Tag: Hop Kitchen

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Tart and Bitter

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It was inevitable that IPA’s would collide with the other white hot trend of sours. I have seen (and tried) a couple attempts. Both were sour and citrus-y and quite good. Both were also not quite IPA’s in my mind.

To be fair, I am still not sold on Black IPA’s either and I have tried many different versions of that style.

But since New Belgium has had a bit of success, you could say, with their sour line-up and since they have also done well in the hop category, they are well positioned to make a Hop Tart.

Take it away, Mr. Press Release…..”Hop Tart is New Belgium’s latest Hop Kitchen offering, blending Belgian Pale Malt from the Colorado Malting Company, with tart lactobacillus and fruity hops.

Hop Tart’s lactobacillus offers just the slightest hint of sour that propels bursts of passion fruit, guava and pineapple, courtesy of hefty Nelson Sauvin, Galaxy and Experimental Hop 522 dry-hopping.”

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Sean Suggests for April 2013

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Since April in Los Angeles is a bit hotter than in most of the country, I have selected three beers with a little less ABV oomph to them than usual.  And all three will be good NBA playoffs choices.

LIGHT

Widmer Columbia Common 4.7% abv

“The Columbia Hop was near extinction when we brought it back to create this crisp, easy drinking common ale. With a rich amber hue, Columbia Common, the new Spring Seasonal Release for 2013, has a Mild grassy and spicy hop notes are complemented by a fruity character and clean finish brought on by the use of hefeweizen and lager yeasts and unique malt bill. It’s the perfect beer for Spring.”

MEDIUM

Strand 24th Street Pale 6.1 % abv

“This is what we had intended to brew when we made Genesis. Serving as our flagship ale, 24th Street Pale contains exactly the same hops but is less malty than Genesis which leads to less masking of the hop profile. It’s a smooth little Pale with a bitter finish. Slightly floral, slightly fruity. It is dry and drinks quickly. ”

DARK

New Belgium Hoppy Bock 6.9 % abv

“Meet the first in our new Hop Kitchen series: A German-style springtime lager brewed with rye then loaded with Hallertauer, Perle and Fuggle hops for a spicy, earthy aroma. This Hoppy Bock Lager offers a medium body and slightly sweet malt character perfect for your spring hop-fling.”

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A French IPA from New Belgium?

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For awhile it did not look like New Belgium would play the hops game.  They seemed content with their sours and barrels and their lovely flagship Fat Tire but since the release of Ranger they have caught the bug and now they have an entire Hop Kitchen!

Out of the kettles of the Hop Kitchen first is Hoppy Bock Lager followed by the beer whose label you see on this post,  French Aramis that utilizes an under-used hop variety grown in the French region of Alsace. Still in “the oven” so to speak will be an IPA using Oregon hop varieties.  These unnamed hops will be certified by Salmon-Safe, a nonprofit “works to keep our urban and agricultural watersheds clean enough for native salmon to spawn and thrive.”  They have worked with Deschutes in the past.  A final Hop Kitchen IPA will take us time traveling to hops that were popular back in the day.  The days being the ’80’s and 90’s.