Starting next month, Mira Mesa-based Green Flash Brewing Co. will release a hop-centric, draft-only beer every other month for a year.
“We wanted to hone our focus on the range of flavor that can be achieved with the use of different hop varietals,” said Brewmaster Chuck Silva of the Hop Odyssey project. “By utilizing new hop varietals coming out of the Hop Breading Company in Yakima, WA as well as the previously developed hops, we have the opportunity to be innovative while we continue to re-brew some of our favorite hoppy recipes from the past.”
February – Black IPA: Nearly jet black with high hop bitterness, flavor and aroma from the fruity, floral and piney Pacific Northwest hops, balanced with a medium body of caramel malt and subdued dark roasted malt. Hops: Warrior, Citra, Cascade; 7.2% ABV, 85 IBU
April – Imperial Red Rye IPA: Columbus hops provide a base for the newly-released Mosaic varietal to shine through a rich base of crystal malt, while the touch of rye malt helps accentuate the beer’s hop character. Hops: Columbus, Mosaic; 8.5% ABV, 80 IBU
June – Citra Session IPA: Maris Otter and Vienna malt set the stage for the use of 100% Citra in all bittering, aroma, flavor and dry-hop additions. Citrus notes of lemon, orange and grapefruit are the main traits of the hop, with light floral and lemon grass undertones. Hop: Citra; 4.5% ABV, 45 IBU
August – Cedar Plank Pale Ale: This hoppy pale ale starts out as 30th Street Pale Ale and then undergoes Spanish cedar aging, which imparts a big aroma. Peppercorn spiciness and a tannic mouthfeel make the hop flavor and bitterness linger in the finish. Hops: Warrior, El Dorado, Cascade; 6.3% ABV, 45 IBU
October – Symposium IPA: A re-brew of the Surf’s Up Symposium IPA for the Craft Brewers Conference in 2008, created with input from several brewers around town. Hops are added at each stage of the brewing process, while the beer maintains a light body. Brewed again in 2010 as the Green Flash 8th Anniversary Ale. Hops: Simcoe, Tomahawk, Amarillo, Cascade, Centennial; 7% ABV, 75 IBU
December – Double Columbus IPA: Huge grapefruit zest and pine notes come through this resinous hop bomb of a beer, with a rich body of crystal malts that makes this a hop head’s dream. Columbus; 8.8% ABV, 98 IBU
Beer descriptions paraphrased from a press release. You can preview October’s beer (or, rather, re-try if you had it in 2008 or 2010) Friday night at Churchill’s Pub & Grille in San Marcos, where all 10 Green Flash Anniversary Ales, including the rare 10th Anniversary Flanders Drive, go on tap at 5 p.m. Churchill’s also plans to tap a keg of the Green Flash/Cigar City collaboration beer Candela, a big barleywine with rye aged on Spanish cedar.