Oktoberfest may be hitting the taps and shelves, but we can’t forget about fresh hop beer season. An absolute highlight of the craft beer year, this is when breweries race to craft beers using freshly harvested hops, rather than the usual dried hops. What makes this season so special? The vibrant aromas and bold flavors you just can’t get any other time of year. Keep reading as we break down why craft beer enthusiasts are counting down to this year’s fresh hop beer season.
What Is Fresh Hop Beer Season?
Fresh hop beer season is the period that immediately follows the hop harvest – typically late August through early October. During this time, breweries use freshly picked hops within hours of harvest to create limited-release beers with bright, herbal, floral, and citrus-forward flavors that capture the freshness of the harvest season.
Why Is Fresh Hop Beer Season Only Once a Year?
Unlike malt or yeast, hops have an extremely short window between harvest and spoilage. That’s why most hops harvested every year are dried and processed into pellets so breweries can brew year-round.
During the six-week fresh hop beer season, however, breweries can skip that process and brew with wet hops that still have their natural moisture. Because hops must be used within 24-36 hours of harvest, brewers must carefully coordinate with hop growers to transport freshly picked hops directly from the field to the brewery.
This narrow timeline makes fresh hop beers one of the most seasonal beers out there. Once the harvest ends, breweries have to wait until next year’s crop before they can brew another true fresh hop beer.
What Makes Fresh Hop Beer Different?
We’ve found that many people assume fresh hop beers simply taste hoppier. While they certainly showcase hop character, they actually deliver something more nuanced.
Fresh hops retain delicate aromatic compounds that change or diminish during the typical drying process. Brewers capitalize on those fresh-picked characteristics to create beers with:
– Bright herbal aromas
– Fresh-cut grass notes
– Citrus zest
– Pine and evergreen character
– Floral aromas
– Earthy complexity
– A softer, greener hop profile
Every brewery interprets this style differently depending on hop varieties, brewing techniques, and recipe development. That’s what makes exploring fresh hop beers so exciting.
How Are Fresh Hop Beers Made?
Brewing with fresh hops takes careful planning and exceptional timing. It may seem like brewers can just substitute fresh hops into a standard recipe, but it’s not quite that simple.
Fresh hops contain significantly more water than pellet hops, so brewers have to adjust their recipes to reach the right balance of bitterness and aroma.
The process for brewing this seasonal style generally looks like:
– Hop farms harvest mature hops.
– The hops travel immediately to participating breweries.
– Brewers incorporate the fresh hops while they still contain their natural moisture.
– Fermentation begins shortly afterward.
– The finished beer reaches taprooms while its fresh hop character remains at its peak.
What Do Fresh Hop Beers Taste Like?
Each fresh hop beer has its own unique taste, but they all share the same general characteristics. The recently harvested hops impart flavors and aromas such as fresh herbs, pine needles, wildflowers, earthy spice, fresh greenery, citrus zest, and even subtle melon or tropical fruit notes.
The hop variety also heavily influences the beer. Cascade, Citra, Centennial, Mosaic, and Simcoe all add their own distinctive personality to the fresh hop beer season.
Which Beer Styles Feature Fresh Hops?
Fresh hop IPAs receive most of the attention, but freshly harvested hops are used in several other styles, too. You can also find fresh hops in pale ales, pilsners, lagers, amber ales, and blonde ales.
Many breweries also create one-time specialty beers available only during harvest season. Once those kegs run dry, they don’t return until the following year.
Why Do Craft Beer Fans Love Fresh Hop Beer Season So Much?
In our experience, craft beer fans love fresh hop season because it gives them the perfect excuse to try new breweries, compare recipes, and appreciate how seasonal ingredients impact the final product.
The season also highlights just how much craft beer is built on community. Without the close relationship between hop growers, brewers, distributors, and local craft beer fans, there wouldn’t be a fresh hop beer season.
When Does Fresh Hop Beer Season Start?
The exact timing depends on regional hop harvests, but fresh hop beer season typically runs from late August into early October. Breweries release beers as they complete production, so new, fresh hop beers tend to appear weekly throughout the season. The style is notoriously hard to find, so if you see it on tap at your local Growler Guys, don’t wait to try it.
How to Enjoy the Season
New to fresh hop beers? Follow these tips from our certified Beer Stewards.
– Try several breweries to compare different brewing approaches.
– Ask questions about the featured hop varieties.
– Sample flights to try multiple fresh hop beers side by side.
– Pair them with burgers, barbecue, spicy foods, pizza, or sharp cheeses.
Where Can You Find Fresh Hop Beers?
Because fresh hop beers are only available for a short time, finding them typically requires visiting tap houses that feature seasonal craft beer rotations, like The Growler Guys. Our extensive rotating tap list features limited releases from outstanding breweries – and that includes fresh hop beers.
Our selections change frequently, so every visit is a chance to find something new. Whether you’re trying your very first fresh hop beer or you have the start of the season marked on the calendar, we’re here to help you make the most of fresh hop beer season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is fresh hop beer the same as wet hop beer?
Most breweries use the terms interchangeably because both describe beer brewed with freshly harvested, undried hops shortly after harvest.
How long does the fresh hop beer season last?
Fresh hop beer season typically runs from late August through early October, though availability depends on hop harvest timing and individual breweries’ releases.
Why are fresh hop beers only available for a short time?
Brewers can only use fresh hops immediately after harvest. Once the hop harvest ends, breweries have to wait until the following year’s crop to brew authentic fresh hop beers.
Do fresh hop beers taste more bitter?
Not necessarily. Many fresh hop beers emphasize fresh herbal, floral, citrus, and green flavors rather than increased bitterness.
Raise a Glass to Fresh Hops at The Growler Guys
At The Growler Guys, we look forward to fresh hop beer season every year. If you’ve never experienced a fresh hop beer, this seasonal tradition is a great chance to broaden your palate and find a new favorite. Stop in to your local Growler Guys today for a pint, flight, or growler fill and savor the freshest flavors hops have to offer.
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