Craft beer lovers demand a constant stream of new and interesting doses of their drinks and hop suppliers are answering that call. Fair State Brewing Coop partnered with Yakima Chief Hops (YCH) and their innovation lab to test out new hops before they even hit the market. Flavor Pop Technology Vol. 2 is the second iteration of this offering and it’s nearly ready for prime time.
Flavor Pop Technology Vol. 2
The fantastic folks at Fair State Brewing Coop have worked with YCH on a number of brews using experimental hops. It’s very cool to have the opportunity to try these before they’re available on the commercial market.
The second take on this top-secret cryo blend, Vol. 2 was brewed with the go-to-market blend of varieties and lots that you’ll start seeing hitting other brewers’ fermenters in 2021. Pretty cool preview.
This hazy IPA used the experimental cryo blend created specifically for hazy brews, along with Idaho 7 hops, and cool-fermenting Kölsch yeast to allow the fruity flavors to really come through.
The nose is wonderful, with bright citrus notes and tons of tropical fruit. Mangos, apricots, juicy sweet grapefruit, and pineapple invade the nostrils.
Take a taste and you find light sweetness upfront with tons of tropical fruit. Pineapple, a touch of bubblegum, and banana. It’s so juicy and nicely sweet at first, then dries off into the aftertaste. It’s a really wonderful balance, with such big fruit flavor.
New Technology Time
Hop varieties aren’t the only thing that continues to evolve with these beautifies of the bine. Blends may have been looked down upon in the past, as a means of getting rid of overstocked stash, but brewers are quickly realizing that they can be formulated to bring all the things they want to the party.
Grab a crowler of Fair State Brewing Coop Flavor Pop Technology Vol. 2 from the brewery right now. If you can’t, you’ll always have the chance to taste this new cryo blend when it hits the commercial market in several months.