HICKORY CORNERS, MI — With another successful hop harvest season in the books, Bonnie and Jeff Steinman, co-founders of Hop Head Farms in Hickory Corners, offered a roundup of this year’s crop, including a fairly comprehensive list of Harvest Ales made using their hops.
The 30-acre farm makes up about 400 to 500 harvestable acres in Michigan. HHF is also expanding its footprint with about 140 acres in development in Berrien County.
“Now that the craziness of harvest is over, we are getting a chance to go out and enjoy the beautiful fall weather and taste some of the fruits of our labor. This year Hop Head Farms had over 11,000 pounds of fresh picked hops make their way into specialty wet hopped harvest beers. It is always quite a project in logistics and communication to have the hop picking and the brew schedule lined up just right to make these beers happen. Some brewers will pick up their hops. Others get them trucked in. Either way, we take a lot of pride in providing this important ingredient for these special brews,” said Bonnie Steinman, co-founder of Hop Head Farms.
Here is a list of the beers and breweries taking part this year in celebrating the hop harvest season with HHF:
- Note: Some of these beers may not be available. Be sure to look for our Hop Harvest Beer Tours in late August/early September, 2016.
Texas Corners Brewing Company
Pickers Pale Ale – Harvest
ABV: 5.6%
IBU: 35
Notes: Our Pale Ale is a tribute to the harvest season from head brewer Jeremy Arnold. Refreshing and full of flavor, starting with a sweet & bready malt base, complimented by fresh Michigan Centennial and Cascade hops from Hop Head Farms lending intense citrus tones.
3 Brothers IPA – Harvest
ABV: 6.5%
IBU: 65
Notes: Named after the three Schultz brothers who created our company. Our IPA incorporates the freshest local ingredients. Michigan malt from Pilot Malt House and fresh Chinook hops from Hop Head Farms. Our IPA starts off with a wonderful pine hop nose, Michigan malt lends a distinct sweetness, balanced bitterness from Michigan Chinook hops adding fresh spice and grapefruit flavors.
Dark Horse Brewing Company
High C Harvest Ale
Notes: Hops grown down the road from the Dark Horse Brewery by Marty and Stephanie Moga of High Five Hops Farm and hops from Hop Head Farms, of Hickory Corners, went into this lovely harvest ale. Hops used: Cascade, Chinook and Challenger. Bright and balanced.
Latitude 42 Brewing Co.
Centennial Harvest Ale
Notes: The first Centennial hops delivered for the season make up this fruity harvest ale. It is a definite get it before it’s gone beer! It goes on tap early September and is consumed quickly.
Doggie Fresh Pale
Note: Round two of the harvest ales for Latitude 42. Fresh picked Cascade hops are delivered to make this refreshing version of Spank Dog Pale Ale.
Citra Harvest
Notes: Round three, not made with HHF hops, but very nice nonetheless.
Greenbush Brewing Company
Demeter
Notes: Three versions were made this year. You can find which one you have by checking the label near the date code.
Demeter Round 1: Cascade. Bright and slightly grapefruity, with floral notes.
Demeter Round 2: Chinook. A favorite of Hop Head Jeff and Bon. The pineapple of fresh Chinook really shine through.
Demeter Round 3: Zuper Saaz. A new one this year. Crisp and refreshing.
Founders Brewing Co.
Harvest Ale
Notes: Over 3,000 pounds of fresh hops were delivered for 9 separate brew days to be blended for this amazing harvest ale. A potent combination of many hop varieties picked at their peak make up this very flavorful beer. Ahead of harvest the founders brewers come to the farm to walk the fields and get an idea of the recipe for the year. As harvest begins tight communication is key to get the hops to the brewery each day.
Rupert’s Brew House
Raw Dog Penetrator
Notes: Brewed with freshly picked Chinook hops, this harvest ale has a nice pine aroma and flavor. The 2015 version is Head Brewer Adam’s favorite harvest ale he has made. There is only one keg left that is being saved for the Kalamazoo Craft Beer Festival at Wings Event Center Nov. 7.
Tibbs Brewing Co.
Wet Hop Upside Your Head IPA
Notes: Wet hopped with Centennial Hops. Grassy and fruity. High powered in the Tibbs fashion. Kevin Tibbs brews in small batches, so this one did not last long on tap.
MORE HARVEST ALES
Guests visit Hop Head Farms during the 2015 harvest season.
Broodoo, 3 Floyds Brewpub, Munster, IN.
Hop’n Fresh out the Kitchen, Against the Grain Brewery and Smokehouse, Louisville, KY.
Cannonball Gold, Arcadia Brewing Company, Kalamazoo/Battle Creek, MI.
Black Acre Brewing Co., Indianapolis, IN.
5th Anniversary Wet Hopped Triple IPA, Blue Pants Brewery and Tap Room, Madison, AL.
Wet Hops Experimental Ale, Blue Point Brewing Company, Patchogue, N.Y.
Cahaba Brewing Company, Birmingham, AL.
Midnight Harvest, Crystal Lake Brewing, Crystal Lake, IL.
High C, Dark Horse Brewing Company, Marshall, MI.
Founders Harvest Ale, Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, MI.
Sticky Feathers, Goose Island Beer Company, Chicago, IL.
Final Bine, Goshen Brewing Company, Goshen, IN.
Demeter (1,2, and 3), Greenbush Brewing Co., Sawyer, MI.
Sticky Fat & Aqua Fur, Half Acre Beer Company, Chicago, IL.
Centennial Harvest Ale & Doggie Fresh, Latitude 42 Brewing Company, Portage, MI.
Hop Wang, Mad Anthony Brewing Company, Fort Wayne, Auburn, Angola & Warsaw, IN.
Hop Wonder, Motor Row Brewing, Chicago, IL.
Harvest Ale, Odd Side Ales, Grand Haven, MI.
Rupert’s Brew House brewer Adam Wisniewski at Hop Head Farms.
Wet Hop IPA, Penrose Brewing Company, Geneva, IL.
Octoberfest, Pike 51 Brewery, Hudsonville, MI.
Harvest IPA, Roak Brewing, Royal Oak, MI.
Raw Dog Penetrator, Rupert’s Brew House, Kalamazoo, MI.
10th Anniversary Ale, Shoreline Brewery, Michigan City, IN.
Straight to Ale, Huntsville, AL.
Gainesville Green, Swamp Head Brewery, Gainesville, FL.
Tennessee Brew Works, Nashville, TN.
3 Brothers IPA & Pickers Pale, Texas Corners Brewing Company, Texas Corners, MI.
The Butcher & the Brewer, Cleveland, OH.
Otis, The Onion Pub & Brewery, Lake Barrington, IL.
Three Wise Men, Indianpolis, IN.
Wet Hop Upside Your Head IPA, Tibbs Brewing Company, Kalamazoo, MI.
Walldorff Brew Pub & Bistro, Hastings, MI.
