Eugene, Oregon––The Wheel Brewery from Eugene, Oregon just released Lower McKenzie–a seasonal single-varietal McKenzieTM hop micro-IPA with 100% Oregon-sourced Salmon-Safe certified ingredients. The hops were grown at Fobert Farm, a Salmon-Safe certified hop farm located roughly 35 miles north of the McKenzie River basin. The beer’s malt is Oregon Promise–floor-malted, Goschie’s Promise grown at Salmon-Safe certified Goschie Farms in Silverton, Oregon. The beer’s label features original art of a bear eating a salmon, illustrated by Eugene-based Moody Moon Company. From the ingredients to the brewery to the art, Lower McKenzie is a celebration of clean water and watershed protection.
“We wanted to make a beer that reflected this part of Oregon and honored what makes Oregon beer and Oregon’s environment so special—water,” says Toby Schock, the head brewer at The Wheel. “We’re fortunate to have so many hop and barley growers using Salmon-Safe growing practices in Oregon to protect these waters for generations to come.”
Schock describes the Lower Mckenzie Micro-IPA as a light and refreshing summer beer that celebrates the clean Mckenzie River water that is its essence.
“Even though it is lower in alcohol, the floor malted Oregon Promise barley is substantial enough to contribute a golden honey flavor and smooth pleasant mouthfeel. The uniquely bright McKenzieTM hop is complex for a single hop beer with notes of green melon and subtle stone fruit, and a snappy bite for a crisp finish.”
Both the McKenzieTM hop and Goschie’s Promise were bred in Oregon and are well-suited to Oregon’s microclimates, reducing disease and pest-pressure. Goschie’s Promise was developed by Oregon State University’s Dr. Pat Hayes, and is named after renowned hop farmer, Gayle Goschie. The McKenzie™ hop was developed by West Coast Hop Breeding (WCHB). The hop’s breeder grew up fishing on the McKenzie River in Oregon, and the hop is named after the river in honor of those memories.
“McKenzie™ hops were our first named release from West Coast Hop Breeding’s Oregon-centered, farmer-owned breeding program,” says Eric Sannerud, Marketing and Sales for WCHB. “Not all hops grow as well in Oregon, as the climate here is wetter and cooler than Yakima. Being bred and raised here in Oregon, McKenzie™ is resilient, tough, and excels through Oregon’s sometimes challenging climate. Even more interesting, McKenzie™ hops train themselves! They have a strong climbing habit and go up the string with little to no manual human training.”
The hops for Lower McKenzie were grown by 4th generation hop farmer Cheyne Fobert in Willamette Valley’s Hubbard, Oregon.
“Cheyne is environmentally innovative. At the hop farm he is leaning into cover crops and other techniques that benefit both farm and fish,” says Brian Muegge, Farm Program Manager with Salmon-Safe.
You can find the Lower McKenzie Salmon-Safe Micro IPA at The Wheel Apizza Pub in Eugene throughout the summer or while supplies last.
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About The Wheel The Wheel Apizza Pub opened in Eugene, Oregon in 2018 and specializes in naturally leavened pizzas and their on-site beer program. Both the beer and pizza programs focus on sourcing the highest quality ingredients and supporting local farmers. Learn more about The Wheel at www.thewheelapizzapub.com.
About Salmon-Safe Salmon-Safe is one of the nation’s leading ecolabels with more than 115,000 acres of farm and urban lands certified in Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, British Columbia and, most recently, Japan. Through peer-reviewed certification and accreditation program, they are leading the movement to implement farming practices and developments that protect water quality, maintain watershed health and restore habitat. Learn more about Salmon-Safe at www.salmonsafe.org.
About West Coast Hop Breeding West Coast Hop Breeding is a hop breeding company comprised of five Oregon hop growers. The company was established in 2016 to ensure that Oregon hop growers have a sustainable future by developing varieties that thrive in Oregon’s unique soil and climate growing conditions. Learn more about WCHB and McKenzieTM hops here: https://wchops.com/mckenzie/
About Fobert Farms The Foberts have been farming for 4 generations outside of Hubbard, Oregon. Recently, Fobert Farm earned Salmon-Safe Certification, committing to growing hops in a way that protects water quality. Outside of West Coast Hop Breeding varieties, the Foberts are also great supporters of the American Public Hop Breeding Program, growing a trial yard and hosting harvest equipment for the Oregon-based public hop breeding team. Contact Cheyne Fobert at Fobertfarms@gmail.com.
