Is fresher better?

​Every year at the end of hop harvesting season (a.k.a. the end of summer), many breweries celebrate by brewing up a beer with fresh, wet hops. Fresh hops are less concentrated than dried hops traditionally used when brewing and provide a distinctive “grassy and green” flavor profile.
This year, to celebrate the end of the harvest, we used 23 pounds of Vista hops from our buddies at Crooked Yard Hops in Bozeman to create a unique brew on our one barrel pilot system. These hops lent a tropical papaya flavor that balanced out grassy aromas, leading to a crisp, refreshing drink. The fresh hop characteristics really shine through in this brew.
Named Yes, Chef! This brew came out the last weekend The Springs was open this summer. If you weren’t able to try it then, we saved some aside for Montana Fresh Hop Festival Oct. 14 at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds. Check it out!