Fresh hop (also known as wet hop) beers are unique to this time of year. They are made with fresh or wet hops, harvested straight off of the bines, rather than dried hops which are used the rest of the year. The only time to get fresh hops in the Northern Hemisphere is August through September and they need to be used within 48 hours, but most brewers would suggest using them within 24 hours. Although they can be any style, most fresh hop beers are IPAs or Pale Ales to highlight the fresh hop flavor. Regardless of the style, fresh hop beers strive to highlight the hops’ most delicate aromas, which are often compared to freshly cut grass.
We’ve gathered a list of member breweries that are currently offering them. These beers are best consumed fresh, so get out and try something new at your local brewery, or check out Joyride’s Fresh Hop Festival on Sept. 24 which includes a massive tapping of fresh hop beers from more than ten breweries, including some of those listed below.
Comrade Brewing Company – Fresh Hop Superpower IPA
Fresh Hop Superpower IPA will be available on draft Sept. 16. For this beer, Comrade brewed their flagship Superpower IPA with hundreds of pounds of wet hops provided by Billy Goat Hop Farms in Montrose, CO. This beer, which is draft only and available in the taproom and select accounts in the Denver metro area, is also a 2014 and 2015 Great American Beer Festival Silver Medal winner.
Elevation Beer Company – Hop Kid
In honor of Billy Goat Hop Farm where 350 pounds of fresh Copper hops were grown and harvested, the ‘Kid’ referenced is a baby billy goat. At 6.5% ABV, Hop Kid pours hazy and has aromas of white peach, lemon pith, and fresh-cut grass, as well as notes of fruit punch, citrus, and pepper that hit the palate. Hop Kid, which will be available in six-pack cans and draft, will be released in early September throughout Colorado.
FlyteCo Brewing
FlyteCo Brewing will release its fresh hop beer the week of September 12. Every year, aviation-themed Denver’s FlyteCo Brewing and their licensed pilot owners take flight to pick up fresh hops – literally – for fresh hop season. They travel on small passenger planes from Erie, Colorado, travel to Billy Goat hop farm in Montrose and back to brew at FlyteCo – all before noon. It’s the freshest wet hop beer a beer lover could ask for.
Joyride Brewing – Fresh Budz Wet Hop IPA
This beer includes a blend of Colorado-grown Cascade, Chinook, and Comet hops to provide floral, citrus, pine, and tropical fruit flavors on top of a Root Shoot malt base. This beer will be available just in time for Joyride’s Fresh Hop Festival on Sept. 24.
Joyride Brewing – Wet Hopped Distilsner Colorado Pilsner
Joyride’s first wet-hopped Pilsner is the wet-hopped version of Distilsner, a collab Joyride originally did with Leopold Brothers. Aside from making fantastic whiskey, Leopold also has an impeccable floor malting facility in Denver that creates malt for brewers to use. Their grain adds soft bread, cracker, and honey, while Montrose grown Crystal hops provide wildflower and a black pepper-like herbal character. The result is a wet-hopped Pilsner that’s approved by distillers and brewers alike. This beer will make its appearance around Joyride’s Fresh Hop Festival on Sept. 24. Stay tuned to their social media for exact release date.
WeldWerks Brewing Company – Cryo Fresh Hop Juicy Bits
Often the ones to do things a bit differently, WeldWerks is bucking fresh hop tradition and instead, using frozen whole cone hops from Yakima Chief Hops in Yakima, Washington to put a spin on their ever-popular Juicy Bits. This 6.7% ABV IPA is brewed with all Cryo fresh hops and will be available at WeldWerks’ on draft and in cans at the taproom on Sept. 23 and within their distribution footprint shortly after.
Mountain Tap Brewery – Picking Fresh Hops
Available now, this is a draft only beer available at Mountain Tap Brewery. This special wet hop beer features all-Colorado hops from Billy Goat Hop Farm in Montrose, including 77 fresh pounds of Magnum, Chinook and Comet. It’s got a juicy hop aroma with grapefruit, chive and green onion notes.
Call to Arms Brewing – More Like Bore-O-Phyll Fresh Hop IPA
Call to Arms Brewing’s More Like Bore-O-Phyll is a Fresh-Hopped West Coast IPA featuring Amarillo hops from Crosby Hops flown in from Oregon. The gold medal winner of the 2018 World Beer Cup in the Fresh or Wet Hop category, More Like Bore-O-Phyll features a bright burst of tropical citrus and grapefruit notes through the use of Amarillo fresh hops, and finishes dry to the taste.
Call to Arms Brewing – Janet Reno’s Dance Party Hazy Fresh Hop IPA
What began as a flagship Session IPA for Call to Arms Brewing has recently gotten a glow-up. After much experimentation and receiving feedback from staff, the CtA team made the decision to evolve their iconic Janet Reno’s Dance Party into a Hazy IPA, and now goes a step further by getting the fresh hop treatment for the first time. Bursting forth with tropical fruit-forward flavors through the use of Amarillo fresh hops and a mellow easygoing profile much like its namesake public servant, the new and improved Dance Party is a bright new take on a familiar brand.
Broken Compass Brewing – 2022 Wet Hop Pale Ale
Available now, this beer has 75 pounds of homegrown Colorado hops from Montrose, CO. Broken Compass’ annual fresh hop brew also features 25 pounds each of Cascade, Copper and Chinook hops that were freshly picked from the vine and went straight into our boil kettle, imparting the most aromatic, palate-punching hop flavor around.
Fiction Beer Company – Wet Hop Off Script Pilsner
Fiction added 55 pounds of Crystal wet hops and 50 pounds of Cascade wet hops from Billy Goat Hop Farm, changing the meaning of off script in a whole new way with the bright fresh citrus aroma from the hops with the crispiest Pilsner. Stay tuned to the brewery’s social media for release information.
Jagged Mountain Craft Brewery – Fresh Hop Double IPA with Laws Whiskey
Coming out of Jagged Mountain’s pilot system, this Double IPA features 100% Cascade fresh hops and Laws Whiskey honey. Look for the release in mid-September. This small batch release will be sure to run out!
New Terrain Brewing Company – Fresh Prints 2022
New Terrain made the short trip to Voss Farms Colorado in Arvada to hand-pick fresh Chinook hops straight off the bine. After gathering 115 pounds, the whole cones were transported back to the brewery to create a dank, wet-hopped West Coast-Style IPA that will live an impression like footprints. This 7.1% ABV beer is available now on draft and 32-ounce crowlers to-go at the brewery.
