Na Zdravi !: Three Flowers IPA

Friday, December 22, 2017

Three Flowers IPA

"3 Flowers IPA is a straw-colored Rye IPA. The three flowers referred to are Citra, Cascade, and Chinook hops, which are cast into the brew liberally, and contribute a lovely citrusy, floral aroma and a firm yet balancing bitterness. Malted rye and flaked rye, gently added to the grist of this refreshing brew, bestow an engaging dry spiciness and luscious mouthfeel upon the imbiber."

Plenty of hop aroma. Sharp, somewhat bitter initial bite. Lots of citrus but the pine is certainly there too.Very floral, very earthy. Has a musty taste that is not unpleasant.
I'm a fan of rye beers. Good, very good.

6.6% ABV

Na Zdravi!

A 10-second take.
Not really reviews, just my way to keep track of the beers I've tried.

My mother's family is Czech. They emigrated from Bohemia and settled in Nebraska in the mid-1800s.
They were from the region that included the town Pilzen (Pilsen) where a brewery called Měšťanský pivovar Plzeň, now Pilsner Urquell (Plzeňský Prazdroj in Czech), started brewing a uniquely Bohemian-style beer we now know as pilsner.
So, as I raise a glass in honor of my Bohemian roots ...

Na Zdravi! (to your health).

Hops?

A "hop" is the cone shaped resinous flower of the female hop plant. It is used in brewing to add bitterness, flavor, aroma, and stability depending on when it is added.

Hops are one of the 4 basic ingredients of beer although they are not esential in the brewing process. The are used simply to add flavor and complexity to the brew.
Double and even triple IPA's feature an extreme amount of hops, and an ABV to match.
Noble Hops - The traditional varieties of hops that were used to make early European beers. Medieval brewers used Hallertau, Saaz, Spalt, and/or Tettnang hops. All are from Germany except Saaz from the Czech Republic (Žatec in Czech). All are still used today.