Just in time for cooler temperatures, Great Divide will bottle its fall seasonal beer, Fresh Hop Pale Ale. The September hop harvest is a once-a-year opportunity to brew with fresh hops, also called “wet hops.” Given the perishable nature of just-harvested hop cones, they are shipped overnight to Great Divide shortly after harvest. The morning of the scheduled hop delivery in Denver, Great Divide’s brewers begin brewing Fresh Hop and are ready to hop the beer just as the fresh hops are delivered.
Using fresh hops is a big endeavor, requiring four to five times the volume of hops compared to the usual process of using pelletized hops. This complex process brings impressive results: Fresh Hop is an American-Style Pale Ale with moderate hop bitterness marked by a unique and intensely grassy hop flavor and aroma. Fresh Hop is a superbly refreshing, medium bodied, light-copper colored pale ale.
Beer Ratings and Reviews:
[1] Review by oh6gdx from Vaasa, Finland who has tried this beer once. (5/30/2008 1:57:42 AM)
"Bottled. Golden colour with particles floatingt around, mediumsized white head. Aroma is sweet fruity hops along with some nectary hints. Flavour is quite much the same, but does get some mild glueish sweetness as it warms up. "
Aroma:
7/10
Appearance:
6/10
Mouthfeel:
6/10
Flavor:
6/10
Overall:
6/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.1)
Sampled: Bottle
Value of this beer for its style: Not Sure
[2] Review by Suds McDuff from Suds City, AleTown, USA who has tried this beer once. (5/3/2008 8:40:23 AM)
"Lots of pine and american hops ... no alcohol detected ... smooth as a new bowling ball... this is an IPA right?? no APA here ... it actually tastes fresh with a great bitter backbone..."
Aroma:
8/10
Appearance:
8/10
Mouthfeel:
8/10
Flavor:
8/10
Overall:
8/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(4)
Sampled: Forced Draught Sample Size: 16oz @ $4 Unit Cost: $4 per Pint
[3] Review by changeup45 from Orlando, Florida, USA who has tried this beer a couple times. (3/17/2008 5:45:14 PM)
"This is a really good beer. A murky darker shade of orange, not a big head but still some nice sticky lacing. Fruity hop aroma and potent for a Pale Ale. Grapefruit hoppy flavor, slightly sweet maltiness, which sneaks out more as it warms, bitter and a little dry. Nicely balanced. A lot of flavor and a lot of hops for a Pale Ale, which seems like it could be an IPA. Perhaps Great Divide put an IPA in a Pale Ale bottle so we'd be shocked at the flavor. Whatever, it worked, this might be the best Pale Ale I've ever had. Re-rate 11/2/2008. 2008 batch. Amber color and pours with a thick off-white head. Great retention and lots of lacing. Aroma is hoppy pine and some malt in there too. Taste seems a little more citrusy/floral hops with sweet malts. Really solid beer but I think I rated it a little too high initially. Significant price increase for 2008 too. "
Aroma:
8/10
Appearance:
9/10
Mouthfeel:
8/10
Flavor:
8/10
Overall:
8/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(4.1)
Sampled: Bottle Sample Size: 22oz @ $3.99 Unit Cost: $2.9 per Pint
[4] Review by ante from Stockholm, Sweden who has tried this beer once. (2/5/2008 2:49:48 PM)
"Clear pale amber with a rich rocky white foam. Big hop aroma of grapefruit and lychee. Hoppy flavour of grass, grapefruit and lychee with a a subtle sweetness of peaches and cookies. Medium-bodied with a creamy mouthfeel. Long bitter finish of lychee and grapefruit."
Aroma:
8/10
Appearance:
8/10
Mouthfeel:
8/10
Flavor:
8/10
Overall:
8/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(4)
Sampled: Bottle
Value of this beer for its style: Not Sure
[5] Review by Chef Chad from Grand Junction, CO, USA who has tried this beer a couple times. (12/14/2007 6:21:05 PM)
"This is a fantastic Beer. Pours a nice creamy off white head that last. Amazing Citrus and Hoptastic Aroma on the nose. A nice smooth mouthfeel that most pale ales can’t pull off. Flavor is citrus and Hops. Delicious Delicious Delicious"
Aroma:
9/10
Appearance:
10/10
Mouthfeel:
10/10
Flavor:
9/10
Overall:
10/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(4.8)
Sampled: Forced Draught Sample Size: 16oz @ $4 Unit Cost: $4 per Pint
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(3.1)
