More local fresh hop news! The first of three fresh hop ales from Bend Brewing Company was released on draft last week, and today (Friday the 17th) another is released, along with cans of both. Here’s the press release detailing the brewery’s fresh news:

Bend Brewing Company is excited to release three fresh hop beers for the 2021 hop harvest.

Fresh Trop Fresh Hop IPA, the fresh hop version of BBC’s award-winning flagship Tropic Pines IPA, once again is brewed with over 10 lbs per barrel of fresh Simcoe from BC Hop Ranch in Woodburn, OR. This year BBC doubled down on Fresh Trop making multiple trips to BC Hop Ranch during their Simcoe harvest. Fresh Trop Fresh Hop IPA will be available on draft at our downtown Bend brewpub beginning Friday September 10th and head out to distribution through Point Blank Distributing in Portland and Bigfoot Beverages in Central Oregon. 16 ounce cans will be available Friday September 17th at the brewpub and select retailers in Central Oregon.

New for the 2021 harvest is Fresh Hop Grove Pale featuring 300 lbs of fresh Strata from Crosby Hops. Fresh Hop Grove Pale is a fresh hop version of the house beer for BBC’s new Waypoint location in Bend’s Northwest Crossing neighborhood. Fresh Hop Grove Pale will be available in 16 oz cans and draft starting with a release party at Waypoint on Friday September 17th. Cans and draft will hit distribution with Point Blank Distributing in Portland and Bigfoot Beverages starting the following week.

BBC’s final fresh hop beer of the season, Bines That Shine Fresh Hop Red will be brewed with Goschie Farms Crystal hops and be draft only, available in limited amounts through distribution but primarily at BBC’s brewpub and Waypoint locations around the end of September.

Lastly, on a sour note, Bend Brewing Company has decided to cancel their Fresh Hops On The Pond event in the best interest of the health and safety of staff and guests. BBC hopes Fresh Hops On The Pond will make a triumphant return in 2022.

I’ll note that (so far), Bines That Shine is the first local fresh hop beer I’ve seen to use Crystal hops; Deschutes Brewery’s long-retired Hop Trip used fresh Crystal as its staple fresh hop, so I’d look forward to this one. Don’t miss out!