Each year we look forward to a warm sunny day in early September to pick Fresh Hops at the Rogue Farms. This year we picked Sterling and Amarillo hops for our annual version of Sophie, a fresh hop red ale. Utilizing the mash tun for a giant hop steep we were able to produce this wonderful fresh hop ale with a spectacular citrus aroma and a lingering bitterness. The base recipe is focused on a clean, malty taste to balance against all the fresh hops resulting in complex beer with malt followed by a smooth bitter and a lingering citrus hop flavor. This beer is a great example of the fresh hop experience we have the opportunity to experience here in the PNW. As the Summer is over this is a reminder of what a great hop season it has been.
ABV: 6.4%
IBUs: 62
In two gardens, a farm, a pilot brewery and paths between, many hands grew, picked, moved, sprouted, smelled, cooked, cracked, hoisted, watched, were surprised by, prayed for, and pondered what’s become Humble Hands Fresh Hop Pale Ale. Guest brewers Carl and Caitlin Grimm provided a bounty of home-grown hops for the this community-crafted brew. It’s soft spoken, fruit forward, crisp, a little grassy and earthy, kind of complex, and subtly hoppy at the end. Like so much of the creativity in Portland’s deep artisnal culture, Humble Hands grows from friends, family and local businesses doing what they love and seeing what happens next.
ABV: 6.0%
IBUs: 40
Green Dragon Brewing 