It’s a special time of the year in the Pacific Northwest. Fresh hop beers are everywhere. Oktoberfest events are well underway across the region. With the latest releases from Ground Breaker Brewing, gluten-free craft beer lovers are enjoying the seasonal offerings. The award-winning and certified gluten-free craft brewery out of Portland, Oregon, has released three fresh hop beers and an Oktoberfest-style Märzen lager.

Every late summer, the brewers from Ground Breaker make the trek to Goschie Farms to pick up fresh hops during the harvest. It’s a once-a-year opportunity to make special beers that many consider to be the epitome of Oregon beer.

Epoch

Fresh Hop IPA Brewed With Strata Hops

“I think living in this region it’s easy to take these beers for granted,” said Operations Manager Jesse Bufton. “The truth is that they are unique to our region. In my opinion, they are the defining style of beer for Oregon and Washington.”

Epoch, a West Coast-style India Pale Ale brewed with fresh Strata hops, was released on September 20th in 16-ounce cans. Strata, first released in 2018, was developed by Indie Hops in partnership with Oregon State University. It quickly became a favorite at the brewery.

“We loved this hop from the moment our friends at Indie Hops introduced us to it,” said Founder James Neumeister. “It’s perfect to make a fresh hop beer with.”

Gayle

Fresh Hop IPA Brewed With Crystal Hops

Gayle, an IPA brewed with fresh Crystal hops, is set to be released on October 5th. Available in 16-ounce cans, this beer is named after Gayle Goschie, the President of Goschie Farms. Gayle’s family business has grown hops in Oregon for 120 years.

Epoch and Gayle will be on draft at the Ground Breaker Brewpub on Saturday, October 5th, for a special celebration of fresh hop beers. The brewpub will also be pouring a small batch of their flagship beer, IPA No. 5, dry-hopped with fresh Cascade hops from Goschie Farm.

Amber Lager

Bavarian-inspired Oktoberfest Märzen Lager

Not to be forgotten, Ground Breaker has a release for lager lovers as well. Amber Lager, the brewery’s Oktoberfest-style Märzen lager, was released on September 20th.

Available in a 16-ounce can, this malty Bavarian-inspired lager has become a mainstay in the brewery’s late-summer release schedule. It is currently available on draft at Ground Breaker’s Brewpub, located at 2030 SE 7th Ave. in Portland, Oregon.

Fresh Hop releases are coming earlier and earlier every year. It’s no different at Ground Breaker Brewing, the first dedicated and most decorated gluten-free brewery in the United States. The Portland, OR based craft brewery is set to release Epoch Fresh Hop IPA on September 8th. Epoch is brewed with 200 pounds of fresh StrataⓇ hops from Goschie Farms and Indie Hops.

“It’s an exciting time of the year for us, we’re always happy when we get to share fresh hop beers with our customers,” said Head Brewer Tyler Kueber.

Ground Breaker’s second fresh hop release will arrive on September 21st. Gayle Fresh Hop IPA is named after Gayle Goschie and brewed with 200 pounds of fresh Crystal hops sourced from Goschie Farms. “This is our tenth year working with Gayle Goschie,” said Founder James Neumeister. “It’s always a pleasure to go out to the farm and see her. We look forward to it every year. She really grows the best hops in the Pacific Northwest.”

Gayle Fresh Hop IPA, made with fresh Crystal hops

Ground Breaker’s fresh hop releases will soon begin hitting store shelves in distributed territories across the United States and possibly as far as British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. “We do our best to ensure every one of our distribution partners has the opportunity to bring in at least a few cases,” said Operations Manager Jesse Bufton. “If you’re a Ground Breaker customer and you’re having trouble finding Epoch or Gayle in your area, reach out to us, reach out to your local distributor. We’ll do our best to get the beer to you.”

Ground Breaker Brewing is doubling up on the fresh hop fun. Epoch, a fresh hop IPA brewed with Strata hops, is due to hit store shelves in the third week of September. In early October, Ground Breaker will release Gayle, a fresh hop IPA brewed with Crystal hops. Epoch and Gayle will join Ground Breaker’s Experiment Ale Series. 

