Wet Hops, We Don't Stop A-Rockin'

I got called a hop picker this last Saturday. I almost took offense. It sounds like some kind of slur, doesn't it? But it's not. So I don't know why I'd waste your time even telling you that short story of mixed emotion. The truth is, I wouldn't have ever taken offense to being called a hop picker. I said that in jest. A bit of a jocular exercise. If one wants to maintain a sharp wit, one must practice at every available opportunity.

Like now. That whole last paragraph can be chalked up to practice, which I obviously need more of.

Last Saturday (that would be the 15th), Iron Goat Brewing held a wet hop picking party, in which local hop growers brought in vines full of hop cones and volunteers volunteered to pick them. We were two such volunteers:

The plan is to take all the different varieties of hops that were donated and picked and throw them all into a new brew and see what happens. It's like a giant science experiment for grown-ups, but we all end up with the blue-ribbon once the beer is done and we get to enjoy it. It should be ready in a couple weeks or so, and as of yet remains nameless, although Greg at Iron Goat said it should be something like Community Fresh Hop #1. The number indicates it will be in a series, which means they plan on having a wet hop picking party annually.

Good. It was fun. Standing around a table full of fines, picking hops, drinking beer, talking to strangers. Lots of fun. We had a great time.

We also got the idea for throwing a few hops into our pints of Impaler, the Iron Goat signature Imperial IPA. It doesn't necessarily change the flavor of the beer itself, but when you're drinking, you get a nose full of fresh hop aroma, and that makes a difference. It makes the beer taste a little fresher, a little hoppier. It was pretty neat.

"Neat"? Seriously? What business do I have using that adjective?

There were several different kinds of hops that were donated and picked. The largest amount were Centennials. Or was it Cascades? Pretty sure it was Centennials. But there were also Cascades. There was also some Nugget, Humulus, Simco, and I think a couple of others I'm just not remembering now.

Anyway, once the new fresh hop beer is ready, you can expect a follow up post about it. I wonder if being intimately involved in the beginning of the production of the beer will make it taste better.

I'll try to stay objective. But I'm going to like it no matter what.

And while we were wrist deep in hop vines, this happened:

The Spokane Party Bus pulled up and dropped off a dozen and a half beer aficionados. I found out via twitter that the bus had been out to Post Falls, visiting Selkirk Abbey, before making the trip out to Iron Goat, on some beer drinking expedition. They all seemed to get a real kick out of watching the hop picking party.

And boy howdy, did they tap those glasses.

"Boy howdy?"

Wow. I'm really reaching for it, today, aren't I.

Why don't you do some reaching, too. Reach for your glass. Now tap it. Enjoy the music that it makes. And, in the spirit of community, let's all say it together:

"Tap that glass."

Wasn't that fun?

Yes, it was.