ThirstyBear Supports Fire Victims Through Sales of Wet Hop Harvest Ale

"It was harvest time, and we can only use fresh hops once a year," says Silberstein. "Hops-Meister Farm is the only local organic farm that can supply us with fresh organic hops. So, I hopped in my car and met with Claudia, Marty and their daughter to pick Ivanhoe hops. I remember when they used to hand pick all the hops, now five years later, they have a harvester that delicately pulls the hops from the vine. It’s a fascinating process to be a part of."

Hops-Meister Farm is a small family farm dedicated to harvesting hops steeped in history and tradition. Unlike other commercial growers who tend to cultivate the trendiest hops of the day, Hops-Meister resurrected a local hop variety from a single vine they found growing in a nearby field. Left from hop farms of more than 50 years ago, they nurtured the Ivanhoe variety back into existence on the regional terrain. Ivanhoe is a subtle, spicy hop with the aroma of sweet freshly cut grass.

"Brewing with just-picked fresh hops from a local farm is what it’s all about," adds ThirstyBear Brewmaster Brenden Dobel. "Organic Ivanhoe hops are great for flavor addition and late kettle aroma. I decided to use Organic Magnum for bittering to allow us to use Ivanhoe for the later stages, to have the highest impact. Organic Crisp Floor Malted Pale Malt provided a simple malt bill, which I combined with a small portion of Carapils for body. We also ‘dry-hopped’ with Ivanhoe. WET HOP HARVEST ALE has a beautiful golden color, a refreshing hop bitterness, and of course, the resinous, sticky, floral character of freshly harvested, un-kilned, unpackaged, Organic Ivanhoe hops."