Yes, since it’s fresh hop season you can expect to be inundated with posts about the various fresh hop beers and events coming up! Bend’s Crux Fermentation Project already has its first fresh hop beer on tap and in cans now, Pert Near Fresh Hop IPA, and a couple of weeks ago the brewery had sent out details about this year’s upcoming releases:

Our favorite time of the year is upon us with the first fresh hop beer already in the brite tank soaking up the goodness of those tasty Centennials. Once again, we’ll be releasing three different fresh hop beers (see below) to Oregon and Washington, but this year they’ll be in 16oz cans, as well as kegs.

And fresh hop season wouldn’t be complete without our annual parking lot hop picking party which will be on Thursday, September 12th. The more the merrier so everyone is welcome to come and help us pick those “estate-grown” Cascade hops for Off The Fence, our Fresh Hop NW Pale Ale that you’ll only find on tap at our Tasting Room.

PERT NEAR | Fresh Hop IPA
In anticipation of the first Centennials coming off the bine, we got a head start and brewed this IPA so it would be ready to be “wet-hopped” as soon as we got the call from Gayle at Goschie Farms. And this year we added a new twist by throwing fresh Tettnangs into the hopback. It’s pert near the first fresh hop beer you’ll enjoy this season while waiting for us to brew up a few more.
6.9% ABV 50 IBUs (Early September release)

DR. JACK | Fresh Hop IPA
Named for hop pioneer Dr. Jack Horner – creator of the Cascade hop – this trailblazing IPA features freshly harvested Oregon-grown Cascade hops, added to the kettle the very same day they’re picked in order to maximize all the floral and citrusy goodness this legendary hop has to offer. Inspiring as our brewery’s view of the Cascade Mountains at sunset, this fresh expression of their namesake hop is one we know would make Dr. Jack proud.
6.9% ABV 50 IBUs (Late September release)

WAY TWO FRESH | Fresh Hop IIPA
To craft this fresh hop tour de force, we’ve simultaneously harvested fresh hops from two valleys in two states on the same morning, combining them into a single kettle that very afternoon… dream big, right? Fully hop-forward with rich tropical qualities, this flavorful blend of fresh Willamette Valley Mosaic and Yakima Valley Simcoe hops is an Imperial IPA that’s double the trouble and downright delicious.
9.9% ABV 65 IBUs (Early October release)

So there will be four fresh hop ales in all, and I can attest that Pert Near (out now) is tasting pretty fine: the fresh Centennials give it a spicy green character that’s zesty with fresh crushed peppery greens.

It doesn’t look like Way Two Fresh will be a collaboration with Bale Breaker Brewing this year, but I’m happy to see it’s coming back anyway.

The hop-pickin’ party takes place this Thursday, September 12, and note that it begins early, at 7:00 am! “Help us pick for an hour or more between 7 am and noon – show up early and we’ll have coffee ready for you or stay until we dump the hops into the hop back at noon and celebrate with lunch on us.”

And keep an eye on my Fresh Hops Watch post for dates and the latest Central Oregon fresh hops tappings and events.