Fresh hop season in the Pacific Northwest is in full force as the 2018 hop harvest winds down. There are still plenty of opportunities to find fresh hop beers, and new ones are still just being released. While most fresh hop beers are one-off draft only releases, more and more breweries are taking a shot at bottling or canning them, and this year over twenty-five Oregon fresh hop beers have been packaged for outside consumption.
Baerlic Brewing: Fresh Hop Hellsner
Now with two Portland locations, Baerlic Brewing has had a great last few years after also winning Best Mid-sized brewery at the 2018 Oregon Beer Awards. Baerlic Brewing's limited canning of Fresh Hop Hellsner is also a return to an acclaimed release that made Willamette Week's 2017 top 10 beers of the year at number three. Hellsner is Baerlic's German-style Helles, a light clean lager that they have backed up with fresh Santiam hops from Goschie Farms, Inc. in Silverton, Oregon. The brewery put a very limited amount of FH Hellsner into 16oz cans that were released a few weeks ago.
Crux Fermentation Project: Way Two Fresh
Bend, Oregon's Crux Fermentation Project got together with Bale Breaker Brewing in the heart of hop valley - Yakima, Washington. Way Two Fresh is a double IPA brewed with a combination of fresh Willamette Valley Mosaic® and Yakima Valley Simcoe® hops. Crux and Bale Breaker teamed up to simultaneously harvest fresh hops from two valleys in two states on the same morning, combining them into each other’s kettle that very afternoon. So that means there are two different versions and Crux's has been put into 4-packs of 12oz cans and kegs and the beer clocks in at 8.5% ABV and 65 IBUs.
Crux Fermentation Project: Dr. Jack
A beer named for hop pioneer and creator of the Cascade hop, Dr. Jack Horner. Naturally this beer is made with freshly harvested Oregon-grown Cascade hops, added to the kettle the very same day they’re picked in order to maximize all the floral and citrusy goodness this legendary hop has to offer. Crux says this fresh expression of the Cascade hop is one we know would make Dr. Jack proud. Available once again in 4 packs of 12oz cans and draft at the end of September. Dr. Jack is 6.9% ABV and 50 IBUs.
Culmination Brewing: Wet Hop Momentary Lapse of Reason
Northeast Portland's Culmination Brewing is one of the most popular local breweries to open in the last few years, and its hazy IPA can series often flies off the shelves and taprooms on the day it's released. This year Culmination made a fresh hop version of the popular Hazy/Juicy double IPA Momentary Lapse of Reason. Culmination also took the opportunity to freeze fresh Citra hops with liquid nitrogen and shattered them to release the inner lupulin in the making of the FH Momentary Lapse of Reason. Available but very limited in 16oz cans as of September 14th. 8.2% ABV.
Deschutes Brewery: Chasin' Freshies
Deschutes's annual bottled fresh hop beer, Chasin' Freshies, replaced the original Hop Trip fresh hop pale and is one of my favorite fresh hop beers of the year. Chasin' Freshies is a strong IPA at 7.4% using an as of yet unnamed experimental fresh hop fresh #431 from Haas in Yakima, Washington. Though I don't know much of anything about hop #431, this beer is certainly tropical, fresh and citrusy with that resinous hop note that you look for in fresh hop beer. It's also widely available in 12oz bottles and 6-packs as of late September.
Double Mountain Brewery: Fresh Hop Killer Red and Killer Green
One of the few and earliest examples of fresh hop beers in bottles are Double Mountain Brewery & Taproom’s Killer Red and Killer Red, which have just been released in 500ml bottle and on draft.Killer Green is fresh hopped with Brewers Gold and Simcoe hops straight from the vine. Fresh, bright evergreen, red fruit and blood orange lead the way, pulling juicy pine and kind herb in tow through the finish. 7.6% ABV, 95 BUFresh Hop Killer Red is made with an exorbitant amount of fresh Perle and Centennial whole leaf hops heaped in to the kettle and hop back give this juiced up IRA a wonderful ripe apple, dank forest, and fruited pine flavors and aromas. 7.3% ABV, 78 BUThese annual favorites are now available at the downtown Hood River Taproom and SE Portland Taproom in the Woodstock neighborhood. Killer Red and Killer Green can also be found throughout the Northwest and British Columbia.
Ex Novo Brewing: Fresh Hop Eliot IPA
North Portland brewpub and production brewery Ex Novo Brewing is beginning to be known for annual fresh hop editions of the flagship Eliot IPA. Each year Ex Novo is one of the first local breweries to get a fresh hop beers out on the market and FH Eliot is always a highlight. This year the brewery canned a Fresh Hop Eliot with undried Amarillo hops from Crosby Hop Farm. 16oz cans of this 6.6% ABV hop nectar were released on September 7th.
