In 2005, third-generation plants were created and a large-scale field test was conducted at the Emerald Hop Ranch in Sunnyside, Washington. Declared a success, #01046 was re-christened “Bravo” and S.S. Steiner, who operated the hop fields in Washington, filed a patent application. The following year yielded the first commercially available Bravo hops, which are considered a “super alpha” hop due to it’s high alpha acid percentage, making it ideal for bittering applications since a smaller amount can be used to achieve desired levels of bitterness. In addition to excellent bittering Bravo showcases orange, vanilla and sweet floral aroma characteristics too. Today, Peaks and Pints showcases craft beer brewed with Bravo hops in our Craft Beer Crosscut 6.24.17: A Flight of Bravo.
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!
Anderson Valley Boont Amber
5.8% ABV, 18 IBU
Anderson Valley Brewing’s Boont Amber is our customer’s go-to for highly drinkable amber. Boont Amber arrives a dark copper with a massive, pearly head. The aroma is clean and dry, like field grasses with subtle, sweet orange scents. The flavor is balanced and clean, with caramel, toffee, macadamia nuts and pecan that last long into the aftertaste. The Mount Hood, Northern Brewer, Bravo and Columbus hops lend both a citrus flavor and a moderate level of bitterness. Boont Amber’s thin body goes down easy; the carbonation only slightly bites the sides of the cheeks.
Backwoods Ridge Run Stout
6.5% ABV, 20 IBU
Backwoods Brewing’s Ridge Run Stout pours a deep, dark mahogany — almost black —with a creamy, cocoa brown head. Brewed with roasted barley, Chocolate Malt and flaked oats, this oatmeal stout hits the nose with cocoa, coffee, roasted malt, molasses, toffee, marshmallow and subtle, creamy vanilla. Ridge Run tastes even better than its aroma with everything the nose foretold — a gentle note of coffee, finished with notes of chocolate and roasted barley. Bravo and Fuggle hops bring appreciable mild hop bitterness in the mix, too.
Iron Horse Hopping Hands Project: Bravo
6.7% ABV, 45 IBU
Independent craft breweries in the United States often contribute to military causes. Some of the breweries have taken their support one step further with beneficial campaigns, such as iron Horse Brewery in Ellensburg, Washington. Iron Horse Brewery launched the Hopping Hands Project in May; a four-month, single hop IPA release with proceeds benefitting the Veterans Conservation Corps, a department of the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs. The VCC provides opportunities for veterans to connect with nature in their own way while restoring Washington’s natural resources. Bravo hops are the one-star general for Iron Horse in June. Expect a floral orange zest on the nose, smooth mouthfeel, piney resinous on the tongue and Iron Horse to give proceeds from the Hopping Hands Project keg directly to the VCC.
New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA
9% ABV, 70 IBU
When it comes to releasing new beers, New Belgium Brewing didn’t hold back. The Fort Collins, Colo.-based brewery released seven new beers earlier this year, including Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA brewed with Bravo, Calypso, Delta and Mosaic hops. This rare blend of hops creates an explosion of fresh-cut pine, citrus flavors, sweet malt, caramel and resinous hop flavor with a medium body and a bitter finish.
