It’s fresh-hop season. Lot’s of these beers out there right now. Hop Trip from Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon is one of them. It’s lighter than many, being a pale ale as opposed to the more common  IPA. Here’s my notes:

Hop Trip
Deschutes Brewery, Bend, Oregon
Style: Wet hop pale ale
Serving Style: 12 oz bottle

Aroma: Peaches, peaches, peaches. Fresh peaches. Caramel and brown sugar underneath. Peach cobbler anyone?

Appearance: Deep copper color and slightly hazy. Good-sized, white head that persists as a thin film on the surface.

Flavor: Those fresh peaches carry over from the aroma and are joined by dreamsicle orange citrus that transforms into grapefruit at it warms. It has a summery feel. Bitterness is moderate, maybe even restrained. There are hints of the vegetal/garlic thing that I often find in fresh hop beers. The malt has a slightly biscuit bent and balances the bitterness. The finish is quick with light, lingering orange and biscuit.

Mouthfeel: Medium body. Medium carbonation.

Overall Impression: Love the peach flavors that I got from this beer. Generally though, the beer fell a little flat. It was tasty enough, but I wouldn’t necessarily seek it out.