We recently got a message on our Facebook page (http://facebook.com/gomadhops) from Andy Borchert of Hibbing, Minnesota. He and his friends had just sampled a Mad Hops Variety 6-Pack and had some really nice things to say about the products. I answered him back to say thanks and that started a conversation about fruit-flavored beer, craft beer, and how many hops you need to make the perfect pale ale.
The following is a summary of our conversation:
Mad Hops
Love this picture. Looks like you were having a tasting event! Where was this taken?
Andy
It was taken at Mr. Nick’s Corner Bar in Hibbing. It was not an event, really – just a normal Sunday, go down to the pub after a long day…
Mad Hops
What did you think of Mad Hops?
Andy
Well to start off I am not too big into fruit flavors in beer, yet you all changed mine and a few other’s minds that night. The apple was amazing; not what I was expecting at all. I figured it would have the flavor of an apple ale like Redd’s or something along that line. But it did not and I loved it.
The lime added such a beautiful accent to the beer, and the blueberry was also one of my favorites. Just an outstanding balance of flavor. The cherry wheat I could not wrap my mind around. It added so much flavor yet was not overpowering.
Mad Hops
So the fruit flavors were surprising, but I bet you were most looking forward to the two “craft beer” flavors.
Andy
We were super excited to try the pale ale and the porter. The Irish porter was absolutely wonderful. Beautiful notes of coffee, it even changed the head on the beer to look like a porter!
The pale ale was not what I was expecting. I felt like it needed more hops. I tried it in two different beers, including Michelob Golden Light. What beer do you use to sample your pale ale?
Mad Hops
Any beer that does not have a lot of flavor will work well with Mad Hops. We usually use PBR, Bud Light or the local Upstate NY macro beer Genesee. What flavor were you expecting with the pale ale?
Andy
Hoppy, bitter, notes of the malts.
Mad Hops
I appreciate that, Andy. We based our recipe on the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, which is not the hoppiest or bitterest one out there. The beer industry uses the IBU (International Bittering Units) scale to quantify the bitterness of beer. A typical beer has 10 IBUs; Pale Ales are around 25 to 50. Ours is closer to the low end, as is the Sierra Nevada.
One of the advantages of Mad Hops is you can elevate the bitterness yourself by adding a few more drops to your glass. Some people like it strong, some not so strong. You can add a little Mexican Lime to bump up that citrus flavor that many people like.
We are currently hard at work on an IPA, which is similar to the pale ale but will be even hoppier and more bitter.
Andy
Oh an IPA would make my day!
Mad Hops
LOL! We get that a LOT, which is why we are taking extra care with it. It’s tough because there are so many great varieties of IPA. You have to pick one style out of hundreds. With Cherry Wheat it was easy to choose a beer to model after (Sam Adams), not so with the craft beer flavors…
Andy
I can understand where you are having a problem with IPAs. There are far too many and it would be hard to please everyone. You should look at New Belgium; they have nice balanced IPAs.
Mad Hops
That sounds like a good idea. Our “Mad” scientists are modeling it on a middle-of-the-road IPA, not overpoweringly bitter but more hoppy than the pale ale, which sounds like what you are looking for…
Andy
Can’t wait for it, your product is and will be a one-of-a-kind game changer for every occasion.
I wish there was more time for a heads up because there is a beer tasting event coming up on the 24th in Hinckley, MN and your product would be a crowd pleaser.
Mad Hops
Tastings are really the way to go because you sometimes need to overcome people’s initial skepticism before you get buy-in.
Andy
I would love to show people your product, I personally love it and the thought of it.
Mad Hops
We are looking for people to help us get the word out about the product. We’ll be happy to offer you a commission on any sales that you generate. Sign up on our Hopster page.
Andy
Sounds good. I love your products and would give them all a 5 star review and will definitely be telling people to buy it. I know I will always have a few on hand when I go anywhere. Thank you!
Mad Hops
Thank you, Andy.
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