Coming from a family of German aroma hops and open pollination, the Sterling hop was developed in 1990 and released in 1998 as a replacement for the Saaz hop. Saaz is known agriculturally for its susceptibility to disease and fungus, of which the stronger Sterling is tolerant. Developed in the Northwest, this hop — an alternative to European hops — is a widely popular variety amongst American craft brewers. The citric qualities of the Sterling are lemony with a hint of pineapple. Its spicy and herbal aroma gives it a sense of sophistication, while the citrus asserts itself on the palate. The Sterling’s noble hop aroma combined with its smooth bitterness makes it a no-brainer contestant for our beer sample flight Craft Beer Crosscut 5.30.17: A Flight of Sterling.
Avery Liliko’i Kepolo
5.4% ABV, 10 IBU
Avery Brewing‘s Liliko’i Kepolo (hard to say, easy to drink) is an unexpected delight! We don’t typically expect witbiers to be this interesting, original or surprisingly tart. It looks like your average Wit, with minimal, fine white foam over a hazy straw body, but lean in for a whiff and up wafts strong passion fruit, a little citrus and banana, coriander, and some creamy wheat malts. To taste, there’s an underlying spice throughout, but it starts off with a tart, citrusy bite, possibly due to the Bravo and Sterling hops. The passionfruit is evident, though not as heavy as on the nose, and the fuzzy mouthfeel reminds us of biting into a peach. We love everything about Liliko’i Kepolo — its glowing gold color, frothy white head, and each aspect of its delicious, exotic flavor. Mahalo!
Stillwater Artisanal Ales Cellar Door
6.6% ABV
By using Sterling and Citra hops, with a dash of white sage, Stillwater Artisanal Ales created a very intricate saison bursting with flavors. It pours a beautifully big head, and immediately fills the nostrils with scents of yeast, lemon peel, pepper, grains and even spices. While the first sip will explode with citrus, the beer evens out with grassy and sage notes. Its light carbonation makes bubbles dance on the tongue, but it finishes with a nearly astringent feeling.
Crux Doublecross
11% ABV, 20 IBU
Crux Fermentation Project’s Doublecross dark Belgian strong ale pours a vibrant reddish-black hue, substantial body with pleasant headiness. The intense flavors of dark candi sugar conspire to deceive with flavors that remind us of preserved fruits and holiday spicing, but the true agent is the Trappist yeast — and a suspicious drinkability. It had a bit of light caramel in the mix with pronounced citrus fashioning from Sterling and Delta hops for a blend that wakes you up as should a Belgian strong ale.
Double Mountain Pilsner
5.5% ABV, 30 IBU
Brewers at Double Mountain Brewery call this crisp refresher “Bohemian Rhapsody,” featuring organic Pilsner malt, Czech lager yeast and Sterling hops. They aged this beer for more than six months to give the Czech lager yeast enough time to allow the flavors to mellow and merge. Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the Fandango? This is a hophead’s Pilsner.
7 Seas 253 Pilsner
5.2% ABV, 32 IBU
7 Seas Brewing and 253Heart joined together to craft a beer that supports the Pierce County community by donating a portion of the 253 Pilsner proceeds to a variety of local non-profit organizations. Two organizations are selected at any one time to receive a portion of the sales, up to $5,000. After the goal is hit the two organizations continue to select small, local, state certified 501C-3 and 501C-6 non-profits. The goal is to find the local non-profit organizations that this money would make a large impact to. In regards to the 253 Pilsner 7 Seas co-owner and head brewer Travis Guterson brewed more than five test batches, with different hops and different malts, to dial-in the recipe. “Travis settled on Sterling and Cascade hops,” says his business partner, Mike Runion. “It’s a Northwest interpretation of a pilsner.” Guterson and Runion brewed the 253 Pilsner with Northwest Pale and Pilsner malt, hopped with said hops, for a 100 percent Washington, refreshing, dry and crisp authentic premium pilsner.
