Time for a new round of Tuesday Tastings beer reviews! It’s been awhile since I’ve posted in this “TT” series so let’s jump back in with IPAs from pFriem Family Brewers/Zupan’s Markets and Deschutes Brewery.

pFriem/Zupan’s Farm-to-Market IPA

I received this beer over the summer and was remiss on getting a review posted until now. Zupan’s has been partnering with breweries to brew this private label line of beers exclusive to the market chain, and this one from Hood River’s pFriem Family Brewers was the sixth in the series.

This Northwest-style IPA is 6.5% ABV with 45 IBUs, on the low end but combined with the fact that it was brewed with oats points towards a hazy IPA (albeit “northwest style”). The hops used were Citra, Denali, El Dorado, and Oregon Amarillo. Here’s the description:

Illuminating gold body topped with fluffy white foam. Fruity aromas of Marionberries, watermelon, citrus, papaya, lychee fruit, and pineapple. Jammy flavors of cantaloupe, honeydew melon, blueberries, raspberries, and honey. Finishes tropical and jammy with a citrus zing.

Appearance: Billowy white head, delicate and lacy. Hazy golden yellow, with light copper highlights when held to the light.

Smell: Tropical fruit medley, melons with a little bit of Mosaic-like savory greens. Papaya, mango, and spicy hops. It’s definitely a fruit and hop showcase, terrific aroma.

Taste: Hops are right up front, with a nicely moderate bitterness punctuated with a hoppy spiciness. Clean, sweetly bready malts finish dry, and leaves you wanting another sip. Moreish. Hops have a bit of citrus and an herbal flavor that complements the malts well.

Mouthfeel: Medium body is luscious and finishes crisp and lightly dry, with a light hoppy aftertaste.

Overall: This is (was) a great summer, hot weather IPA. I don’t know if it’s still to be found on the shelves at Zupan’s (I received the bottle two months ago), or if it’s still being brewed, but if so I hope it’s still drinking well.

Deschutes Fresh Haze IPA

Another hazy IPA that I received at the same time as the Zupan’s. Fresh Haze, Deschutes’ first packaged hazy IPA, has joined the year-round lineup, available only in cans and on draft. I believe it is the second in a new “Fresh X” series Deschutes is going to be rolling out (along with Fresh Squeezed IPA, the first one)… unless that’s just a rumor.

So far it seems to be doing quite well in the market, it is 6.5% ABV with 45 IBUs which is (checks notes)… exactly the same as Zupan’s.

Introducing Fresh Haze IPA, our newest IPA is hazy with a chance of obsession. The flavor explodes in your mouth with notes of orange citrus sweetness and a soft malt body. Carrying both citrus and tropical fruit from Mandarina, Amarillo and Simcoe hops…OJ for days.

Appearance: A good, off-white, fine and fluffy head. Color is a relatively deep coppery-orange, and it is indeed hazy as advertised.

Smell: Tropical hop juice, pineapple and mango, and a touch of the trendy onion note. Green herbal hops, grainy malt, and smells fresh.

Taste: Bright pop of hops and fruit salad, peppered with savory notes hinting at garlic and green onion. It’s a study in hops, with a spicy hop note at the back and a clean, neutral malt that finishes a bit dry. Never really any bitterness though, and there is a strong impression of juiciness without getting cloying.

Mouthfeel: A bit of medium chewiness that goes with the “haze” territory, otherwise a medium body that finishes clean, as Deschutes beers do.

Overall: A tasty, solid beer, that handles the hops well. Now that it’s year round it’s worth seeking out, but pay attention to the “best by” date on the bottom of the can; mine said best by 11/13/18, but since I received it on August 7 that seems to mean there is more than a three month window, so I’m guessing it might have been canned on July 13 or thereabouts. Recommended.