Na Zdravi !: Hop Solo

Monday, January 28, 2019

Hop Solo

"A showcase for Crystal hops. Here’s to the lone wolves, the misfits, the outsiders—those who prefer to stand on their own. Hop Solo IPA is brewed start to finish with only Crystal hops, allowing their spicy, woodsy, one-of-a-kind character to shine through."

Very earthy. Herbal, some pine and a bit peppery. Not bad, not bad at all.

ABV 5.5%, IBU 55
Hops: Crystal
Malt: Acidulated, C-35, Pale two-row, 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.