Double Mountain Brewery Blog

Here Comes the Killer

September 29, 2009 on 1:56 pm | In Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Our Killer Green Fresh Hop IPA has become an annual ritual, with a cultish following and all the attendant hub-bub. For us it’s an excuse to get to know our hop-growing brothers a little better (i.e. we bring them beer) and to do something different. Which is always good.

Hops are fragile when picked, due to their high moisture content, so they either need to be dried immediately or tossed in a brewkettle somewhere. Since the harvest season is only a couple of weeks long, that gives us a pretty narrow window. We are so lucky to have such close access to hops, and the whole fresh-hop phenomenon is a big example of that. So we try to make it count.

This year’s KG features hundreds of pounds of wet Brewer’s Gold Hops from Sodbuster Farms in the heart of the Willamette Valley. The fresh hops were supplemented with some conventional Simcoe, Warrior and Summit hops in the kettle, and some more in dry-hopping. It’s kicking with all the fruity, floral, supremely resinous hop character that a beer called “Killer Green” should have. A big amber-hued malt base provides backbone, and with no lack of strength either. 7.2% ABV, 85 BU.

We’re throwing this year’s Killer Green Release Party this Wednesday (9/30) from 5-9pm at Concordia Ale House, 3276 NE Killingsworth, Portland. Charlie will be on hand to raffle off t-shirts and talk about beer, as usual.

If you miss the gig, don’t fret — we brewed 140 kegs worth this year, so it should be well available on tap via the usual suspects in Portland, and in Hood River at our Taproom well into November. KG will also be flowing at the Hood River Hops Fest this Saturday, Oct 3, and at the Fresh Hop Tastivals in Portland (Oaks Park, Sat 10/10) and Eugene (downtown, Sat 10/17).

Keep an eye out for another super-limited fresh hop ale from DM, codenamed Fresh Vienna, in the next week or two.