A couple years ago I posted a story about the first fresh hop beers of the season. Specifically, which breweries would be first out of the gate with fresh hop ales. Seemed like important info for hop hounds like me. Someone commented on that post and said, “I don’t care who’s got the first fresh hop beer of the season, I want to know who’s got the last.”
Good point. It got me to thinking.
We are now getting late in the fresh hop season. There is still plenty of it out there, but supplies will soon start to dwindle. That’s why I was happy to hear that Maritime Pacific Brewing plans to release its fresh hop offering, XPA Fresh Hop Pale Ale, at the Jolly Roger Taproom this Wednesday. What’s more, it was brewed using one of my favorite hop varieties–Amarillo. I know being a fan of Amarillo hops is hardly original, but good is good no matter how many of us say so.
“This Wednesday starting at 5 PM we will be tapping this years Fresh Hop Ale, XPA,” says the a press release from the brewery. “XPA is bright and hoppy this year made with over 200 lbs. of fresh Amarillo Hops from the Sunshine Ranch of Gamache & Sons in Toppenish, WA. This pale ale style covers the vast flavors of bold citrus notes to floral aromatics. We will also be tapping at 5PM a special dry hopped cask condition version of this years XPA. Get hare as early as you can because we know the cask will not last long.”