Coldfire Brewing Trek Series explores Southern Hemisphere Hops
Eugene, Oregon's Coldfire Brewing Company has launched their Discovery Series of three forms of pale ale that explore southern hemisphere hops. Motueka, Nelson Sauvin and Galaxy are three of the most sought after hop varieties on the market, and Coldfire is highlighting each of them in three new beers available now in 16oz cans and on draft.
Coldfire primarily self distributes in the Eugene area but is self-distributing up to the Portland metro areas and will be making their first drops in Bend, OR in the coming days and weeks.
Motueka Pale Ale
The New Zealand grown Motueka hop has been in regular use at Coldfire for some time, but is often used as an accent flavor and aroma. Previously known as Belgian Saaz, the Motueka hop is known as a dual use hop with tropical and citrus character that comes through well in any part of the brewing process.
Coldfire was in love with the 2019 Motueka crop and chose to highlight it in this version of the Discovery Series. Motueka is the centerpiece of this beer, rather than an accent. It is backed up with Amarillo to accentuate the citrus character. To balance the tangy citrusy flavors, the brewers used Simpson's Golden Promise malt as it's base. The resulting Pale Ale is described as having flavors and aromas of key lime, melon, papaya, and tangerine with a smooth malt finish that adds just a touch of honey and bread.
Nelson IPA
Nelson Sauvin hops have often been compared to sauvignon blanc white wine grapes in their flavor. As another multi-purpose variety, Nelson is great for aroma, flavor or bittering. But it is also divisive in it's complex but strange combination of notes that run from gooseberry and grapes to allspice and citrus.
In this version of the Discovery Series, Coldfire blended Nelson, Mosaic, and Citra Hops to create layers of fruit flavor intrigue in this refreshing, golden hued NWIPA
Galaxy Double IPA
Coldfire's virtual journey to the Southern Hemisphere ends with a showcase of the Galaxy hop variety. Possibly the most popular and hard to find hop variety right now, Galaxy has a fresh and juicy character that exemplifies the current flavor profiles brewers and drinkers are looking for.
Discovery Series Galaxy pairs the Galaxy hop with the new emerging Strata hop for a dank and tropical profile. For the base beer, Coldfire has made this one a Double IPA and packed it full of juicy hops that fit together. Flavors and aromas of mango, pineapple, papaya and grapefruit come together with a slight marijuana flavor from the strata hops.
