Gigantic Brewing to Release Four Fresh Hop Beers in 2022

September 7, 2022 PORTLAND, OR – It is the most wonderful time of the year here at Gigantic Brewing Company and we are overjoyed to announce the upcoming releases of four very special Fresh Hop beers to celebrate.  Gigantic is lucky to be located in the Willamette Valley, a short drive away from the freshest, highest quality hops in the country.  We are proud to announce that for each of these fresh hop beers we made the beautiful drive down the valley to the hop farm, then made it back to the brewery with fresh hops from the field and had them in the hop back within two hours.  It simply doesn’t get any fresher than this.

When Gigantic Brewing started, we designed the brewery with whole hops in mind.  As such we have a hop back that is unusually large, it essentially the same size as the kettle.  This makes brewing fresh hop beers simple, efficient, and something that we’re familiar with because we work with whole hops every day.

“Our fresh hop beers showcase our love of the Pacific Northwest.  These beers not only exude our immense pride we take in brewing the beers you love to drink, but showcase the amazing quality our local hop farmers put into their product.  Brewers around the country now make fresh hop beers, but brewers in Oregon have pioneered this style.  It’s what makes brewing in the PNW special,” notes Van Havig

Without further ado, here is the 2022 Gigantic Brewing Fresh Hop release schedule:

Thursday, September 8th: Strata Fresh Hop Hazy IPA
“This is the freshest haze I’ve ever seen” – Ben
Strata is THE Oregon hop – we love it for it’s punchy, juicy, passionfruit flavors and how it lends itself to the hazy style.  This makes it perfect to showcase in a fresh hop hazy beer. Available on draft and in 16.9oz refillable bottles.

Friday, September 9th:  Freshtoberfresh Pilsner
“I actually can’t wait to drink this beer” – Van
This fresh hop pilsner uses Goschie Farm’s Tettnang hops.  It is our Oregon fresh hop interpretation of the modern pale fest beers that have been popular in Germany for the past two decades.  Since this is Oregon, we added more hops, but it is at the base a pilsner made entirely with German malt and proper lager yeast.  Enjoy soft, bready malt characteristics, noticeable floral notes, and a spicy wet hop character. Draft only.

Monday, September 12th:  The French Connection IPA
“It smells like a god damn picker” -Van
When your hop supplier tells you they have a great hookup to work with some French brewers, you say yes.  Why you ask?  Have you ever seen The French Connection?  This beer is going to blast off, absolute dynamite.  Brewed with Brasserie Du Pays Flamand and The Piggy Brewery from France, this is a double fresh hopped IPA.  Together we used Sodbuster Farms fresh Simcoe hops and then dry hopped it with Fresh Cryo Hop Pellets from Yakima Chief Hops, making this quite possibly the first double fresh hopped beer.  Draft only.

Thursday, September 15th:  Sodbusted X: The Simcoelorian IPA
“Damn those little guys are cute” – Ben.
Continuing on our 10 year partnership with Doug Weathers from Sodbuster Farms.  We always wait for him to pick the best of the Simcoe hops to make this beer.   Simcoe is loaded with grapefruit and piney and punchy hop aromas, it works really great in our system and the way we make fresh hop beers.  Some things are a classic because they’re good. Available on draft and in 16.9oz refillable bottles.

The fresh hop beers will be tapped on their release date at both The Gigantic Brewery & Champagne Lounge (5224 SE 26th Ave) and the Robot Room at the Rocket Empire Machine (6935 NE Glisan).  You can also look for these beers on draft and in 16.9oz refillable bottles at finer grocers, bars, bottle shops and bodegas in the Portland metro area and throughout Oregon.

As always, Gigantic beer is packaged in BottleDrop Refillable bottles.  BottleDrop Refillables are sorted, washed, inspected, and delivered back to Oregon’s craft beverage producers to be refilled.  By choosing beverages in refillable bottles, you help keep our air clean, our beaches, parks and roadsides litter-free, promote a circular economy, and set a model for future generations.