I'm looking for pretty much any information you want to throw at me--what's available/good, when it's available, how it's available (bottles vs. draft) and where it's available (statewide vs. local area only).

    Here are some of the bottled ones I'm at least aware of already:

    Founders Harvest (duh)
    New Holland Hopivore (also duh)
    North Peak Hoodoo
    Short's Kind Ale (although this isn't on the release schedule for this year)
    Short's Devil's Lettuce
    Greenbush Demeter

    Thanks in advance for your input and cheers!
     
    #1 LambicPentameter, Aug 18, 2015
  2. westlaunboy

    westlaunboy Pundit (882) Mar 31, 2010 Washington
    Trader

    I thought last year's Founder's Harvest was incredible - probably one of my favorite IPAs of any substyle. That said, it sells quick and it's not cheap ($15/4pk).

    I'm also curious what other Michigan wet hops people recommend. I had Kind Ale last year and was underwhelmed, and I've never had a good beer from North Peak
     
    #2 westlaunboy, Aug 18, 2015
  3. TheGoof

    TheGoof Initiate (0) Apr 10, 2013 Michigan

    Stormcloud Brewing in Frankfort makes a phenomenal Harvest Tripel. I've only ever seen it available at Stormcloud and at 7 Monks.

    Also, I'm not a fan of North Peak's beer at all generally, but fresh Hoodoo is pretty damn good.
     
    #3 TheGoof, Aug 18, 2015
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  4. BaseballNBeer

    BaseballNBeer Crusader (490) Apr 22, 2015 Michigan
    Trader

    I could have sworn Founders wet hops their Pale Ale as well. Of course, I can't find any info on it.
     
    #4 BaseballNBeer, Aug 18, 2015
  5. LambicPentameter

    LambicPentameter Initiate (0) Aug 29, 2012 Nebraska

    Highly unlikely, given that Pale Ale is a year-round beer and wet hops are only available during harvest season. The only other way to get wet hops outside of the fall would be to get them from the Southern hemisphere during their fall (our spring), but I'd imagine travel time/distance basically makes that a nonstarter.
     
    #5 LambicPentameter, Aug 18, 2015
  6. westlaunboy

    westlaunboy Pundit (882) Mar 31, 2010 Washington
    Trader

    They definitely dry hop it, but I don't think they wet hop. It says right on the bottle "Dry Hopped Pale Ale", so that's probably what you're thinking of.

    [​IMG]
     
    #6 westlaunboy, Aug 18, 2015
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  7. Zaphog

    Zaphog Grand Pooh-Bah (4,676) Sep 23, 2011 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    North Peak Hoodoo is actually pretty solid! A bit pricey if I remember correctly, but it is a DIPA. It's listed on BA as 8% but I'm almost certain it's like 9.99% or something like that. I could be wrong though.

    Greenbush Demeter is pretty bad... I wouldn't recommend.
     
    #7 Zaphog, Aug 18, 2015
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  8. Bay01

    Bay01 Initiate (0) Nov 19, 2008 Illinois


    Do you remember when Stormcloud released theirs last year?
     
    #8 Bay01, Aug 18, 2015
  9. BaseballNBeer

    BaseballNBeer Crusader (490) Apr 22, 2015 Michigan
    Trader

    Right. That's why I thought they did a seasonal Wet-Hopped Pale Ale. Hence the need for Dry-Hopped on the year-round version.
     
    #9 BaseballNBeer, Aug 18, 2015
  10. CB_Michigan

    CB_Michigan Pooh-Bah (1,552) Sep 4, 2014 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I think Arbor Brewing does a wet hop beer, but it might be a pub-only offering.
     
    #10 CB_Michigan, Aug 19, 2015
  11. steebo777

    steebo777 Initiate (0) Jun 30, 2009 Michigan

    Shorts Devils Lettuce and North Peak HooDoo are by far the best IMO.
     
    #11 steebo777, Aug 19, 2015
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  12. gratefulbeerhead

    gratefulbeerhead Initiate (0) Dec 7, 2009 Indiana

    Not sure how close you are to the Indiana border, but Goshen Brewing Co. already has a wet hop IPA in the fermenter with hops picked from Hootenanny Hops, a hop farm in Plymouth, IN. Jesse will be getting more hops soon from Hop Head Farms near Hickory Corners for another wet hop beer. Both will be brewery only on tap. They are making really great beer, already released several barrel aged beers using Journeyman barrels.
     
    #12 gratefulbeerhead, Aug 19, 2015
  13. TheGoof

    TheGoof Initiate (0) Apr 10, 2013 Michigan

    According to their facebook photos, they brewed it on September 10 last year, so end of September/beginning of October. It usually gets made/tapped around the same time as their awesome Pumpkin Saison.

    Correction: they didn't even brew the Pumpkin Saison until September 29 last year.
     
    #13 TheGoof, Aug 19, 2015
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  14. LambicPentameter

    LambicPentameter Initiate (0) Aug 29, 2012 Nebraska

    Resurrecting this thread to say that I really enjoyed Hoodoo. That bright, "green" flavor was easily able to punch through the higher abv. Also, it is definitely 8%.

    Now to await the arrival of Founders Harvest...
     
    #14 LambicPentameter, Sep 29, 2015
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  15. thewineselleraa

    thewineselleraa Initiate (0) Feb 24, 2010 Michigan

    naw, your confusing the word wet with dry!
     
    #15 thewineselleraa, Sep 30, 2015
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  16. KBS

    KBS Savant (1,078) Apr 25, 2014 Michigan
    Trader

    Founders Harvest Ale available at the brewery today. Went on a tour and they said it was brewed within the last couple days and may hit distro before their release party. Drinking one now, tasting great!
     
    #16 KBS, Oct 4, 2015
  17. westlaunboy

    westlaunboy Pundit (882) Mar 31, 2010 Washington
    Trader

    Available in bottles or on tap?
     
    #17 westlaunboy, Oct 4, 2015
  18. MIbeer27

    MIbeer27 Zealot (695) Jul 26, 2014 Michigan

    I was there last night - bottles only. Bottled 09-30-15.
     
    #18 MIbeer27, Oct 4, 2015
  19. beerspudz

    beerspudz Initiate (0) Aug 20, 2015 Michigan

    Founders Harvest is incredible. Only other wet hopped I've come across in GR is Cellar Brewing Co in Sparta - I think the wet hopped IPA is gone, but they just put on a wet hopped pale that was good (IPA was better)

    edit: draft only, no bottles
     
    #19 beerspudz, Oct 5, 2015
  20. Lazhal

    Lazhal Pooh-Bah (1,890) Mar 13, 2011 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Anyone know if we'll see Harvest Ale this week in southeast MI?
     
    #20 Lazhal, Oct 5, 2015
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