Inhopsicating

I’ve always maintained that when I’ve got a beer itch my preferred lollyshop is FreshChoice Nelson and it now appears I’m not alone with this hoppinion as now confirmed by SOBA that the best off license in the Nelson region is FreshChoice Nelson! (SOBA awards 2013).

 

I’m often in aforementioned shop perving at their multitude of refreshing choices deciding which one to cure my hopaholic itch. What is it about hops that makes beer, beer? Could it be that because this herbaceous climbing plant is a close relative to the cannabis plant, and I’ve actually got some deeper underlying craving than previously thought? Nah, not me, I don’t have a drinking problem,,, unless of course the beers run out!

 

The best craft beers for big hops are arguably the yanks who developed the citrus and piney hop varieties and then pushed the limits of IBU’s. IBU’s are code for international bittering units and sometimes listed on the label. The higher the number, the more your tongue curls and the more that hairs will grow on your chest, on the inside!

 

One flamboyant example of massive IBU beer is ‘Hop Juice’ from Left Coast Brewing on the left coast of America. This beer has a massive 82 IBU’s, close to the theoretical 100 limit of bitterness. It tastes like freshly squeezed hop flowers with the classical American piney citrus hop aromas and taste sensations, and a catahopic bitterness that will shrivel your tongue faster than a cold shower.

 

Now here’s the thing with IBU’s, ‘Trestles’ also a Left Coaster, has 92 IBU’s but doesn’t taste as bitter as ‘Hop Juice’ but instead is soothed with a counterbalanced lingering caramellow malt yet still retains shiploads of piney citrusy hop flavors.

 

Then again, ‘Asylum’, their Belgium Style Tripel Ale, comes in at a paltry 27 IBU’s, gets its flavor not from hops but from yeast where they impart notes of any fruit colored orange including pumpkin and when the 11.8abv evaporates off your tongue tastes rambunctiously refreshing. 

 

Hopfully the reader is now an IBUer, (Informed Beer User)

 

Denis ‘hoppy daze’ Cooper