In 2009, Hopsteiner Breeding Program released Delta (Hopsteiner 04188), a cross of two well-known varieties: the earthy English Fuggles and floral Cascade — the quintessential flavor of West Coast beers — which is itself a blend of Fuggles and the Russian hop Serebrianker. Originally bred as a Willamette replacement, Delta’s superior yield and improved disease tolerance give it an edge. Spicy and earthy with slight citrus aromas, Delta has been labeled a “Super Willamette.” It’s a great variety substitute for Willamette or Fuggle. Fuggle is usually a pretty subtle hop, but Delta has a stronger, more assertive character — an American punch, if you will. The flavor is similarly complex, with citrusy, melon-like notes and an herbal, grassy quality. Peaks and Pints is flying Delta today with our Craft Beer Crosscut 9.2.17: A Flight of Delta.
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.
Deschutes Obsidian Stout
6.4% ABV, 55 IBU
We’re such big fans of Deschutes Brewery’s barrel-aged goodness that’s it’s sometime easy to forget that the brewery also makes one of the best American-style stouts in the world — a stout as black as the nearby volcanic flow from which it is named. Big on roast, Obsidian Stout’s flavor flows toward a sharp coffee and chocolate with just enough hop bite from Delta, Nugget, Bravo and Northern Brewer to cut the sweetness. Roasted malt and barley give it a full, toasty finish
Deschutes Swivelhead Red
6.5% ABV, 70 IBU
This India style red ale has a signature Deschutes Brewery twist: herbal hop character from European varietals (added in American quantities), along with a light melon accent from Australian hops. Tropical citrus this is not; it’s much closer to an amber ale, with English yeast and a mixture of seven hops (Nugget, Delta, U.S. Tettnang, Crystal, Northern Brewer, Triskel, Summer) that create more of an herbal-tea feel. While hoppy, it doesn’t slam the tongue with them at all — a pleasant diversion from the norm. While the label alone on this beer is enough to turn heads, cracking open the bottle is when the real magic happens with a distinct hop aroma and smooth caramel maltiness.
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.
Stone Enjoy By 09.04.17 Unfiltered IPA
9.4% ABV, 90 IBU
Stone Brewing’s hop-driven quest to deliver the most devastatingly fresh IPA on the planet facilitated a paradigm shift in 2012 with the launch of Stone Enjoy By IPA. The timer has started and we’re near the end of the clock for Stone’s Enjoy By 9.4.17 Unfiltered IPA. This version of Stone Enjoy By IPA omits the part where the California brewery filters out the extra yeast, hop sediment and proteins that build up in beer as a natural result of the brewing process. By letting this double IPA go unfiltered, its peach and tropical fruit hop flavors — all 12 hops including Delta — are amplified while its golden-hued color takes on a hazy appearance.
