Beer of the Weekend #235: Hop Wrangler
On Wednesday I sent the 1,045-word first draft of my LV article to the editor. In response, he said there was only room for 500 words. Shit.
Just as the spirit of ‘01 helped me write the piece, it will help me pare it down: “GUT IT!”
A couple weeks ago I asked Joe Hotek, the chief bier guy at Dirty John’s, if he would be cool being photographed and asked his favorite Iowa beer for a DI-esque “On the Spot.” He said yes, and that his current favorite beer brewed in the state was Peace Tree’s Hop Wrangler.
Hop Wrangler, eh?
Last Friday I interviewed Nate Kaeding, co-owner of Short’s Burger and Shine. (Yes, that Nate Kaeding.) He sauntered in when I was sitting at the bar, drinking a pre-interview John’s Generations White Ale. He walked behind the bar, grabbed a pint, and poured himself a Hop Wrangler.
Huh. Hop Wrangler.
So why all the hype about Hop Wrangler? Is it truly a good beer, or is just because it’s loaded with hops? (Right now I am convinced anyone can brew a good IPA. Just load it with enough Centennial hops so the grapefruit citrus and bitterness will overpower the unappealing qualities. You’re guaranteed B+ ratings on BA.) I asked Mervgotti about it last night and he said it was just a fad, something people have attached themselves to because the brewery is new. Whatever it is, I am going to find out tonight. Frankly, I am very eager to try it since everything I have had from Peace Tree has been lackluster. It must be the strain of yeast they use because everything, to a certain degree, reminds me of Cornucopia. Blah!
The beer of the weekend is Hop Wrangler, brewed by the Peace Tree Brewing Company of Knoxville, Iowa.
Serving type: Six 12-ounce stubby bottles, which is Peace Tree’s packaging trademark. It looks like there is some kind of batch code or freshness date printed on the label, but it is unreadable.
Appearance: Straight pour into a tulip glass. The color is a medium amber that is still a little straw bright. Two fingers of eggshell-colored head dissipated to leave a bubbly lacing and thick ring around the edge.
Smell: Creamy and hoppy. There is a lot of grapefruit citrus from the hops, but there is also an adequate amount of slightly toasted caramel maltiness that provides a little balance. There is also a little bit of pine spice.
Taste: It has Peace Tree’s typical, farmhouse Belgian yeast taste (blah), but it is mitigated by the aggressive hops. Grapefruit citrus, pine spice, and a little bit of toasted malts (caramel).
Drinkability: Again, the yeast triggers bad memories of their saison, but this is a decent IPA. I would prefer it not be Belgian-style, but that is not Peace Tree’s thing.
Fun facts about Hop Wrangler:
-Style: Peace Tree calls it a “classic IPA,” while it is classified on BA as a Belgian IPA:
-Price: $9.99/sixer at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.
-Serving temperature: As per usual with Peace Tree, the label advises to “SERVE AT 8ºC (48ºF).”
-Alcohol content: 6.25 percent ABV, which used to be the limit for self or private distribution in Iowa. (Everything higher needed to be sold through the state distributor.)
-Food pairings: BA recommends sharp cheeses (Blue, Cheddar), pungent cheeses (Gorgonzola, Limburger), tangy cheeses (Brick, Edam, Feta), and salad.
-Micro nerdiness about the beer via the Peace Tree website:
The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.
Just as the spirit of ‘01 helped me write the piece, it will help me pare it down: “GUT IT!”
A couple weeks ago I asked Joe Hotek, the chief bier guy at Dirty John’s, if he would be cool being photographed and asked his favorite Iowa beer for a DI-esque “On the Spot.” He said yes, and that his current favorite beer brewed in the state was Peace Tree’s Hop Wrangler.
Hop Wrangler, eh?
Last Friday I interviewed Nate Kaeding, co-owner of Short’s Burger and Shine. (Yes, that Nate Kaeding.) He sauntered in when I was sitting at the bar, drinking a pre-interview John’s Generations White Ale. He walked behind the bar, grabbed a pint, and poured himself a Hop Wrangler.
Huh. Hop Wrangler.
So why all the hype about Hop Wrangler? Is it truly a good beer, or is just because it’s loaded with hops? (Right now I am convinced anyone can brew a good IPA. Just load it with enough Centennial hops so the grapefruit citrus and bitterness will overpower the unappealing qualities. You’re guaranteed B+ ratings on BA.) I asked Mervgotti about it last night and he said it was just a fad, something people have attached themselves to because the brewery is new. Whatever it is, I am going to find out tonight. Frankly, I am very eager to try it since everything I have had from Peace Tree has been lackluster. It must be the strain of yeast they use because everything, to a certain degree, reminds me of Cornucopia. Blah!
The beer of the weekend is Hop Wrangler, brewed by the Peace Tree Brewing Company of Knoxville, Iowa.
Serving type: Six 12-ounce stubby bottles, which is Peace Tree’s packaging trademark. It looks like there is some kind of batch code or freshness date printed on the label, but it is unreadable.
Appearance: Straight pour into a tulip glass. The color is a medium amber that is still a little straw bright. Two fingers of eggshell-colored head dissipated to leave a bubbly lacing and thick ring around the edge.
Smell: Creamy and hoppy. There is a lot of grapefruit citrus from the hops, but there is also an adequate amount of slightly toasted caramel maltiness that provides a little balance. There is also a little bit of pine spice.
Taste: It has Peace Tree’s typical, farmhouse Belgian yeast taste (blah), but it is mitigated by the aggressive hops. Grapefruit citrus, pine spice, and a little bit of toasted malts (caramel).
Drinkability: Again, the yeast triggers bad memories of their saison, but this is a decent IPA. I would prefer it not be Belgian-style, but that is not Peace Tree’s thing.
Fun facts about Hop Wrangler:
-Style: Peace Tree calls it a “classic IPA,” while it is classified on BA as a Belgian IPA:
Inspired by the American India Pale Ale (IPA) and Double IPA, more and more Belgian brewers are brewing hoppy pale colored ales for the US market (like Chouffe & Urthel), and there's been an increase of Belgian IPAs being brewed by American brewers. Generally, Belgian IPAs are considered too hoppy by Belgian beer drinkers.
Various malts are used, but the beers of the style are finished with Belgian yeast strains (bottle-conditioned) and the hops employed tend to be American. You'll generally find a cleaner bitterness vs. American styles, and a pronounced dry edge (very Belgian), often akin to an IPA crossed with a Belgian Tripel. Alcohol by volume is on the high side. Many examples are quite cloudy, and feature tight lacing, excellent retention, and fantastic billowy heads that mesmerize (thanks, in part, to the hops).
Belgian IPA is still very much a style in development.
-Price: $9.99/sixer at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.
-Serving temperature: As per usual with Peace Tree, the label advises to “SERVE AT 8ºC (48ºF).”
-Alcohol content: 6.25 percent ABV, which used to be the limit for self or private distribution in Iowa. (Everything higher needed to be sold through the state distributor.)
-Food pairings: BA recommends sharp cheeses (Blue, Cheddar), pungent cheeses (Gorgonzola, Limburger), tangy cheeses (Brick, Edam, Feta), and salad.
-Micro nerdiness about the beer via the Peace Tree website:
Joe’s multinational take on a classic IPA. IPA’s are known for their intense hop bitterness, flavor and aromas. First, Joe used American and English malt, then American and English hops are added during the mash, first wort, boil, and finally it’s dry hopped for aroma. Belgium gets involved with the yeast and a special candy sugar finish for smoothness and flavor.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.
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