Na Zdravi !: Experimental Hop IPA

Sunday, May 13, 2018

Experimental Hop IPA

Sierra Nevada Brewing (Chico, CA)
"Heavy hops, light haziness. The new style in IPAs is to highlight heavy hop aroma without intense bitterness, and this lightly hazy IPA does just that. It features the native-grown FZMR2 hop varietal, known for its mango-forward flavors, as well as HBC598, 438, and NeoMexicanus. The result is a danky, juicy, citrusy IPA with big flavor and aroma and low bitterness."

My clear favorite out of the variety pack.
Pleasantly bitter. Complex with subdued grapefruit finish that is delightful.

ABV 6.7%,IBU 58
Hops: Experimental Hops 598, 438 & Neo Mexicanus FZMR2
Malt: Two-row Pale, Maris Otter, Oats, Wheat
Yeast: Ale Yeast

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.