Let's Get Wet

Wet Hop Beers in NYC and the brewery that Chuck built

I spent a lot of time thinking about agriculture this weekend. My friend and I drove through some of the most productive land in the country: California’s Central Valley. I saw so many almond trees, broccoli fields, and citrus groves as we made our way down two-lane highways surrounded by fields filled with parked cars and hard-working farm workers in the midst of the harvest, who deserve all our praise and far more respect for what they do.

Agriculture is incredible important to every facet of our lives, and beer is no exception. Which is why I have to respect our nation’s hop farmers, but especially the ones here in New York, who have seized an opportunity over the past decade to revive an industry that was very much dead for nearly a century. Back in 2012, when New York State’s Farm Brewery Bill became law, it would have been unthinkable that a venue in New York would host a festival featuring wet hop beers from local breweries… let alone three of them. And yet, here we are, in 2024, with the Hop Growers of New York hosting an event in Manhattan, pouring local beers brewed with local hops, picked fresh off the bines and straight into the boil kettle within hours.

This concept might not seem particularly novel to New York beer drinkers, but it’s worth noting that the Pacific Northwest has reaped the benefits of this concept for well over two decades, embracing wet-hopping at a time when hop-forward beers became popular, and serving them across the region, where the vast majority of American hops are grown. And as someone who has made many visits to Oregon and Washington in September and October, I can assure you, there is a noticeable difference in beers that are wet-hopped.

And that’s exactly why I’m excited that on Sunday, September 22nd, Torch & Crown’s Union Square location will be hosting the Wet Hop Festival, put on as the first of three celebrations of beers wet-hopped with New York-grown hops held by the Hop Growers of New York. The event, which will run from 2-7pm, will feature beers brewed with the freshest of the fresh New York State hops, going straight from the bine to the brew kettle in mere hours. Not only is it a chance for you to enjoy these unique beers, but it’s also a fundraiser for the Hop Growers of New York, whose mission is to be a structured resource for the research, education, and best practices that impact New York’s hop growers.

Tickets are on sale now for $20 and include a stainless steel tasting cup, samples of three beers, and a vote for the people’s choice beer, who will win the Glass Hop Award.

This is just the first of three such events across the state. September 28th, they’ll celebrate at Rusty Nickel Brewing in Buffalo, and the grand finale will be on October 5th at Indian Ladder Farms in Altamont in Albany County.

Brewery Tracker

Total brewery count: 3,512
Total breweries visited in 2024: 228
Total breweries visited in California: 324

Brewery Visit of the Week

Brewery #3499, Silva Brewing, Paso Robles, California (Visited 24-Aug-2024)

What’s in a name? In the case of Silva Brewing, it’s a reputation. The sign over the taproom bar reads “the brewery that Chuck built.” Chuck, in this case, is Chuck Silva, the man who was at the helm of San Diego’s Green Flash Brewing in the first half of the 2010s. His had a nationally-known reputation for making award-winning beers, from Green Flash’s signature West Coast IPAs (back when we just called them “IPAs”) and potent stouts like the beer that carried his name — Silva Stout. Chuck left Green Flash in 2015 and relocated to Paso Robles to be closer to family, and while Green Flash is a shadow of its former self, Silva’s reputation lives on in Silva Brewing, which he opened in 2016, sharing his approach to brewing with the Central Coast of California.

Not surprisingly, the beer here is excellent. I walked in and immediately ordered an IPA — the Laughing Pecker transported me back to the era where you could see through nearly every IPA. The Paso Pale, Jazz Flute Witbier, and Silva Pils were excellent, too. And the stouts Chuck makes are as good as ever, and he’s an absolute pro with barrel-aging. Meanwhile, he turned a Covid-era experiment in winemaking into a complementary business in Amok Cellars. Silva’s awards for his wines show he’s not a one-trick pony when it comes to alcohol-making. I’m delighted to see that Chuck’s reputation is still top-notch, and while it’s a shame the nation doesn’t get to delight in his beers anymore, it’s worth the trip to Paso Robles to taste what he’s up to now.

The Doom and Gloom Tracker

At least 2 breweries I’ve visited closed or announced their closure this week:

• Brewery #1752, Southern Brewing Company, Athens, Georgia (Visited 2-Nov-2019)

• Brewery #2307, Stitch House Brewery, Wilmington, Delaware (Visited 25-Jul-2021)

The Weekly Reader

• Carnitas pop-up at NYC breweries gets rave review [Scott Lynch, Hell Gate]

• Debunking beer myths [Em Sauter and Don Tse, All About Beer Podcast]

• Stone Brewing workers push union drive [Dave Infante, VinePair]

• Lager fests: so hot right now [John Holl, Wine Enthusiast]

One Last Thing

I successfully made it to brewery #3500 last weekend. A kind thanks to the folks at Firestone Walker for making my visit there memorable. The tour was engaging, fun, and informative. I rarely take brewery tours these days, but this one was worth it — especially just to hang out and look around in the barrel room. The sheer size of their Paso Robles brewery is a sight to behold. It’s definitely worth the trip if you find yourself in that part of California.

Cheers,
Chris