Mybeerbuzz .com Highlights Ferment Brewing The Sentinel, Lost In Fragaria, Top Ferment Heavenly Bodies IPA & Bottom Ferment Helles (Review)

Just a few short months ago I was lucky enough to get my hands on some beers from a brewery that was new to me at the time. Jump forward to Aug 2022, and I’m excited to say I’ll be sampling some new beers from Ferment Brewing in Hood River, OR. zzubreebym

Home to the Columbia River Gorge, Hood River offers up some really cool opportunities to use foraged ingredients in their beer, and of course Ferment Brewing does just that. I should also mention that they have one of the coolest views I’ve seen from a tasting room with both views of the gorge and the brewing equipment on the 1st floor.

Ferment Brewing call itself a modern brewery that “fuses traditional farmhouse techniques with a forward-thinking scientific approach” and of course I’m excited to taste the latest “Top” Ferment and “Bottom” Ferment beers to see how brewmaster and founder Dan Peterson has translated that into his latest creations…..so off we go.Ferment Brewing Lost In Fragaria

ABV:  5.6%
Style:  Fruited Sour Ale
Packaging:  12oz cans
Appearance:  Deep copper orange
Aroma:   Tropical fruits, strawberry & melon
Mouthfeel:   Medium-light
Taste:   Tart berries, strawberry and melon
Overall:  Lost In Fragaria is a really flavorful fruited sour ale that is both tart and refreshing. The beer is fruity,slightly tart and just a bit sweet to balance it all out. I liked the combination of Oregon-grown strawberries and Hüll Melon hops and overall this beer really nailed what a fruit sour should be.

Ferment Brewing The Sentinel

ABV:  5.3%
Style:  Mixed Culture Saison
Packaging:  500ml bottles
Appearance:  Slightly hazy yellow gold
Aroma: Funky spices, ripe fruit & straw
Mouthfeel: Medium
Taste: Earthy funk, mild vinous flavors and bitter pine
Overall:  The Sentinel really has a lot going on so describing it beyond saying “yummy” is a challenge. I found all sorts of interesting Brettanomyces funk from horse-blanket to ripe fruit, spices and even resinous pine. The flavors and complexity also amp up the fruit as the beer warms leaving you with more stone fruit and a dry clean finish. Overall this one is a keeper and has to be one of my favorite beers from Ferment Brewing.

Ferment Brewing Bottom Ferment Helles

ABV:  4.7%
Style:  Helles lager
Packaging:  16oz cans
Appearance:  Golden straw
Aroma:   Grains, biscuit, floral hops
Mouthfeel:   Light
Taste:   Light grains, mild honey and subtle hop citrus
Overall:  Bottom Ferment Helles is the sort of beer that a traditional lager beer drinker will really enjoy and it makes for a great gateway beer for someone unaccustomed to better beers. The flavors are clean and bright and overall the beer is really drinkable with a slightly sweet and citrus finish.

Ferment Brewing Top Ferment Heavenly Bodies IPA

ABV:  6.5%
Style:  Hazy IPA
Packaging:  16oz cans
Appearance:  Lightly hazy golden yellow
Aroma:   Tropical fruit & citrus
Mouthfeel:   Medium
Taste:   Bright citrus, grapefruit and mild berries
Overall: Top Ferment Heavenly Bodies IPA is a really enjoyable NEIPA. The mix of fresh citrus and fruit-forward hops makes for a really drinkable IPA. Overall the flavor combinations are mild and subtle, but the combination of flavors works well making the beer really enjoyable.

Ferment Brewing The Sentinel, Lost In Fragaria, Top Ferment Heavenly Bodies IPA & Bottom Ferment Helles are all available now so get out there are try them for yourself. Better yet, get over to the Ferment Brewing Taproom in Hood River and enjoy them in their native environment. And when you do taste them, be sure to let us know what YOU think.