Sunday, October 18, 2009

Casey Found Hoppyness at the Ice Harbor Brewery

I just got back from a trip down to Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Richland, Pasco) in southeastern Washington to remodel my daughter, Kelly's, main bathroom.  In addition to lots of work and hanging with my daughters, Kelly and Samantha, and granddaughter Jazmin, I got to visit Ice Harbor Brewery in Kennewick.  As luck would have it, head brewer Rob was enjoying a brew after a long day.  Rob and Blaze (our son and brewer) hooked up last spring at a brewfest in the Tri-Cities.  Blaze has raved about Ice Harbor's IPA,so I had to stop by and sample some for myself.  I hit the jackpot . . . Rob had on tap a fresh-hopped IPA new to their menu.  Rob explained the use of fresh hops picked from a field in Yakima Valley and put in the kettle within twelve hours of being picked.  This IPA had a very strong lingering aroma of hoppyness.

Rob has been working directly with hop growers that even have their own pelletizing equipment.  It was a great connection to hang with Rob who has been brewing for 20 years.  I gave him a bottle of our Ruud Awakening IPA, Blazing Amber, and Hooligan Stout.  I look forward to hearing his feedback.

Kelly and Jazmin had fun watching me enjoy the beers and my conversation with Rob.  Rob was meeting with a hop farmer and gave me a baggie of fresh hops that smelled just like its direct cousin - Mary Jane.  I thought I was getting high smelling the baggie of hops until Kelly informed me - as she drove me home - the effect was from the five pints I had just consumed.  Rarely do I ever have that much!  Good thing I had already finished putting up all the bathroom tiles.

Back home at our brewery, Blaze and I just tasted his newest brew - an Extreme IPA that wallops a solid 10.5% alcohol.  It hasn't been dry-hopped yet but it already hammers home the bitterness Northwest IPA drinkers love to bathe in.  We're still not settled on the final name of this Extreme IPA, so I challenge you creative types to help us with a few suggestions.  The person that comes up with the final name will probably end up with a few discounted beers and a shirt for your efforts.  Let us know your ideas!   We've also just tested our latest batch of Ruud Awakening IPA which Blaze believes it's the best IPA he's brewed yet.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

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