Hop Nouveau

As a point of order, it’s important to note that now is the time of year when the weakest of wines will have its day. If its youthful booze you’re looking for, turn your eyes away from tired Beaujolais and pick up a wet hopped IPA.
When it comes to IPA’s we like to think we’re completely in the know. We’ve tried literally every incarnation of the recipe we can get our hands on from humble interpretations of the dustily old world, to gigantic and brutal booze monsters from northern California. Over the last few months, however, there have been a number of IPAs brewed in a different style than one might usually associate with our favorite beer. From Bridgeport to Sierra Nevada, brewers have been producing what’s known as “wet IPA’s,” to take advantage of the yearly hop harvests in Washington State. These beers quite literally turn the IPA style on its head. Historically, British brewers pumped up the jam on their ales with more hops and alcohol to deter spoilage on long trips to relieve imperial soldiers in India. Instead, the hops get picked and rushed to a different southland to quickly be pickled in a tart and delicate brew.
Port Brewing’s High Tide IPA, was one of the first wet IPA’s sampled by your favorite beer geeks. After the holy shit a new Port brew gimmie-gimmies subsided in the aisles of Cap’n Cork, we were slightly concerned. Yes, this was a new beer from one of our favorite brewers. Yes, it was an IPA…but the alcohol percentage was so low…
The concern over the hooch levels were quickly overridden by our first tastes and a little more education about the brewing style. There was an astoundingly clean variety of hop flavors, and the 6% abv was just present enough to let the grassy, medicinal final flavors of fall levitate on the liquid. The mouth feel had a super soothing feeling, like lemonade does when bought from enterprising six year olds. While this would be immaculate in the summer heat, this fruit of the fall hop harvest offers the perfect foil to ciders and pumpkin ales. Super savory and sweet, this beer would be perfect for a Thanksgiving feast (if your hoard it in your fridge), or a slice of your favorite pizza in the park. It’s a beer that has blissfully bright and clean flavors, but its delicacy means that it won’t fight with your food.
Dairy Pairy: Selles Sur Cher-an ash ripened goat cheese from central France.
Soundtrack: Jesus and Mary Chain “You trip me up”