Fresh Hop - Indeed Brewing Company

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Indeed's Fresh Hop Ale, fourth release from our newest Minneapolis brewery, their second seasonal. Brewed the same way as Town Hall's Fresh Hop and Surly's Wet, tons of hops, just picked, flown straightaway and dumped into the kettles. In fact, I think this one was brewed the very same day as Surly Wet, if we can go by Facebook posts and such.

It's a clear, golden hue, under a gorgeous, crystal white head, lace-leaving, looking lovely.

Aroma: Ah! Fantastic! Hints of tropical fruits, citrus, pine, and something …well, just beautiful. I'm a devoted hophead, and this is my crank, right here. Ah, glorious humulus lupulus!

Taste: Mmm! Yu-um! There's a special malt, only one, at work here, and it's identified as an Irish Stout malt. Why is the beer so pale and clear, then. There's things I don't fully understand. Someone will inevitably school me, or I'll figure it out, nonetheless. In any case, this Irish malt with the Centennial hops really brings forth nothing less than deliciousness. And at 5% ABV, there's nothing stopping the quaffing. Except the cost. Shipping out tremendous amounts of hops isn't cheap. Nothing good ever is.

It drinks wonderfully, it's lean bodied, full of zest and verve, and spills out nothing but happiness. Nicely bitter, but without any punishment. Damned delicious. Mmmm, I'm in hop-head heaven.

Here's what the brewery says about it: "Our first annual Fresh Hop offering is a sessionable single-malt pale ale brewed with Irish Stout Malt and wet Centennial hops harvested in the Yakima Valley less-than 24-hours before being added to this brew. Join us in celebrating the hop harvest and the beginning of fall." 5% ABV.

Serving type: on-tap

10-09-2012 10:26:38 | More by feloniousmonk

BuckeyeOne

Washington

2.68/5  rDev -30.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Had on tap at the Happy Gnome in St. Paul.

Poured 10 oz. into a tulip a straw color with a decent white head that left a bit of lacing, though it didn't coat the glass. Nothing spectacular.

For a fresh hop ale, this was disappointingly underwhelming in its aroma. Truly I tell you, there was little to no aroma at all. I specifically let it warm a bit after my first olafactory experience and got nothing, even with a healthy whiff. Disappointing.

The taste left much to be desired. No pine, no citrus, no earthiness, no nothing but bitterness. This is one of the most bitter beers I've ever had. This must be what the Mpls homers look for --- all bitter, no flavor (see my review of Masala Mama). This was a waste of some fresh Yakima, Washington hops. It's obvious the brewers think that malt is an offense to a good pale ale. Oh, the humanity. Sub-par.

Good carbonation. Average.

I would not try this again. I get to Mpls now and then, and based on this effort, I would typically not give Indeed Brewing another thought. I will, though, in good faith, expect that they'll get their shit together over time. I'll check them out in a few month and see what's what.

Serving type: on-tap

10-09-2012 03:20:39 | More by BuckeyeOne

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Big thanks to Penguin3200 for the bottle. Bottled 9/18/2012.

Appearance: Pale straw with some slightly darker gold hints. Almost perfectly clear. Head it bright-white, chunky, and loose. Drops to a thin cap with big notches of chunky, fluffy lacing. Moderate retention on the tiny cap.

Smell: Lightly floral with some pine needle. Grapefruit flesh. A touch of tropical fruit. Pale bready malts. Mild spiciness in the background. Cracker like malt snap. Slightly earthy and herbal. Some grass. Nice orange zest in the back. Very delicate and mild.

Taste: Floral. Incredibly floral. Backed by an oily grapefruit and orange zest. Pithy bitterness builds over some delicate malts. Crisp, clean pale malts. Bready, crackers, and earthy. Mild herbal spiciness in the back. Bitterness lingers. Pure Centennial hops.

Mouthfeel: Lighter side of medium on the body. Carbonation is moderate, but lively. Incredibly drinkable with a lingering dryness.

Overall: Clean, fresh hops. Clean, fresh beer.

Crazy amounts of flavor packed in to a super easy drinking pale ale. If Centennial hops aren't your jam, avoid this. If they are, drink this now and get more as soon as possible.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 18:48:09 | More by Goblinmunkey7

JackieTH

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle from the brewery. Stamped "filled Sep 18th, 2012". Light golden with two fingers of white foam. Fits of lacing. Smell is resin forward, floral notes and a bit of citric pith. Lightly malty. Taste is very similar. Flavorful pine resin, floral, grassy, and a bit of citrus pith. Moderately bitter. Light washing of malt. Medium bodied, nice level of carbonation. Dry finish. Nicely flavorful, moderate bitterness, and moderate ABV, this one is very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 01:27:46 | More by JackieTH

maximum12

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Really good when I stopped in for a quick pint - hope it's as good out of the bottle. 750ML bottled on 9/18/12. Six days ago. Hell yes. Split with my wife.

The pour is a crisp-looking yellow, clear, even, ton of carbonation & head. Nose yields a metric ton of citrus & wet pine forest. Mmmmm. Slight sweetness.

Indeed Fresh Hop is Exhibit A-6 on why IPAs are best consumed locally. Burst of juiciness; the drinking experience comes forward even before the taste registers with the commensal. Wet pine in the nose whacks the palate, slice of lemon, along with a sensible malt sweetness & tug of citrus. Drinkable? I'd like to (almost) drown in this stuff.

Very good beer that tinks right off the rim of excellent.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 02:45:55 | More by maximum12