Fort George Brewery: Fresh IPA
Astoria, Oregon's hop heads at Fort George Brewery are one of the last breweries to release a fresh hop beer late in the season, that means if you can find a can of their new Fresh IPA it was likely just packaged within the last week. Fresh IPA is a single-hop beer made with all new school Azacca hops for a singular fresh and fruity FH 6.4% ABV IPA available in 16oz cans and 4-packs as of September 25th.
Gigantic Brewing: Sodbusted Simcoe VI: Return of the Simcoe
A not so Gigantic 5.5% ABV pale ale packed with bright Orangey Simcoe hops and available in 500ml bottles. For the last few years Gigantic has focused on highlighting the popular, pungent and citrus fruit forward simcoe hops in their fresh hop releases and this year is no different. Gigantic Brewing in southeast Portland has used hops from Sodbuster Farms in the Willamette Valley for this release, out on September 18th.
Gigantic Brewing: HopBot Fresh Hop Citra IPA
Gigantic has bottled a second fresh hop beer this year for the first time as a partnership with local grocery New Seasons Market. HopBot Fresh Hop Citra IPA has a label by Gigantic staff member John Grimes and is made with fresh lemony and savory Citra hops from Sodbuster Farms in the Willamette Valley. HopBot is 6% ABV and also only available in bottles at New Seasons markets as of September 25th.
Gilgamesh Brewing: Fresh Prince Fresh Hop IPA
From Turner, Oregon, Gilgamesh Brewing has released an annual fresh hop beer that's definitely not from Bel-Air. This citrusy, floral IPA is brewed with fresh Centennial hops that will make you want to dance like Carlton. Fresh Prince Fresh Hop IPA has a golden color and legit aroma. Don't tell Uncle Phil! FH Fresh Prince IPA is 6.3% ABV and available now in 22oz bottles.
Hopworks Urban Brewery: Fresh Seasons
Hopworks is another Portland brewery who has teamed up with the local New Seasons Market on an exclusive fresh hopped can release called Fresh Seasons. HUB collaborated with a fellow B-Corporation on this 6.5% ABV hazy/juicy IPA brewed with Amarillo hops known for their citrusy and bitter orange flavor. Fresh Seasons is now available at New Seasons stores in the Pacific Northwest.
Hopworks Urban Brewery: Fresh Hop Totally Chill
Hopworks new year-round Juicy/Hazy IPA Totally Chill has received the fresh hop treatment. The Portland-based brewer has taken their already tropical pineapple and mango flavored 6% hazy IPA and packed in extra grapefruit and melon hop flavors from fresh Centennial hops. Totally Chill is also made with oats and wheats which give it the cloudy look and creamy, fluffy mouthfee. Available now in 12oz cans and 6-packs and disappearing quickly.
Hopworks Urban Brewery: Complete Darkness
Harkening back to the golden days of the CDA aka Cascadian Dark Ale aka the style that won't be named is Hopworks Complete Darkness, a fresh hopped and Imperial take on the CDA. This dark bad boy clocks in at 8.5% and is brewed with Centennial hops from Goschie Farms. Look for it now in 22oz bottles!
Hopworks Urban Brewery: Goschie Estate Fresh Hop Pilsner
A rare but increasingly popular style to try with fresh hops, Hopworks Goschue Estate Fresh Hop Pilsner was brewed for Oregon's largest Oktoberfest celebration in Mount Angel, Oregon. Goschie Estate FH Pils is brewed with Salmon-Safe certified hops and malt all from Goschie Farms making it a single estate beer. This brew contains massive amounts of freshly harvested Hallertauer Abiqua hops for a peppery and melony fresh hop character, it's 5.3% ABV and is available now in cans.
Level Beer: Fresh Hopped Stable Genius
Outer southeast Portland's new retro video gaming-themed Level Beer has went full fresh hop with more than four brewed this year and three of them released in cans. Stable Genius is the brewery's popular Trump-rebuking hazy IPA and has now been fresh hopinated with Mosaic hops. This 6% ABV juice and chive bomb was released September 14th in 16oz cans.
Level Beer: Fresh Hopped Let's Play!
Another in the growing trend of fresh hopping lagers is the Fresh Hopped Let's Play! from Level Beer who has taken their year-round-ish pils and dry-hopped it with fresh hops. Let's Play is freshened up with the super cool new Strata hop variety for a mix of fruit, berries and pine. Fresh Hop Let's Play was released September 11th in 12oz cans.
Level Beer: Fresh Hopped Ready Player One
Level's regular lineup dry-hopped saison has been all too real injection of fresh Willamette hops and put into 12oz cans on September 14th at 4.8% ABV.
