You may have read about frozen fresh hops on the New School, or even already tried Double Mountain Brewery & Cidery’s ‘Ring My Bell’ Fresh Hop Cryo IPA after the New School’s recommendation at the recent Oregon Brewers Festival. This collaboration between Hood River, OR based Double Mountain, and their nearby neighbors at Parkdale’s Solera Brewery, had a sneak preview at OBF and now can be found on draft and in 500ml bottles.

Ring My Bell Fresh Hop Cryo IPA uses Yakima Chief Hops’ experimental Trial 301 hops that utilize a new way of processing fresh hops. Are fresh hops really fresh hop even before the hop harvest? We already shared our answer to this question, but the short explanation is these hops were harvested fresh last year and then flash frozen with liquid nitrogen and are processed like cryo hops, removing much of the vegetal matter and leaving behind a sticky, bright green pellet. Since they have not been kilned, there is still moisture and some good greenness left. The effect is a “fresh hop” cryo pellet, exhibiting some of the same aromas and flavors of a fresh hop, any time of year. They’re kept frozen until use.

Frozen Fresh Hops are still a new product that is trickling into the market, there have been many examples from Washington but this is one of the first packaged attempts in Oregon. Double Mountain is one of a handful of breweries to use YCH Trial 301 to date.

Double Mountain + Solera wanted a no nonsense malt bill to support all the hops they throw at this beer, yet had to strike a balance because they wanted to keep the ABV on the lower side. The commercial brewery descriptions describes notes of fresh cut herb, resin, and forest petrichor, along with ripe ruby red grapefruit, tangelo, stone fruit, a bit of watermelon, and strawberry that you only get from fresh hop Simcoe.

Ring My Bell Fresh Hop Cryo IPA is available in refillable 500ml bottles and on draft at our Hood River Taproom, SE Portland Taproom in the Woodstock neighborhood, at Solera Brewery in Parkdale, OR, and throughout the Northwest.

Ring My Bell Fresh Hop Cryo IPA 6.6% ABV 55 BU

“Exploring these great hops through this new way of processing is a great way to play with aromas and flavors usually only present in fresh hops. Why does my head hurt?” Matt Coughlin, Lead Brewer

About Double Mountain Brewery and Cidery:

Double Mountain Brewery and Cidery was established in 2007 in the heart of downtown Hood River, OR. Founder, Matt Swihart, opened the brewery with a clear mission: make great beer for craft beer fans. The unique location of Double Mountain provides the use of pure and clean glacial water for beers and ciders, while also taking advantage of regionally grown hops. Reusable bottles allow customers to partake in a softer environmental footprint, affirming they are part of a sustainable future. Double Mountain may be found on tap and in bottles throughout the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia.

About Solera Brewery:

Located in the charming, unincorporated community of Parkdale, OR. Solera Brewery has been crafting delicious beers since 2012. We believe creating a friendly and enjoyable environment is important. If you join us on a clear day, you’ll see the most spectacular view of Mt. Hood towering over our back patio area. If you’re in town for the snow, or if it’s rainy then pull up a barstool and cozy up in the converted theater we call home. Solera Brewery specializes in creating unique, one of a kind beers in small batches. From wild sours to clean lagers, we don’t discriminate. Our Hedonist IPA is a local’s favorite, and is the only beer your will find on draft year round. Our taplist changes regularly, so you can find a new favorite every time you visit.