Chasin’ Freshies: Celebrating the Pacific Northwest Fresh Hop Season

If you know hops, you know the Pacific Northwest (PNW) is home to some of the best in the world. And if you know beer, you know fresh hop season is one of the most exciting times of the year. Every fall, as the days start to get shorter and the air a little crisper, hop farmers across Oregon and Washington are busy harvesting the star ingredient behind your favorite IPAs. At Deschutes Brewery, we’re gearing up for one of our favorite traditions: brewing Chasin’ Freshies, our annual fresh hop IPA.

What Makes Fresh Hop Season So Special?

Most hops used in beer are dried and pelletized so brewers can use them year-round. But fresh hops are picked straight from the bine and brewed within a couple of hours to lock in their delicate, just-harvested aromas and flavors. 

Think of it like farm-to-table dining, but for beer. Instead of shipping across the country or sitting in storage, these hops go straight from the farm to the kettle. The result? A beer that captures the fleeting magic of hop harvest season—bright, green, and bursting with vibrant hop character.

How We Brew Chasin’ Freshies

Each year, our brewers partner with local hop growers to hand-select the perfect hop variety for Chasin’ Freshies. Once harvest day arrives, we move fast. The hops are harvested in the morning, loaded into a truck, and hauled directly to our brewhouse.

From there, our team gets to work, packing the brew with as many freshly picked hops as possible. This year’s Chasin’ Freshies features 2,000 pounds of fresh Centennial hops, known for its unique flavor and versatility with a blend of floral, citrus and pine notes. The result is an IPA that’s bright, deep, fresh and exploding with flavor!

Why You Don’t Want to Miss It

Fresh hop beer is seasonal by nature and only happens once a year, so once it’s gone, it’s gone. Chasin’ Freshies is our way of celebrating the PNW hop harvest and the incredible farmers who make it possible.

So, grab a pint while you can, toast to another harvest season, and taste the freshest hops of the year.

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