21st Amendment to Release Hop Crisis Imperial IPA
02 Jul 2014 --- This July, 21st Amendment Brewery co-founders Nico Freccia and Shaun O’Sullivan are breaking out of Alcatraz – again – for the newest release of their Hop Crisis Imperial IPA.
A few years ago, when hop prices shot through the roof and many brewers were forced to skimp on hops, the folks at 21st Amendment decided there was only one thing to do. They made the biggest, hoppiest IPA they could imagine and then aged it in oak for good measure. And this year’s special release includes a double dry hopping regimen with new, experimental hops added to old favorites.
“We love to experiment with the hops in this beer each year and it’s especially fun to see how they interact with the oak,” says brewmaster O’Sullivan. “This year we are using a new, yet to be named, experimental hop as well as a new Australian variety and some classics like Saaz, Amarillo and Citra. Coming in at 9.7% alcohol, it’s really balanced with subtle layers of flavor.”
“The Alcatraz reference on our package is about our alter egos and their quest to ‘Free the Hops’,” noted Freccia. “And it’s a great opportunity to have fun with this beer on every level. A daring escape through the sewer pipe, surfing monster waves while being chased by a great white shark and a high speed getaway on the San Francisco cable car are all part of the adventure,” he adds. “Somehow I end up wearing a dress at the end of all of it, though, which I’m still not sure about.”
