Here's to Beer! Two Beers Fresh Hop Ale

This is a special time of year for beer lovers. Octoberfest is approaching, bringing a bevy of great beer releases with it. But before Octoberfest, there is a celebration of a different sort for hops lovers, as the hops harvest rolls in and fresh hop ales are offered by brewers which take advantage of the bounty.

Fresh hops ales are a labor of love on a number of levels. From a brewing standpoint, the logistics involved are more complex than your usual ale. In order to use fresh hops in a brew, the hops must be used within twenty four hours of harvest. The hops must either be used or dried within that period, or they begin to rot. Therefore, fresh hop ales require a speedy trip from field to brewery for a truckload of hops. And it really does take a truckload, since the amount of hops needed for a fresh hop ale can be up to five times the amount needed for a typical ale. If that isn’t ephemeral enough for you, the window for producing these beers is understandably short, and it is imperative to consume them promptly, since the fresh hops flavor fades quickly.

Local brewers Two Beers Brewing have given us a great example of fresh hop ale to enjoy. The beer pours with the color of a bright copper penny, and the hops aroma is strong, yet represents the more vegetal, herbal qualities of the plant. Likewise for the hops flavor, which is mild, grassy, floral, and herbaceous, with woody cedar notes. Two Beers lists the IBU for this beer as unknown, but I would guess it to be somewhere in the 50-60 range. It’s a tasty expression of fresh hops flavor, that’s easy to drink and delicious.

As for a food pairing with this beer, and all fresh hop ales, I would recommend utilizing another seasonal crop: tomatoes. Fresh herbs also lock in particularly well with the herbal hops flavor of the beer. Try a dish that combines these flavor elements, such as Margherita pizza, or Salad Caprese. Tacos with fresh Pico de Gallo salsa would also be great.

Can’t get enough Fresh Hop ales? Check out the Fresh Hop Ale Festival that goes on in Yakima on October first. Cheers!

Rich Coffey is a chef and Certified Cicerone. Check out his website for details on how to win a free guided food and beer pairing!