I’m a bit behind on posting this press release from Cascade Lakes Brewing, but in the interest of keeping track of the fresh hop beers coming out of Central Oregon, here are details on the brewery’s Koosah Fresh Hop IPA, available now.

Once a year, beer drinkers’ favorite flowers – hop flowers – begin to bloom and are ready for harvest, and craft breweries around the world collect the fresh hops to brew a seasonal beer unlike any other. With the 2021 hop harvest underway throughout the PNW, Cascade Lakes Brewing Co. is commemorating the occasion with the launch of Koosah IPA. Made entirely with fresh hops that were hand-selected from Oregon’s Goschie Farms by Cascade Lakes’ Brewmaster Ryan Schmiege, Koosah IPA is available for a limited time on draft and in stores throughout the Northwest.

Named after Koosah Falls along the McKenzie River, Koosah IPA features Oregon-grown Centennial hops that were harvested fresh off the bine. Characterized by aromatic pine, citrus, and floral notes, Centennial hops are typically one of the first hops to be harvested each season. And because they are only available for a brief period once a year, they are coveted by brewers near and far. Among them, Schmiege, who oversaw the harvest of 360 pounds of hops for the Koosah IPA.

“Fresh hop season is probably my favorite time of the year, much like a chef would look forward to morel or truffle season in their line of work,” said Schmiege. “The flavors and aroma of fresh hops are unmatched, and having the opportunity to hand-select and brew with them is about as close as a brewer gets to being the proverbial kid in a candy store.”

Based in Silverton, Goschie Farms is a family-run farm that has been supplying brewers with some of the world’s best hops for more than 134 years. Within hours of harvesting, Schmiege and his team had a triple brew in the tanks and the IPA was on to fermentation. Oregon grown and Oregon made, Koosah IPA represents all things PNW. From the scenic falls that inspired the name, to the award-winning farm that grew the hops, this beer is made of only the best things in Oregon.

Grain: Pale Malt & Crystal 40
Hops: Oregon-grown Centennial
Brewmaster: Ryan Schmiege
IBU: 60
ABV: 6.1%
Availability: Draft & 16 oz. cans

Cascade Lakes has another fresh hop ale hitting its pubs on draft on Friday, September 17: Watkins Fresh Hop Pale Ale, brewed with Chinook hops. According to the brewery’s Instagram post,

Fresh Chinook hops, grown, handpicked, and transported by Andy Watkins are the highlight of this fresh hop pale ale. Andy is the manager of Cochran Creek Ranch, owned by the Rhine family who owns Cascade Lakes Brewery. These hops celebrate the vibrantly painted hills in eastern Oregon. Fruity, piney, and spicy, this crop of hops has a top-notch pop that’ll stop your flop and have you singing be-bop she-bop!

I haven’t seen many Chinook-hopped fresh hop beers yet; the only other local one I know of is at Bridge 99 Brewery, so this could be one to seek out.