Strata, at one time known as X-331, is an aroma hop that was developed over 7 years in cooperation between Indie Hops and Oregon State University. High-yielding and bursting with tropical fruit and herbal dank aroma, this brand-new be-all hop has the brewing industry abuzz with anticipation. “We were very excited to get our hands on this amazing new Oregon-developed hop variety,” said Tyler Kueber, head brewer at Ground Breaker. “Going into the hop back it smelled great, going into the tank it smelled even better. I am very happy for this opportunity to provide a new hop experience for the gluten-free community.”

After releasing one gluten-free fresh hop beer for the last two years, Ground Breaker made the decision to distribute two this fresh hop season. “Gayle was very successful last year and we knew we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to play with a new aroma hop,” said James Neumeister, founder of Ground Breaker Brewing. “We love the tropical fruit aroma hops that are becoming available, but we’re still fans that Northwest forest aroma. Why not provide both?”

Epoch IPA and Gayle IPA will be distributed in a 22-ounce package in Ground Breaker territory. 

Gluten-free beer lovers can try both Ground Breaker fresh hop IPAs as well as an “estate” fresh hop blonde ale at Ground Breaker’s first Gluten-Free Fresh Hop Festival. The festival will take place at the gastropub located at 2030 SE 7th Ave Portland, OR 97214, on September 30 from 12pm-9pm. 

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About Ground Breaker Brewing
Ground Breaker Brewing is a gluten-free craft brewery and Gastropub founded in 2011. They are dedicated to making 100% gluten-free beer; using ingredients which are naturally gluten-free and allowing no gluten in their facility. Ground Breaker has won a medal in the gluten-free category at the Great American Beer Festival® each year they have entered. The gastropub is located at 2030 SE 7th Ave. in Portland, OR. Ground Breaker’s beers are distributed in OR, WA, ID, CA, VT, ME, MA, RI, BC, AB and Japan.
https://www.groundbreakerbrewing.com/
facebook.com/groundbreakerbrewing

About Goschie Farms
Goschie Farms, nestled within the hills of the Pacific Northwest's scenic Willamette Valley, has been a fixture in the Oregon farming community for 130 years. The farm's current location was established by Herman and Vernice Goschie. It is now managed year-round by three of their children: Gordon, Gayle, and Glenn in addition to a cadre of wonderful team members. Frequently cited as an example for sustainable farming practices, Goschie Farms was the first hop farm in the nation to be certified as Salmon-Safe and now grows all of its crops in accordance with salmon-safe guidelines.
http://goschiefarms.com/hops.html

About Indie Hops
Indie Hops supplies Oregon-grown aroma hops to craft brewers. The Willamette Valley's rich alluvial soils, long summer days, family operated century farms, and pioneering spirit all combine to create the environment where world-class aroma hops thrive, in a culture that naturally supports craft brewing.
http://indiehops.com/

The Pacific Northwest hop harvest is in full swing. Beer enthusiasts are rejoicing as fresh hop beers hit store shelves. Ground Breaker Brewing is ensuring that those with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivities don’t miss out on all the fresh hop fun.

Every year around this time, the crew at Ground Breaker make the pilgrimage to Goschie Farms to collect hops that are fresh out of the field. This year the journey was the same, but the hops and the beer will be different. In years past, Ground Breaker has showcased a pale ale brewed with Meridian hops. For 2016 they’re rolling out an IPA made with 180 pounds of fresh Crystal hops. 

Brewer Tim Barr prepares the hop back

Brimming with Crystal hops, this beer celebrates an aroma that conjures the scent of an Oregon forest. Of course, a new beer means a new name. Ground Breaker is calling their fresh hop IPA Gayle, in honor of Gayle Goschie. 

The Ground Breaker Gastropub will be hosting a Fried Chicken Dinner Wednesday, September 28th to coincide with the release of the beer. Gayle will be distributed in a 22 ounce package and should begin making its way onto store shelves in the first week of October in Oregon and Washington. 

Last weekend Ground Breaker made their annual trek to Goschie Farms in Silverton, Oregon to pick up 150 pounds of fresh Meridian hops. Most of the brewery crew cut their Labor Day weekend short to take advantage of this once a year opportunity, and we thank them.

The fresh hop version of Ground Breaker’s Pale Ale is unlike anything else the brewery offers. Fresh Meridian hops add an herbal character and brings their lemon-candy characteristic forward in a far different way from brewing with kilned hops.

Fresh Hop Meridian Pale Ale will be available in bottles and on draft Wednesday, September 16th, in the Ground Breaker Gastropub. Bottles and a few kegs will be headed to retailers in Oregon and Washington later the same week.