Jack Black Unveils 2024 Fresh Hop IPA: A Celebration of Freshness
South African craft brewer Jack Black has launched its highly anticipated 2024 Fresh Hop IPA, a limited-edition brew crafted with hops sourced directly from the harvest. This session IPA is a passion project for Jack Black’s brewers, available only during the brief hop harvest window.
Brewed with Freshness in Mind
The Fresh Hop IPA utilizes hops harvested on the same day at farms in George, South Africa. This unique approach delivers an explosion of flavor and aroma unlike beers made with standard pelletized hops. The aroma profile typically features notes of passion fruit, melon, litchi, and guava, with the fresh cone hops adding exciting undertones of fresh-cut grass, summer rain, and earthy tones.
Balancing Hops and Malt
Brewing with fresh hops presents unique challenges, according to Ryan Behnken, Shift Lead Brewer at Jack Black. “The exact amount of alpha acids (bitterness) is unpredictable, and the whole cones take up more space, potentially impacting equipment.”
Jack Black addresses these challenges through a multi-stage hopping process, maximizing flavor and aroma extraction. This includes late additions during the whirlpool and transfer to fermenters.
2024 Release Details
This year’s Fresh Hop IPA features Simcoe, Centennial, and Cryo Citra hops, offering a balance of citrus, floral, and tropical characteristics. The fresh hops also contribute a unique mouthfeel not achievable with standard hops.
The 2024 Fresh Hop IPA is available for purchase online, via email, or by phone. It boasts a 5.1% alcohol by volume (ABV) and 43 International Bitterness Units (IBUs).
For more information on stockists and future limited-edition releases, follow Jack Black on social media.
