This week, I headed down to Point Grey Wine and Beer Cellar to check out their selection. One of the interesting things about British Columbia is that the gov't-owned BC Liquor stores seem to have forced private purveyors of alcohol into a higher price and quality range. Most private stores here in Vancouver offer far better selection than similar stores in the States, but, as always in Canada, you pay for it. For craft beer lovers, PGW&BC (nice abbreviation, eh?) offers a great selection of local brew, plus some of their favorites from around the world (including a wonderful Trappist selection).
The clerk on duty asked me about the type of beer I like (always a good sign). This launched a discussion of the difference between wet and dry hopping and the type of beer brewed locally. I'll try to sum up the difference:
Hops were originally added to beer because alongside their smell and flavour, they had a mild antimicrobial effect. There are actually two types of hops: bittering and aroma. Bittering hops contain a higher level of alpha acids and contribute to the beer's bitter flavour. Aroma hops have a higher beta acid level and contribute more to a beer's smell. In dry-hop brews, the hops are dried and refrigerated after harvest. In wet-hop beers, hops are added to the brewing process hours after harvest. The freshness of wet hops makes the beer more aromatic, often bringing out piney or floral scents from the oils present in fresh hops.
The hop harvest in 2009 was abundant and, as a result, many PNW breweries released new wet-hop brews featuring locally-grown hops. In the US, most hops are either grown in the Yakima or Willamette Valleys of Washington and Oregon, respectively. I had one wet-hop beer right after the harvest in September, Driftwood's Sartori Harvest IPA. The complex flavours of that beer had left me craving more, so I managed to talk the clerk into one of the last bottles of Phillips' GrowHop. This bitter uses fresh Chinook hops grown in the US. In terms of aroma, wet-hop beers can't be beat; GrowHop features strong floral and pine scents as well as a distinctive melon smell.
The beer is a deep copper colour with thin head (maybe a couple of centimetres). Upon my first sip, I was surprised at how creamy this bitter was, but how crisp at the same time. I didn't have much time to contemplate this, as I was quickly overwhelmed by the strong mix of pine and melon flavour. In terms of drinkability, this beer is perfect for fall. Its strong bitterness would pair well with spicy foods and strong cheeses (like a good Canadian cheddar). The crispness would make it easy enough to drink in warm weather, but I'm willing to bet it would be delicious at any temperature.
Unfortunately, unless you've already secured a bottle, this beer won't be around again until the next harvest (late September). make sure you set aside some time in late 2010 to try this excellent offering by Phillips.
ABV: 5.0%
Price: $6.50
Size: 650mL bottle
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