Our annual fresh hop beer has been a staple since it was first released in 2011, and was solidified as a bona fide winner in 2017 when it pulled a bronze at the Great American Beer Festival. Since the original brewery’s humble sourcing of local San Diego County fresh hops to our newer grown-up “Farm-to-Kettle” procurement, the goal is the same – get those hops from the bine to the brewery in the swiftest way possible. Fortunately for us, our Idaho brewery affords us proximity to some of the country’s top hop farms, leading to some spectacularly fresh results.
“I think there is a misconception that all fresh hop beers are created equal, when in fact there are varying degrees of freshness. The moment those flowers are collected off the bines, they start oxidizing. Even when handled properly, they still need to be boxed and (hopefully) overnighted to their destination. That’s risky. We don’t have the same issues because we are driving them from the field to the brew kettle in a matter of hours. What that means is that you are getting the freshest product possible, and it shows.”
Chris Baker - Director of Brewing Operations, Mother Earth Brew Co.
Our ‘22 batch of Fresh as it Gets features Citra hops, well known for its Citrus, grapefruit, lime, and tropical fruits notes, which are further intensified when brewed with fresh vs. dried cones. The malt bill, appropriately, is just two grain varieties deep, combined with a neutral ale yeast strain – a perfect combo to lay the foundation for the star of the show - fresh Citra flowers.
WATCH THE FULL FARM-TO-KETTLE PROCESS
Fresh as it Gets is available in 16oz cans and on draft at our Idaho tap rooms and rolls out to distribution over the coming weeks. Not in Idaho? No problem. Use our Beer Finder to search near you, but give it a week or two to update. Technology, right?!