These Brew Dudes present a SMaSH beer to learn more about Evergreen hops. Sometimes, the name is a descriptor. We were wondering if the variety lived up to its label. Would our minds be made up before we tasted the beer? Would we already think that this hop brought pine aromas and flavors without our analysis? Watch and find out!

Stay evergreen

Brewing Process & Initial Thoughts

The brewing process for this Evergreen SMaSH was straightforward. We split the 28.3 grams of hops between four key points: 60 minutes, 15 minutes, flame-out, and dry-hopping three days into fermentation. This method ensures that we capture the full range of what the hop has to offer.

From the start, the aroma of the wort was intriguing, but as the beer fermented and matured, it became clear that this hop had more complexity than we initially anticipated. When the beer was cold, it presented a surprisingly strong, bitter presence that was unlike any of the other SMaSH beers we’ve brewed recently. As the beer warmed, the flavors became more pronounced, revealing a pithy, vegetal, and almost herbal character that was both unique and challenging to describe. We picked up on notes of white peach, watermelon rind, and an unmistakable geranium-like aroma, with a green, pungent, and somewhat off-putting taste profile.

Our Take on Evergreen Hops

After spending some time with this beer, we both agreed that Evergreen hops are not what we expected. The flavor profile was far from the piney, citrus-forward experience we were hoping for. Instead, it delivered a mix of earthy, herbal, and somewhat strange flavors that left us puzzled. However, the hop’s complexity isn’t without its merits. We discussed how it might work well in a more robust beer style, like an imperial stout with chocolate and cayenne or even a mint stout, where its strong, green character could be balanced by other bold ingredients.

In the end, while this experiment didn’t produce a beer we’d rush to brew again, it gave us valuable insights into how Evergreen hops might be used in more creative, boundary-pushing brews. For those looking to explore new hop varieties, Evergreen might be worth a try—just be prepared for a flavor journey that’s anything but conventional.

Brew On!