Von Ebert Brewing releases Fresh Hop Volatile Substance IPA
This Saturday 2/14 for Zwickelmania, Portland’s currently most award-winning brewery Von Ebert Brewing is releasing a Fresh Hop version of Volatile Substance IPA, and a currently trending classic English-style Dark Mild Ale for those craving something malty. But how do you brew a fresh hop beer in February when the hop harvest season is in the early Fall? The answer is flash frozen fresh hops.
“Yes, we are releasing a fresh hop beer in February!” exclaimed Sam Pecoraro, head brewer, Von Ebert Brewing, when discussing the Zwicklemania releases. “We sourced flash frozen Mosaics from Yakima Chief Hops in Washington to make this edition of Fresh Hop Volatile Substance.”
I have railed against flash frozen fresh hops before, because they shouldn’t really be compared to fresh picked hops right off the bine at the peak of the season. But that doesn’t mean this new product from Yakima Chief isn’t tasty, I had some beers made with them last year that I would happily purchase again. And Fresh Hop Volatile Substance is worth the effort, it won the Gold in the Oregon Beer Awards Fresh Hop category in 2020 and the non-freshy version won a gold at the Great American Beer Festival last year.
Fresh Hop Volatile Substance contains flavors of berry and pine, complemented by dank characteristics, with a 6.9% ABV and 65 IBUs. The Mosaic hops were harvested in the fall of 2021 and kept exceptionally cold until arriving at the Von Ebert Pearl location to be used. I will be curious to hear from brewmaster Sam Pecoraro if he thinks it lives up to the previous FH version of the beer.
“We were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the hops,” added Pecoraro. “They exceeded our expectations and helped make this a really nice rendition of Fresh Hop Volatile Substance. We also were able to increase the pounds per barrel of fresh whole cones we used by more than 33%!”
Derby Ram, a keg-conditioned Midlands Dark Mild, is another beer Von Ebert is releasing for Zwicklemania. The 3.9% ABV beer is highly drinkable, malty, and complex, containing flavors of chocolate, figs, walnut, and toffee.
In keg-conditioning the beer, the Von Ebert brewing team refermented it in the keg with sugar and yeast to create a tiny bit of alcohol, carbonation, and added complexity.
“We kept the carbonation low purposefully to accentuate the beer’s malt character,” explained Pecoraro. “The process is similar to how our mixed-culture Heritage Beers are carbonated in the bottle, but with a very different end result. I encourage people to not just have a small taste of this beer, but relax and take a proper pint to give it the mindshare and reflection it deserves.”
Fresh Hop Volatile Substance and Derby Ram will both be available on draft at the Von Ebert Glendoveer and Pearl brewpubs for Zwickelmania this Saturday.
Find Von Ebert on social media: @vebrewing and facebook.com/VonEbertBrewing.
About Von Ebert Brewing
Von Ebert Brewing, winner of Brewery of the Year, Medium Size, at the 2021 Oregon Beer Awards, sits at the crossroads where storied traditions meet bold new ideas in brewing. Independently owned and operated, the Portland, OR-based brewery produces award-winning beers in a variety of styles. Von Ebert beers have received medals at numerous competitions, world-class ratings from top blind tasting panels, and recognition as one of the top 20 beers in the world over the past year. In addition to modern IPAs and crisp lagers, the oak-aged, bottle-conditioned Heritage beer program sets the brewery apart. All of the beers pair perfectly with the elevated American pub cuisine served at both brewpub locations. For more information, please visit www.vonebertbrewing.com.