The Beer Retard - February 1st, 2008

I was drinking a Big Sky IPA last night and there it was--that distinctive hop flavor that I like the most. Kind of piney or woodsy but also a little bit citrusy. Really bitter in a pleasant way, it's a taste that lingers a bit but doesn't overwhelm. The Anacortes IPA has this flavor as do the Avery Maharaja, the Northern Lights Winter Ale and Russian River's Pliny The Elder. The one thing they all have in common is Simcoe hops. For a great overview on the history of the Simcoe, check out this 2006 Joe Sixpack column. Interesting that the initial research for developing this hop hybrid was sparked by the macrobrewers wanting to save money on hop field acreage. Fitting that, in the end, it was the craft brewer and craft beer enthusiast that benefited from the hop's development.

I like the description of Simcoes as "Cascades on steroids." It's too bad there's a hop shortage going on because I'd planned to brew for the first time this year and a Simcoe IPA wouldn't be a bad first beer. Who knows if I can find them and if I do, I'm sure it'll cost me.

By the way, the Big Sky IPA is delicious. That distinctive Simcoe flavor is complemented by a solid malt backbone. It's not exactly a drinker, but I'd say one or two in a sitting would go down easily. I think a six pack will be finding its way into my fridge very soon. I also need to put the Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA on my must try list for my East Coast trip in April.