Ninkasi Releasing 2 Fresh Hop Ales – Total Cyrstalation & Hop Fraiche

“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 Farm 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.”

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.

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!
.