Beer of the Week: Skookum’s Chucklehead double IPA
Published 1:30 am Saturday, May 13, 2017
Chucklehead
Skookum Brewery, Arlington
Style: Double IPA
Stats: 8.0-percent ABV
Available: On tap at the brewery and at Chuck’s Hop Shop Central District and Greenwood locations.
My thoughts: For the past three years, Skookum has collaborated on a double IPA with the folks from Chuck’s Hop Shop, one of Seattle’s most famous bottleshops. Chucklehead has evolved over the years and this year’s version was made just in time for Seattle Beer Week.
Skookum head brewer Hollis Wood worked with the guys from Chuck’s Hop Shop to design this year’s beer, which was made with Mosaic, Amarillo and Southern Star hops. Wood joked that at 8 percent ABV it’s almost a “sessionable” double IPA compared to the other versions of Chucklehead, which were closer to 9 percent.
Chuck’s Hop Shop’s Central District location is hosting an IPA event May 13, featuring Chucklehead and hazy IPAs from Cloudburst Brewing, Three Magnets and others.
One of the hops used in Chucklehead, Southern Star, is a South African hop. After connecting with a supplier from Colorado last year, Wood has been using Southern Star and other South African hops in a number of Skookum beers.
“They have a real perfume quality to them,” Wood said of the South African hops. “They’re not sticky or dank like American and Australian hops. They’re spicy and have this real juicy fruit flavor. I really enjoy using them.”
Unfortunately it seems Chucklehead might be one of the last beers Skookum will make with South African hops. According to reports, sales of South African hops are being shut off because of AB-InBev’s purchase of SABMiller, which owned most of the hop fields. Wood said that he’s been told by his supplier that AB-InBev, the Belgian-owned corporation that owns Anheuser Busch, is cutting off sales of the South African hops to non-AB-InBev breweries.
“It’s a perfect example of why I say don’t support them,” Wood said of AB-InBev-owned breweries like 10 Barrel Brewing and Elysian Brewing. “They’re trying to squeeze independent breweries out and stop us from being experimental.”
Besides Chucklehead, Lioness, an IPA hopped with three different South African hops, is on tap at the brewery for the next couple weeks.
From the brewery: Double IPA brewed for Chuck’s Hop Shop. Made with Mosaic, Amarillo and Southern Star hops.
More new releases:
American Pale Ale, Lost Canoe Brewing: Brewed with Cascade, Amarillo, Citra and Simcoe hops, this is a balanced pale ale. Available on tap at the brewery.
Full Monty Black IPA, At Large Brewing: On nitro, this black IPA is smooth and jam-packed with Citra hops. Available on tap at the brewery.
Vanilla Milk Porter, Crucible Brewing: A smooth porter with a hint of sweetness. Available on tap at the brewery.
