Simcoe was introduced in 2000 by Yakima Chief Ranches as a proprietary hop varietal with strong bitter and aromatic qualities. Little has been released about its parentage, but it has been compared to Cascade. Although not used much as a bittering hop, many craft brewers favor Simcoe for its unique aroma profile composed of piney, woody, and grapefruit citrus notes mixed with slightly dank and spicy notes of onion and garlic. We certainly enjoy it, and deem worthy of a beer flight. Craft Beer Crosscut 3.6.17: A Flight of Simcoe is on today.
Alpine Duet IPA
7% ABV, 45 IBU
Simcoe and Amarillo. Not a buddy-buddy cop movie but rather the only two hops in Alpine Beer Co.’s Duet IPA. On the nose, grassy and straw notes coincide with the pine and tangerine citrus hop blast. On the tongue, we definitely pick up the “old school” nature of the two hops — pine, grapefruit and earthy — as well as tangerine. A touch of honey and toast are also in the mix while the beer presents a pretty good amount of bite for just 45 IBU.
Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA
6% ABV, 60 IBU
Founded by Sam Calagione in 1995 as a brewpub in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Dogfish Head expanded and moved to a 100,000 square foot facility in nearby Milton, DE in 2002. Their commitment to the unconventional — exemplified by their motto, “Off-Centered Ales For Off-Centered People” — extends to their line of “Minutes” IPAs named for the number of minutes they’re boiled and continuously hopped for. Dogfish’s best selling beer, the 60 Minute IPA, includes Simcoe in the boil as well as in the dry-hopping process. The 60 minutes of continuous hopping with Simcoe and other Northwest hops contributes to sweet aroma of apricot and pear. The beer doesn’t taste as sweet as it smells. Instead we taste notes of pungent grapefruit pith with a slight bitterness.
Fort George Vortex IPA
7.7% ABV, 97 IBU
Caught in a tornado in the Midwest while hauling their original brew system cross country from Virginia, it made sense from Fort George Brewery to whip up Vortex IPA. With a hearty 7.7% ABV unfiltered, unpasteurized organic malt spine that makes way for Simcoe, Amarillo, and Centennial hops this IPA is medium bodied with a resinous mouthfeel, grapefruit more than pine and finishes with lingering hop bitterness. This beer is straight up delicious.
Maritime Pacific Ship Faced IPA
7.5% ABV, 80 IBU
Maritime Pacific‘s new Ship Faced IPA’s fleeting white head is imbued with robust hoppy scents: Grapefruit and pine meld in a spirited aroma. Dank pine emerges in the middle, showcasing the versatility of pungent Simcoe hops. With hop flavors blossoming in the mouth, a wave of bitterness rushes the tongue for a long, dry finish. As single-hop beers grow in popularity, this carefully constructed Simcoe showcase sets the bar high.
Hop Valley Alpha Centauri Binary
9% ABV, 100 IBU
After graduating from Oregon State University’s fermentation sciences program and honing his hoppilicious skills at Pelican Brewing Co. and Rogue’s Tracktown Brewpub, Trevor Howard busted out deep, dank, and delicious craft beers as co-owner and head brewer at Eugene, Oregon’s Hop Valley Brewing Co. Howard commemorated Hop Valley’s 100th batch with the floral and grapefruity phenom Alpha Centauri Binary. A hazy orangey hue from Great Western 2-Row and Munich malts are the fulcrum to an orchestra of Simcoe, Galena, Amarillo, Centennial and Cascade hops.
