Sierra Nevada is known for hops. Their pale ale spawned a million (seemingly) imitators. So, when I saw a 4-Way IPA box with their logo. I knew that I would be reviewing it for the blog. I chose the two least known / seen beers from the group. And we start with Nooner….
Hopslist
So, you just had a great IPA and you find out which hops are in it. With most it is a melange of different varietals. You especially liked a citrus taste. Now, you could GoogleBing search or you could go straight to Hopslist.
You can read about the talked about new hops like Cashmere that is new on the scene or research EKG, East Kent Goldings. There are stats for each. Some more filled in than others but what I find most useful are the little blurbs about each one. It gives you a starting point to begin your education in hop cones.
And to extend the hop talk even though it may seem to be playing into the hands of the over eager hop heads, I will be reviewing three different hop centric beers today and tomorrow.
Review – Castaway IPA from Kona Brewing
It’s not everyday that you get a hollowed out volleyball with two beers in it. But Kona Brewing has always been a bit creative with their beers.
And for some reason, they don’t get much craft love because they are part of a bigger umbrella brewing concern but they make solid beers that need to be appreciated on their own merits.
Castaway IPA pours a light orange color with a a bit of a foamy head that evaporates quickly. The aroma is fairly light as well. Some citrus with hints of bitterness to come.
The taste is pretty light on the IPA scale. I would call this more XPA or if current vogue is standard then Session IPA. Heavy on the grain taste. Which I like. Some faint citrus notes and a medium hit of hops to round it out. Not thin by any means, but lighter in body for sure.
This certainly is more Hawaiian to me even though I have never been. It just has a tropical, sun up in the sky sort of flavor. I wish it had more Citra or something to name it fruitier, hop wise but this is another straightforward and tasty beer.
Distilling Hops
The Distilling side of Anchor has put out some cool spirits in the past. I myself have bought their Junipero Gin on occasion.
Now they are playing to the hop boom with Hophead Vodka…
Obviously, you would have to be more choosy in cocktail recipes seeing as how hop bitterness might not work in some vodka cocktails but I would try this straight. Maybe they will do single hop versions down the road.
Easy there Jack
I know that the common perception is that if you write something positive about a brewery then you are just a shill and not a shrewd critical thinker that the brewing industry needs. But when I get a press release from Firestone Walker about a new beer, even one that is jumping on the good ship SIPA, I want to let people know about it.
Simply because they brew damn fine beer and without having a single sip of Easy Jack…
…their new Session IPA, I know that it will be above average (at least). If not awesome. And I can tell that by both past performance and by the notes that Brewmaster Matt Brynildson put together just on the hops used. Read on…
Bavarian Mandarina – Germany
“It’s real orangy, zesty, like a fresh orange off the tree, which I’ve never smelled in any hop before.”
Hallertau Melon – Germany
“As the name suggests, it has this melony, ripe tropical fruit characteristic that complements the citrus of the other hops.”
Mosaic – United States
“It’s a daughter of the Simcoe hop, which is in our Union Jack. It has a nice tropical vibe, with herbal and pine notes.”
Blend of New Zealand Hops
“We are using a blend of New Zealand hops to create this huge Sauvignon Blanc character, with a classic Sauv Blanc racy, steely fruit profile.”
Those notes make me want to try single hop beers of the first two (is it bragging to say that I have had an excellent Mosaic from Ninkasi?)
De Ranke Hop Harvest
Now I don’t normally go in for hunting “whales”. In fact that whole scene is a turn off for me. But from time to time, there are some intriguing beers that I would buy very quickly if I see it. And the DeRanke Hop Harvest is one of those. Despite the horrible label that probably won’t change in 2014.
I am sure as the year goes on, others will get added to the list. No joke.
Hops Tea
Hops aren’t just for beer. They can be used for other beverages. One of which is right here in Los Angeles. G&B Coffee in the Grand Central Market downtown sells a hop infused tea along with coffee in that bustling market.
It is on the Angel Flight side of the market and you can order up the tea which comes in a wine glass. It is very light in both hop flavor and tea flavor as well. You have to search for the bitterness but it is quite refreshing.
You should check out the interview with the co-founder Charles Babinski on KCRW’s Good Food program that also talks about 2 other beer-y topics in that particular program.
Review – Green Bullet from Green Flash
Green Flash is not lying with the Triple IPA moniker. That is a major pine scent coming off of this and it is strong. So is the ABV. This is a palate wrecker for sure. Lots of citrus and herbal notes. Lots of bitterness here. Really strong. Did I mention that? The New Zealand hops pop right at the beginning but the remainder of the hop assault overwhelms that delicate front note. This is a seasonal release that will only be with us through December and I think it is definitely a colder weather IPA for sure.
Now I am reading about the starting point for one of my favorite bands from when I was younger, New Order. It is by the band’s bassist, Peter Hook and it is his recollection of the start of Joy Division and the Manchester music scene. Unknown Pleasures has a cool design and book jacket and has been fun to read 50 pages in.
Lip Balm
If you head to the Atlantic Farms website, you will be confronted with a choice of which hoppy lip balm to buy. I have seen hops in lip balm as swag from Sierra Nevada at some beer events but this is the first that I have seen Double IPA and grapefruit. Grapefruit works well with beer so that would be my choice.
Beer Book Review – For the Love of Hops
If you are a hophead and cannot get enough bitter IPA’s and DIPA’s and the ever expanding hoppy styles then this book will truly make your head spin. The backstory on what goes on to bring the hops to life and let alone get them into your beer is simply amazing and Stan Hieronymus does a skillful job of marrying the anecdotes with the science while also letting the stories room to breathe as well.
I will be the first to admit that many parts of this book went over my head. I am not a science guy nor am I a brewing guy so there were parts that I had to read and re-read a few times. This was no fault of Hieronymus. It just took me awhile to get it. I can’t spell ethyl-4-methylpentanoate let alone remember that it’s odor compound is fruity.
But I thoroughly enjoyed the opening of each chapter where Hieronymus either takes us to a hop yard to talk to a farmer or back in history to Wye College in England. And even better is the section on many of the known hop varieties.
It is a helpful cheat sheet to use the next time you have an IPA. All you have to do is figure out which hops are in the beer that you have and then check out the data on each one. Geeky to the extreme, I know. There are some really cool color photographs as well. I could have used more. And I would have liked more diagrams in the section of hop backs and torpedos but those are minor quibbles to a book that somehow manages to be all things to all people. Even homebrewers will get a charge from the recipe section.
Now that I have read this one, I have put the Yeast and Water books on my list for Christmas to complete my set! You can buy the book via Amazon HERE.