CTZ is an acronym for Columbus, Tomahawk and Zeus, three trade names owned by various private corporations for the same variety of hop. Some brewers refer to it as “CTZ,” whereas others call it by whichever name appends to the company from which they purchase it — mostly Columbus. CTZ is treasured for its high oil content, which yields an especially potent aroma. It smells something like earth, herbs or marijuana, and often takes a supporting role providing depth and complexity to brighter hop bills containing citrusy hop notes from Cascade, Centennial or other hops. The resinous CTZ is often a driving force behind the “dank” description. Last, CTZ is useful for making “extreme” beers with very high international bittering units because it can deliver a big punch of bitterness without loading up the kettle and/or whirlpool with too much plant material. Peaks and Pints presents a flight of craft beers brewed with CTZ we call Craft Beer Crosscut 11.20.17: A Flight of CTZ.
Elysian Dragonstooth Stout
7.45% ABV, 36 IBU
Elysian Dragonstooth Stout’s name refers to the founders of Thebes, warriors who sprang from the earth when Cadmus sowed the teeth of a slain dragon. Bittered with Chinook, finished with Cascade and CTZ hops, it’s a smooth and sturdy stout, made with 10 percent rolled oats, roasted barley and chocolate malt. We get a whiff of raspberry and a stiff hit of chocolate. It slays with flavors of burnt toast, charcoal, semi-sweet chocolate and a distinct hop factor. It’s not your typical imperial stout.
Boundary Bay Cabin Fever
8.5% ABV, 45 IBU
Brewed with CTZ, Simcoe, Willamette and Celeia hops and five malts — including Chocolate malt and oats — Boundary Bay Brewing’s Cabin Fever is rich, malty and deceptively strong. With an extended conditioning period, this winter warmer has a smooth mouthfeel. The aroma has a rich, nutty maltiness with some vanilla, raisins, caramel and bread. The flavor leans sweet nutty initially and then opens up for more of a balance with spicy hops that are not strong and end up creating a lovely lingering bready aftertaste. Nice balance.
Ballast Point Big Eye IPA
7% ABV, 71 IBU
Ballast Point’s Big Eye IPA is a big hoppy brew, thanks to the abundance of CTZ and Centennial hops the San Diego brewery uses to flavor and dry hop. On the nose, expect a sweet aroma of caramel malt, peach, orange, grapefruit and light pine needles. The flavor is also sweet with caramel malt, peach, grapefruit, orange peel and pine needles with a dry, bitter grass finish.
Silver City Whoop Pass Double IPA
8.5%ABV, 85 IBU
Once a limited seasonal release, Silver City Brewery now releases this lupulin licker year round. The beer pours deep orange in color with a creamy white head. Strong notes of orange peel and citrus show on the nose with hints of grain and floral notes, which should be expected since Brewmaster Don Spencer dumps 50 pounds of Cascade and CTZ hops per each 15-barrel batch. As the beer warms, the citrus amps up the Whoop with a long, dry hop linger.
Green Flash West Coast IPA
8.1% ABV, 95 IBU
So much of the good, green stuff is packed into Green Flash’s West Coast IPA that you’ll find it overwhelming if you haven’t prepared yourself. Imagine licking a pine sapling on a spring day in a grassy meadow with your friend blowing weed smoke in your face. Seriously, West Coast is a bit like cramming fistfuls of freshly mowed grass into your gob due to a “menagerie of hops” layered throughout the brewing process including Simcoe (to impart a unique fruitiness and grapefruit zest), CTZ (for strong hop pungency), Centennial (for pine and citrus notes), and Cascade (for floral aroma). As the brewery puts it, it is a “multi-dimensional hop experience.” And they ain’t lying. It’s just over 8 percent ABV, with a malt body, resinous, hoppy and dank.
