Drink this: Fresh hop kolsch brewed for 2nd Skooktoberfest

Published 1:30 am Friday, September 21, 2018

Drink this

Fresh Hop Coolsch

Skookum Brewery, Arlington

Style: Fresh hop kolsch

Stats: 5.3 percent ABV

Available: On tap at the brewery on Sept. 22

From the brewery: A kolsch brewed with 100 pounds of fresh Cascade hops.

For craft beer fans, fall means two things: fresh hop beers and German-style lagers and ales.

Never one to compromise, Arlington’s Skookum Brewery is holding its second annual Skooktoberfest and celebrating both styles with a number of new releases that run the gamut from classic German-style lager to hazy IPA.

One beer from Skookum straddles the line perfectly. Having recently received a delivery of 100 pounds of fresh Cascade hops straight from Yakima’s Yakima Chief Hops, Skookum head brewer Hollis Wood used them to create a fresh hop kolsch. Implementing his usual wet hopping method, Wood brewed Fresh Hop Coolsch, a German-style ale with a loud hop character.

The beer pours a beautiful straw-yellow color, if not a little hazier than a normal kolsch. Wood backed off the pilsner malts to give the beer a gentle malt character to elevate the hop flavor. It works beautifully. The aroma is instantly recognizable of Cascade hops, which have a more herbal, dank nose. The flavor, though, really accentuates the fruit flavors of the Cascade hop.

“I was surprised at the different qualities that it expressed,” Wood said. “It was fascinating to see how the flavors from the Cascade hops really flowed into the beer. It turned out beautifully.”

Skooktoberfest starts at noon Sept. 22 and includes, along with Skookum’s new releases, beers from Winthrop’s Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Seattle’s Urban Family Brewing and Georgetown Brewing, and Bellingham’s Structures Brewing. There will also be cigars from San Juan Cigars, a pop-up oyster bar and handcrafted meats from Salt Blade.

Wood said that Skooktoberfest is a chance to bring people together from all different walks of life. “It’s blue collar meets beer nerd,” Wood said.

Here’s a look at the other new Skookum beers pouring Saturday:

Petrichor: Named after the smell of fresh rain on dry ground, this Marzen lager is made with 100 percent German malts and hops. The malt composition is 40 percent Vienna, 30 percent Munich and 30 percent pilsner malts to give the beer a solid malt backbone and a beautiful orange hue. Wood lagered the beer for nearly eight weeks, giving it a soft mouthfeel characteristic of a true lager. It’s the perfect beer as the days get shorter and the temps get cooler.

K’POWW: This is the second time that Skookum has collaborated with Old Schoolhouse Brewery on this IPA that uses every style and character of the hop and has garnered a 4.30 rating on Untappd. Using mostly Simcoe, but also Citra, Mosaic and Galaxy hops, Wood and Co. brewed with whole cone hops, fresh hops, hop oil, hop pellets and hop kief, or the hop resin collected in the process of turning fresh hops into pellets.

Cherry Pie Clouds: The latest iteration of Skookum’s Clouds Series (its version of a milkshake IPA) is an IPA brewed with lactose and finished on cherry puree, whole vanilla beans and cinnamon sticks. Who says you have to save dessert for last?

More festivals

Oktoberfest at The Hop and Hound: Bothell’s The Hop and Hound is hosting an authentic Oktoberfest Sept. 21-23 at the taproom, 18116 101st Ave. NE, Bothell. There will be custom Rastal Bamberg Tankard mugs for sale, authentic festbier from Germany, music and brats.

Tanktoberfest: Everett’s The Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum is hosting Tanktoberfest, a beer tasting event, from noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 22 at the museum, 3407 109th St. SW, Everett. Enjoy beer from a number of local breweries, including Lake Stevens Brewing and Diamond Knot Brewing, plus a tank show. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at www.flyingheritage.org.

Oktoberfest at Lost Canoe: Snohomish’s Lost Canoe Brewing is hosting an Oktoberfest celebration from noon to 10 p.m. Sept. 22 at the brewery, 1208 10th St., Snohomish. They will be pouring a traditional German-style weizenbock and hefeweizen, and have brats with all the fixings.

Outside of Snohomish County, the Fremont Oktoberfest and Kirkland Oktoberfest are both this weekend. Everett’s Scuttlebutt Brewing and Crucible Brewing are both pouring at Kirkland’s Oktoberfest.

Taster tray

Alive at 5!, Middleton Brewing: Latest in the brewery’s Cereal Killer series, this blonde ale is brewed with birthday cake cereal. Available on tap at the brewery and Toggle’s Bottleshop.

Fresh Hopportunity, Lake Stevens Brewing: A wet-hopped pale ale made with freshly picked Amarillo hops for a truly resinous flavor profile. Available on tap at the brewery.

Bezerkley, Foggy Noggin Brewing: Big brother to Card Stunt, this Scottish ale is brewed with Scottish grown and floor-malted Maris Otter and mostly Cluster hops. Available on tap at the brewery.

Mosaic Fresh Hop, Lazy Boy Brewing: IPA brewed with loads of fresh Mosaic hops straight from Yakima. Available on tap at the brewery.

Ryes of the Pumpkin King, Sound to Summit Brewing: This rye pumpkin brown ale is brewed with pumpkin puree, ginger, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg. Available on tap at the brewery.