Mazama Brewing: Green Magic
Mazama Brewing recently announced it will be
opening a new brewpub in downtown Corvallis; the brewery also has some Green Magic fresh hop cans out on the market. Green Magic is a fresh hop, biting and floral beer with a from the use of Fresh centennial hops from Crosby Hop Farm and a malty backbone. This 5.5% ABV beer became available September 5th in 12oz cans and 6-packs.
Old Town Brewing: Hopicana
Still riding high from a
Gold medal win at the 2018 World Beer Cup, Portland's Old Town Brewing has slick new cans out of a fresh hop beer called Hopicana. Hopicana has fruity tropical notes with hints of juicy pineapple, ripe mango, fresh strawberry, and zesty orange; complimented by lush hoppy aroma (from the use of fresh hops) finishing with a welcomed sweetness and pillowy mouthfeel. Cans of this 6.9% ABV beer were released on September 20th.
Ordnance Brewing: EOD Fresh Hop
From Boardman, Oregon, Ordnance Brewing has a fresh hop beer called Explosive Ordnance Disposal or EOD Double IPA. The name is a nod to to the brewery's name as well as a description of this fresh hop bomb. The base double IPA is hopped with Mt. Hood and Columbus hop varieties and this fresh hop version has a heaping helping of unkilned Centennias and is 7.8% ABV and packed in 16oz cans available as of September 14th.
Stickmen Brewery: Cloudy with a Chance of Strata - Hazy IIPA
With a newly operational
production brewery in Tualatin, the small brewpub from Lake Oswego called Stickmen Brewing is now pumping out more unique cans like Cloudy with a Chance of Strata Fresh Hop. This hazy double IPA is 8.7% ABV and made with all new Strata hops with notes of tropical fruit, grapefruit, and cannabis. Available as of September 17th in 16oz cans.
Stormbreaker Brewing: Handfuls of Fresh Hops, Fresh Hop House Martell, Fresh Hop Cloud Ripper and Fresh Hop Savage Nimbus IIPA
North Portland's Stormbreaker Brewing now has
two Portland pubs of which to find their astounding five different fresh hop beers in bottles this year. We didnt give each one its own listing since just two have original labels: Handfuls of Fresh Hops IPA and Fresh Hop House Martell Hazy Pale, the other three beers have standard labels with a fresh hop sticker. Handfuls of Fresh Hops IPA is brewed with fresh Cetennial and Amarilos. Fresh Hop Triple Double IPA had added fresh hop Amarillos. Fresh Hop House Martell has over 200 lbs of fresh Mosaics added to a Citra dry-hopped pale ale. Fresh Hop Cloud Ripper is a west coast IPA with fresh citra hops and Fresh Hop Savage Nimbus is an Imperial IPA (no fresh hop info given.)
Three Creeks Brewing: Cone Lick’r Fresh Hop Ale
This central Oregon brewery has been bottling the annual Cone Lick'r fresh hop ale for a few years now, so it's always one to look out for. This one is brewed with 300 lbs of fresh Centennial hops from B&C Farms in Woodburn, Oregon, and is 5% ABV. The hops go from farm to brew kettle in 4 hours to create a spicy, resinous hop character with classic orange rind notes from the fresh Centennials. Available as of September in 22oz bottles.
Widmer Brothers Brewing: Rada Strata IPA
This fresh hop from Portland craft brewing pioneers Widmer Brothers Brewing actually started out as a collaboration with Agua Mala, a craft brewery from El Sauzal, Mexico. Rada Strata IPA is brewed with Strata and Meridian fresh hops in the boil for a smooth and tropic base, then loaded with extra Strata fresh hops right before hitting the fermenter. The result is an unfiltered IPA with fresh hop notes of tropical citrus and melon. 7.2% ABV and 12oz cans are available from the Widmer tasting room in North Portland only as of September 24th.
Wild Ride Brewing: Journey to Planet Fresh-Hop Pale Ale
Another central Oregon brewer just outside of Bend, in Redmond, Oregon. Wild Ride Brewing made a number of fresh hop beers this year, but only bottles Journey to Planet Fresh-Hop Pale Ale. This brew uses fresh Nugget hops from Crosby Hop Farm in a pale ale available in 22oz bottles. This brew uses Nugget hops which create flavors that can be described as pleasant, spicy, and herbal. Expect all of these flavors to be blended and balanced into this pale ale, which will take you and your taste buds to a different world!
Fresh hop season in the Pacific Northwest is in full force as the 2018 hop harvest winds down. There are still plenty of opportunities to find fresh hop beers, and new ones are still just being released. While most fresh hop beers are one-off draft only releases, more and more breweries are taking a shot at bottling or canning them, and this year over twenty-five Oregon fresh hop beers have been packaged for outside consumption.
