Watch: Bell’s Brewery explains the harvesting and brewing process behind its wet hop brand, Side Yard

The late summer hop harvest is one of my favorite seasons, and wet hop beers are one of my favorite seasonals. Via the BA’s definition, wet or fresh hop beers (also called harvest ales) come from using freshly harvested hops in the brewing process that are unkilned (cones or shredded) or kilned (pellets or cones). These fresh hops have more moisture and impart softer, less bitter and earthier flavors with unique aroma profiles. Bell’s Brewing has a nice wet hopped New England-style IPA called Side Yard.

It’s brewed with Chinook hops from Bell’s own hopyard, right outside its facility. It is both wet hopped and dry hopped with fresh cones from the yard. In order to achieve the freshest beer possible, these hops made it from harvest to kettle in a matter of just four hours. The profile is juicy, tropical and fruity. The video above gives a nice explanation from growing the hops to harvesting to brewing. It will only be available at the Bell’s general store and on tap at the Eccentric Café on Sept. 28, so go get it while it’s fresh.