For many foodies, early fall is an exciting time. Bakers dust off their rolling pins in preparation for apple pies; mushroom hunters sharpen their knives to collect chanterelles. But to brewers in the Pacific Northwest, early fall means only one thing: hop harvesting, as the fresh hop cones ripen right on their doorstep.
McMenamins does not take that proximity for granted. Each September, their annual Running of the Brewers has employees at every brewing facility waiting nervously for this year’s shipment of the finest, freshest hops that the region has to offer. This year, it was Simcoe from Sodbuster Farms, which were used to make this year’s version of the Thundercone Fresh Hop Ale.
Each year’s Thundercone inserts the year’s freshest hops into the same recipe, although there is variation from brewery to brewery due to differences in the brewing system and the type of water. This year’s Simcoe, as sampled at the Kennedy School, lends a pungent and resin-y depth to the Thundercone’s sweet, malty grain profile, with just a hint of a piquant citrus nose.
Follow on Facebook: McMenamins
Track on Twitter: @captainneon
