My documentation of this year’s fresh hop beer haul continues, with reviews for beers from Fremont Brewing (Seattle), Ruse Brewing (Portland), and Steeplejack Brewing (also Portland). Let’s go!

Fremont Brewing – Field To Ferment Fresh Hop Pale Ale

Fremont’s fresh hop beers are always a favorite in the Pacific Northwest, and Field to Ferment leads the pack. Brewed with fresh Centennial hops, it’s 6% ABV with 50 IBUs; the description says:

Brewing is the craft of blending science with artistry then introducing the mystical. Field to Ferment exemplifies this adventure and represents a colossal collaboration between the brewery and our hop farmers. Nothing is fresher, nothing is better for a brewer. So, please do enjoy this beer absolutely fresh, and enjoy the adventure this beer represents…Because Fresh Hop Beer Matters!

Appearance: Golden pale, with some unfiltered haziness, and a slightly off-white head.

Smell: Wet field greens with orange marmalade and a spicy lupulin note—fresh hop tea. A bit mellow but does remind me of pulling fresh hops off the bine and smelling them.

Taste: Solid spicy hop flavor with fresh oak leaves, birch bark, and a green bite that reminds of my own (yard) hops when I pick and chew on them. Good character all around that’s peppery with some green fruits and a touch of bok choy.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with a pop of green spiciness bordering on a hop burn character.

Overall: It’s a tasty one, with a good fresh hop expression.

Ruse Brewing – Solar Ships Fresh Hop IPA

Portland’s Ruse has largely made a name for itself brewing hazy, New England style IPAs, but Solar Ships is a straight west coast (or non-hazy) IPA; the fresh hop version was brewed with fresh Centennials, and it was the first of the brewery’s fresh hop beers this year. The description on Untappd says:

Hey look, it’s our first fresh hop beer of the season! Solar Ships is brewed with CTZ and Simcoe alongside a whole lot of sticky fresh Centennial from Goschie Farms. We are super excited for this classic West Coast IPA to be the first of many beers showcasing beautiful, world renowned, Oregon grown hops.

It’s 7% ABV.

Appearance: Nice copper color, bright and clear. White head.

Smell: Fruity with fresh tobacco and a big orange nose—like a bowl of fresh oranges with a handful of fresh hop flowers thrown in.

Taste: Good IPA malt/bitterness combo with an earthy peppery fresh note; there’s some orange zest and a bitter dandelion leaf. Peppercorn husk; bitter greens with an herbal note like basil, maybe. Straightforward.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied, with an herbal finish.

Overall: It’s nice with a good expression of Centennial hops.

Steeplejack Brewing – Fresh Hop Strata Tropical Pilsner

Steeplejack is still pretty new (just over a year old) and I’ve just started trying their beers this year; the brewery released a couple of fresh hop beers this year, and I was happy to see this Fresh Hop Tropical Pilsner as a nice change of style pace from the usual pale and IPA.

It’s brewed with fresh Strata hops, obviously, and is 6.2% ABV. I didn’t find a description though.

Appearance: Pale gold, unfiltered, with a billowy white head.

Smell: Slightly sweaty with melon notes and a whiff of dank cannabis. Big fresh Strata markers and it’s bright and punchy.

Taste: Herbal musky notes with melon rind and dank catty flavors that kick a bit of spice and a bit of tropical fruit skin. The underlying pilsner has a nice malty, bready quality with solid bitterness and a nice toothiness with the fresh flavors.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body with backend spice and decent dry finish.

Overall: Hits the 2022 fresh Strata hop notes and is a nice drinker.