Now is the time. Here is the place. Officially kicking off yesterday, fresh hop season has begun and the Northwest is bringing it on in more ways than one—with festivals like hop kingdom Yakima Valley’s Fresh Hop Ale Festival and Portland’s Fresh Hop Beer Fest both next weekend, competitions between the states and bottlings outside of beer like FinnRiver Fresh Hop Cider—the hops have arrived. As the reigning champion of the 2012 Fresh Hop Ale Festival, Seattle’s Fremont Brewing Co. has brought their tremendously popular (and quickly sold out) Cowiche Canyon Organic Fresh Hop Ale back to the tap (and bottle). The ale is brewed from select organic hops grown in the Cowiche Canyon of Yakima Valley—the deal is the hops are harvested and placed into the kettle within 24 hours, so them bad boys are about as fresh as can be. This results in a uniquely aromatic ale, huge on citrus fruits of grapefruit, lemon zest and lime rind, floral tones of lavender and grass with sweet malts in the back. With a medium-bodied palate, this beer is chocked with citrus, pine and punch. Full of fervor for the season.
