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Fresh hopped beers can be tricky as they can vary year to year. Fresh Hop is pretty consistent though IMO. Pours a mostly clear, light amber to orange in color. A good soft white head with good retention and lacing through out.

The nose has a great hop aroma but with my experience doesn't have that distinct "wet" hop aroma. The hops really come out with a mostly citrus and grassy aroma. Some minor grapefruit and a touch of mineral notes. The malt is non-descript mostly but some nice kettle caramel notes are there. Very clean yeast.

The taste is similar. The hops are well balanced with a nice bitterness that lingers but lets the citrus and pine really come out in the finish. Some sweetness but limited malt backing in the taste. The body does balance the hops nicely though. There is more of a distinct freshness that is more in tune with the fresh hop idea, at least in the taste. Very clean yeast and finishes nicely.

The body is moderate and balanced well. The carbonation is right on. Overall a very enjoyable seasonal beer. Great hop presence that isn't over the top. Some minor character flaws but very drinkable.

Served In: Pint Glass

Clear amber gold color with a medium stacking head of off-white fluffy foam on top. Top stays present for good length, fading slow to a hefty skim and collar. Lacing is in a fine, tightly spotty sheeting across the glass. Nice looking glass of ale.

Aroma is of pale citrus, dullish-like orange and grapefruit with a spritz of lemon. Lots of pine-sided woodyness hovers over the top. Semi resinous and floral with a grassy touch, but mostly woodish and pale citrus. Clean and pungently pleasing.

Taste is more wood toned then citrus, at least in this serving, perhaps an actual fresher bottle would have had more of the citrus tones more forward. As is, this time around, the wood is a bit heavy and bringing it to one side of the hop scale that isn't really keeping a good balance from others GD Fresh Hops I've had. Medium to light bitterness, semi drying into the finish with some citrusy tones, but more piney and thickly prevalent in wood flavors that take away from the crispyness that pops in front.

Feel is about medium, a bit parching in its bitterness and dryness, but stays the course(coarse) and keeps a very teetering balance that could fold either side into too much pine and/or too much parchness. That said, for no other reason then this- its damn drinkable. It keeps a nice clean profile overall while grabbing hold with woody, citrus tinted bitterness, and maintains a doughy little malt backing while doing it. Some sweetness finds its way in around the corners, in the middle, and very, very late after the finish. Which in turn helps this become quite a fun ride to drink down.

Served In: Pint Glass

Review from 01/16/07

A - Apricot colored body that is nice and clean. Big white head looks really soapy from the side and frothy fromt he top. Great lacing.

S - Big, bright vibrant floral hops. Hops are both piney and citrusy. Oily hop resin. Everything you look for in a fresh hop beer.

T - Nice and light. Hops are in no way overpowering. Rather they are nice and sweet. Fruity. This beer is just nice. flavorful, and easy to drink. Strawberry, a bit of lemon are both here.

M - Medium bodied with slightly sticky hops. Carbonation is smooth and easygoing.

D - Super drinkable. Would make a nice session beer.

Served In: Pint Glass