Another batch of fresh hop lightning round beer reviews to enjoy on this Friday! Cheers!

Migration Brewing – Fresh Outta Portland Fresh Hop IPA

I remember really enjoying Fresh Outta Portland last year, and was not disappointed with this year’s edition. It’s the fresh hop version of Migration’s flagship Straight Outta Portland IPA, brewed with Strata hops this year from Indie Hops and Goschie Farms. On Untappd for the 2020 version, the description says, “These hops came straight from the farm to the brewery, nitrogen frozen, and put directly into the packaging tank.”

I don’t know if this was done again this year. At any rate, it’s 7.3% ABV with 69 IBUs. It was packaged on August 24, I drank it on September 22. Notes:

Slightly hazy golden color, good ample white head. Fruity aroma, a touch sweaty, with sweet citrus and mango, straightforward but pleasing. Smooth flavor with a spicy-savory bitterness and Cream of Wheat softness. Hops flavor is saturated throughout, with citrus pith and mango peel. Really nice and easy drinking.

Zoiglhaus Brewing – Oktoberfresh

Zoiglhaus continues to offer up interesting takes on fresh hop beers with its German-styled offerings, and its Oktoberfresh is an award winner. Labeled a “German-style lager” it’s essentially a fresh hop Märzen. Here’s a description (lifted from New School):

Marrying German malts and yeast with freshly picked US grown Hallertauer hops (called Abiqua in honor of the Native American name of a local river), Oktoberfresh TM is a once-a-year labor of love for the Zoiglhaus brewers.

Deep orange in color from the Munich malt, which provides a rich and distinctive aroma, Oktoberfresh starts malty, but ends crisp and refreshing. The wet Abiqua hops lend a mild spiciness and delicate floral note to this Autumn brew.

5.5%, 17 IBUs. Abiqua (Hallertauer). Packaged on August 26, I drank this one September 22. My notes:

Dark copper, Märzen-colored. First thought—aroma is similar in profile to my Santiam fresh hop ale, which makes sense as Santiam also has Hallertauer heritage. A bright “wet” chlorophyll note with a really good bread crust character in the aroma. Great malt flavor as well, with a clean, fresh clover note with a hint of peppercorn spice. Just great all around.

Boss Rambler Beer Club – Stokes Fresh, Fresh Hop Lager

Another fresh hop lager, this is a version of Boss Rambler’s Stokes Lager (a light American lager) using fresh Willamette hops from Goschie Farms. I’m honestly on the fence about the label design, which is eye-catching and clean but it’s a direct lift of Marlboro cigarettes which skirts possible intellectual property issues but also seems an odd product to lift inspiration from.

It’s 5% ABV, no IBUs specified. Canned on September 7, I drank it September 23. My notes:

Crystal clear and golden colored. Floral and herbal nose, light, with a touch of black tea leaf spice. Nicely spicy-fresh flavors here that has lupulin powder, a bit of damp forest floor earthiness, decent mellow bitterness. Fairly light overall, a touch minty, and a decent light lager base.