A Sensory Rush at Top Wire Hop Project: Tasting Fresh Hop Beers at Crosby Hop Farm

There is no aroma in the world quite like a working hop farm during harvest season. Stepping onto the grounds of Crosby Hop Farm for their annual 'Top Wire Hop Project' was a full-body sensory experience. The air itself was thick with the scent of lupulin—that sticky, yellow gold inside the cones—creating an intoxicating perfume that was bright, grassy, resinous, and overwhelmingly fresh. It truly smells like the promise of an incredible beer.

The whole farm was alive with the hustle and bustle of harvest. Tall hop bines, loaded with mature cones, were being stripped and processed, all while brewers, enthusiasts, and local families gathered in the stunning outdoor beer garden, nestled right between the towering rows of hops.

The Magic of Fresh Hop Beer

The highlight, of course, was the array of fresh hop beers. This style is unique because the hop cones are rushed from the bine to the brew kettle in a matter of hours, retaining volatile oils and delicate flavors that are lost when hops are kiln-dried into pellets.

Tasting the different brews from collaborating breweries was a fascinating exercise. One might have showcased a crisp, almost minty herbal note, while another leaned into a hazy tropical profile, proving that even with the freshest ingredient, the brewer's art is what defines the final product. It’s an ephemeral, hyper-seasonal flavor that captures the very essence of the farm.

The Legacy of Green Gold

Sipping on a delicious pint while surrounded by the source of its flavor gives you a real appreciation for the industry's roots. Crosby Hop Farm has been cultivating hops on this land since 1900, carrying on a five-generation tradition that makes this whole experience possible. The Top Wire Hop Project is a celebration of that legacy, offering an incredible farm-to-glass moment you won't forget.