Crooked Stave Hop Savant
Denver, Colorado
India Pale Ale
ABV: 6.7%
Hop Savant was the first Crooked Stave beer that I ever fell in love with—100 percent bottled hops love with a clean Brett fermentation and a massive dry-hopped nose. Don’t go in expecting “sour,” as the funk and sour play a distant second fiddle to the gorgeously presented flavor hops, but the supporting role they play adds crucial depth. It’s light and bright in the mouth with a balanced tartness, mild bitterness, and beautifully structured malt that let the hops flavors take center stage. As a showcase of what is possible with 100 percent Brett fermentation, the beer is fascinating, but it’s so much more than just a science project. I’m thrilled that Crooked Stave has overcome the production bottlenecks that kept this one out of the schedule for the past two years, as it’s a beer that any self-respecting hops fan should not miss. — _Jamie Bogner _
Breakside Brewery Amuse
Portland, Oregon
Saison
ABV: 5%