Follow Sean Inman to the best in craft beer
The Ale Project of Pretty Things has a new beer, Hedgerow Bitter, described as “…our first properly-hoppy beer. We wanted a beer that was dry and bitter, and that’s what we got. 5.4% abv with all UK grown hedgerow variety hops: Pioneer, First Gold and Sovereign.”
I’ve had one Pretty Things ale and now I want more!
Hey beer lovers!
I am big on educating yourself in not only different beer styles but also in the building blocks of beer. So each time my local, Eagle Rock Brewery does a new beer education class, I get excited. I have attended these classes so I know they are done well.
“We are super excited to announce that our next beer class is all about IPAs, the perfect summer beverage. Yes – hopheads unite! The class will take place in the Eagle Rock Brewery taproom on Tuesday 8/24/10 from 7pm to 9pm. As usual, the taproom will be open at 6p for those registered in the class to come in to pickup the course materials and enjoy a pre-class beer. Cost will be $30 per person. Register at our online store.
Class registration is non-refundable so please do not register for the class until you are absolutely certain that you will be able to attend. No exceptions will be made. The registration does not include a guest, so please do not bring guests with you and expect that they will be able to stay. All of our classes have sold out and space and class resources are limited, so as a courtesy to everyone involved, no exceptions please.”
The more hop crazed of beer searchers may have already heard or consumed beers made from these hops but I thought it would be good to give a quick primer on them so you can choose what will make your palate sing.
Palisades – a new hop variety from the Pacific Northwest. It has moderately strong bittering, with a grassy, apricot-like aroma that’s often described as “pretty.” Can be tasted in Alameda Brewing beer.
Citra – A brand new variety first released in 2008. Citra is generally used in IPAs and hoppy specialty beers, prized for flavor and aroma of tropical and citrus fruit; including lime, melon, pineapple, grapefruit, passion fruit, papaya, lychee and others. Can be tasted in Kern River beer.
Glacier – is another 21st century variety. It was specifically bred for a balanced bittering profile and excellent aromatic qualities. Glacier is generally 4-6 percent alpha acid, and works well in American or British-style ales of all types. Can be tasted in ???
Here is the history, straight from the source…
“We started building Yakima Craft Brewing Co. in December of 2007. We sold our first beer in June of 2008. Even though we are a young brewery, there is a lot of history here.
As beer fans, you probably know that the Yakima Valley is responsible for producing around 75% of the hop crop grown in the U.S.A. As the major producer of hop, you would think that this area is closely tied to the craft beer industry. And you’d be right. Most of the major US hop growers and processors are here, as well as hop industry organizations.
More than this, many would argue that the craft beer industry wouldn’t be as it is today without one particular figure; Bert Grant. Bert isn’t the only figure in craft beer, but many would argue that he was the one with most initial impact, founding Bert Grant’s Real Ales in 1982 in the Opera House here in Yakima.
Bert Grant, Grant’s Real Ales and Yakima Brewing & Malting are no longer with us. However, we are fortunate enough to use Bert’s original boil kettle for our brewing.
This is an all-copper kettle, which gives us better ability to caramelize sugars, adds some nutrients for the yeast, and much more. We are proud to be able to continue this legacy through our beer.
If there was a museum for brewing equipment, this kettle would be in it. But, we’re pretty sure that Bert would rather we use it to make beer.
We are a very small brewery, just 3 1/2 barrels (BBL)- tiny by commercial standards. We don’t filter or pasteurize our beer, as we see beer as a food best enjoyed fresh and local.
We’ll continue to brew and bring good beer to beer fans everywhere, from right here in Yakima, where we live and work.”
The latest in summer IPA’s. You may know of Sunspot or Grandsun of Spot. Now you get Spotless…
From the Full Sail press release..”the newest release in their Brewmaster Reserve series, Spotless IPA. This release continues Full Sail’s summer “sun” series. Named to honor our sun that has been spotless for over a year, Spotless is a true Northwest style IPA – richly hopped with Willamette and Zeus hops. A deep golden color, bright bitterness and a definite fruity finish meld into a beer that is all set to toast the summer months. It will be available in specialty beer stores and pubs throughout the Pacific Northwest from June to August in 22oz bottles and draft. ABV: 6.5% IBU: 70″
The next beer in Full Sail’s Brewmaster Reserve line up will be Sanctuary, a Belgian Style Dubbel, to be released in August.
There is so much good beer reading out there that sometimes (OK, a lot of times), I read something that was posted months ago and get all excited only to hear the dreaded words, “Yeah, I read that already. Where have you been?”
The Captain’s Chair blog had this fascinating article on hops and how the aroma can fade and why it does. Required reading in my book, as is the rest of the blog. Check out the info HERE
While you are there, take a peek at his personal Top 20. See how many you’ve had. I have had 7! And it would be more if I could any Minnesota beer in Southern California!
As is usual with me, I learn something new every day. Today’s nugget is that the nomadic Mikkeller is working on a third series of single ingredient beers.
I said to myself, “3?” Apparently, I completely missed the barrel series that showcased one beer in different barrels to see the effects from what was liquor was previously in that barrel. Hopefully, I can get a bottle of one of those and review it here.
Second, is the single hop series that I blather on about from time to time because it is such a great idea and each beer is fantastic in a non-educational setting. New single hop beers on the horizon include Summit, Apollo, Bravo, Citra and Sorachi Ace. I am especially geeked out about the last two.
Here is the list of single hop beers already out:
Amarillo
Cascade
Centennial
Chinook
East Kent Golding
Nelson Sauvin
Nugget
Simcoe
Tomahawk
Warrior
The third lesson is on yeast! Now this should be really fascinating. The same base beer is being used but with these different strains of yeast: lager, U.S. ale, Belgian Ale/Trappist, Weiss and Brettanomyces.
Harpoon Brewing is releasing a new single hop ESB using a brand new hop, here-to-for unseen, named Delta. Delta is the latest in the line that also includes Teamaster and Nelson Sauvin hops that will be seen and tasted more as they become more widely available.
When I saw this posted on the wonderful BeerNews website, I knew I had to re-iterate something that I think every beer geek should do.
I highly suggest sampling any single hop offering that you can find. Then take notes on the aroma and the flavors you get. Once you have done that. Go online and either Google or Bing your way to a description of the hop you sampled and compare and contrast.
These new varieties stem in part from boundary pushing that American brewers are pursuing as well as from the scare of a hop shortage a few years back. I am continuing my interwebs search for a comprehensive and graphically cool listing of hops that isn’t all agriculture words. No luck yet, but once I do, I will post it here.
This way, you can grow your hop knowledge. (Pun intended)
If you go to FoodGPS.com, you will see the latest musings by yours truly on the latest trends in hoppy beers. You will also probably see a new restaurant or cafe you will want to try out. I found at least three places to try in San Francisco when I drive there in November.
…is Citra Blonde-This Blonde Ale is a very smooth, refreshing, and drinkable beer. Light in color, body, and bitterness, but it is not bland. Widmer Citra Blonde’s point of differentiation is that it delivers an abundance of flavor despite its lighter profile. What’s even more special is that Citra is a new, very rare hop variety that only Widmer and two other brewers have access to. Made with Alchemy and Citra hops. ABV 3.8%,