Ninkasi Brewing Releases Two Fresh Hop Beers

We are now in the midst of September so more and more of our Pacific Northwest fresh hop beers continue to be released. This is such a wonderful time of year for those of us in Oregon and Washington. We are very fortunate to have a plethora of fresh hop beers at our disposal. Ninkasi Brewing Company is no exception with their upcoming release of two fresh hop beers, Total Crystalation and Hop Fraiche.

Total Crystalation returns once again using their highly popular Total Domination IPA recipe and adding in 500 pounds of fresh Crystal hops from Sodbusters Farm in Salem, OR. Total Crystalation will only be available on draft throughout Oregon and limited availabilities in Washington and California.

Hop Fraiche is their new fresh hop pale ale that is brewed with 500 pounds of fresh Sterling hops from Goschie Farms in Silverton, OR. Hop Fraiche will only be availble on draft within the state of Oregon.

For those of you lucking enough to be in the Southern Willamette Valley this Friday, Ninkasi will be tapping the first Hop Fraiche keg with our brewers and hop grower Gayle Goschie from 5:30pm to 7:00pm in the Ninkasi Tasting Room at 272 Van Buren St., Eugene, OR 97402.

Press Release:

EUGENE, Ore.—Sept. 17, 2013—Ninkasi Brewing Company releases two fresh-hopped beers to its Rare & Delicious (R&D) Series, Total Crystalation and Hop Fraiche. Available mid-September throughout Oregon with limited quantities available in Washington and California, these beers capture the most loved qualities of hops at their ultimate point of perfection.

“We use fresh-harvest hops picked the same day they go in the lauter tun,” says Jamie Floyd, co-owner and founding brewer of Ninkasi. “Every year we make Total Crystalation which takes our Total Domination recipe and finishes it with 500 pounds of fresh Crystal hops, and a second fresh-hopped beer crafted as our tribute to the harvest.”

To ensure the hops remain at their highest quality, Ninkasi’s team of brewers travelled to two local farms to select hops for each brew. Less than 80 miles from the brewery, the team harvested 1,500 pounds of fresh Crystal hops from Sodbusters Farm in Salem, Ore. to produce three batches of Total Crystalation and 500 pounds of fresh Sterling hops from Goschie Farms in Silverton, Ore. for a single batch of Hop Fraiche.

“Over the years we have built great relationships with the farmers who cultivate our hops,” explains Floyd. “Fresh hop beers bring us together; we travel to the farms to select the hops and honor the harvest by spending time to see the hard work that goes into growing one of our most-loved ingredients.”

Total Crystalation
Style: Fresh-Hopped IPA
Series: Rare & Delicious Series
ABV: 6.7
IBU: 65
Starting Gravity: 1065
Malt: 2-Row Pale, Munich, Carahell
Hops: Summit, Amarillo, Crystal (fresh picked!)
Available: Draft only
Distribution: Oregon, and limited availabilities in Washington and California
URL: www.ninkasibrewing.com/total-crystalation

Description: Total Crystalation is our dedication to the harvest and one of our most-loved ingredients – hops! Following our Total Domination IPA recipe, we add hops as normal for the first two additions. Instead of adding a final addition to the kettle, we run the wort through 500 pounds of fresh-picked Crystal hops in the lauter tun. Using hops literally plucked straight from the vine a few hours beforehand, this beer is super hoppy for super happy harvest times!

Tasting Notes: Total Crystalation has even more citrusy, floral hop aroma, and big hop flavor than Total Domination IPA, which is balanced with a richness imparted by Carahell and Munich malts. This beer is a big flavorful Northwest IPA that maintains its drinkability, and as such has garnered great admiration from the novice craft drinker and the seasoned hop head alike.

Hop Fraiche
Style: Fresh Hop Pale Ale
Series: Rare & Delicious Series
ABV: 5.2
IBU: 40
Starting Gravity: 1054
Malt: 2-Row Pale, Cara-Red, Munich, Red Wheat
Hops: Sterling (fresh picked!)
Available: Draft only
Distribution: Oregon
URL: www.ninkasibrewing.com/hop-fraiche

Description: Capturing hops at their peak of freshness, Hop Fraiche was crafted with 500 pounds of fresh Sterling hops grown at Goschie Farms in Silverton, a mere 70 miles from our brewery. Harvested literally hours before being added to the lauter tun, our brewing team took the hops from farm to fermentation all in a days’ time. These hops possess all the deliciousness of hop harvest season, the intoxicating aroma and lupulin levels sure to make hearts putter. It’s Hop Fraiche!

About Ninkasi Brewing Company
Founded in 2006 by Jamie Floyd and Nikos Ridge, Ninkasi Brewing Company continues to grow from its first batch of Total Domination IPA, to a 55-barrel brewing system located in Eugene, Ore. Ninkasi’s Flagship beers—Total Domination IPA, Tricerahops Double IPA, Believer Double Red, Oatis Oatmeal Stout, and Vanilla Oatis Oatmeal Stout—are sold throughout Oregon, Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana, Washington, and British Columbia. Committed to community support and giving, Ninkasi’s Beer Is Love program offers in-kind donations and support for organizations throughout its footprint.