Sankt Gallen Fresh Hop IPA is 6.5% American IPA made by Sankt Gallen, based in Hon-Atsugi, in Kanagawa, Japan. It’s part of their annual autumnal release and can be found in both bottles and on tap across Japan. Each year, Sankt Gallen do a fresh hop harvest and brew using a strain of hop grown in Japan, and this year’s edition uses Kaikogane hops, native to Kofu, Yamanashi. The hop strain was thought to have died off in 1993; however, a domestic grower had a few rhizomes left and managed to resurrect it and produced cones from 2012. At the time of writing, it’s unknown whether subsequent years will use this hop again or not. Besides using Kaikogane hops, Sankt Gallen Fresh Hop IPA also uses imported Vic Secret, Galaxy, and Simcoe hops.
Sankt Gallen Fresh Hop IPA Aroma and Taste
Sankt Gallen Fresh Hop IPA poured out a slightly dark amber colour with a large fluffy white head on top, which clung to the side of the glass throughout drinking. Besides the slightly sweet caramel nose to it, there was a hint of pine and dankness to it, along with a fresh citrus lemony and grapefruit aroma to it. Once it had been given time to warm up, there was also some hints of melon and pineapple going on too – all very fresh and bright on the nose.
While it’s an American IPA, the level of bitterness in the taste was rather subdued. I was expecting something more punchy, but instead it felt quite smooth and easy going on the palate. The hops did bring some similar flavours to nose, with a light lemon and grapefruit astringency to it, with some mango and pineapple coming along too. However, it was the dank piney notes to Sankt Gallen Fresh Hop IPA that made it stand out – Sankt Gallen aren’t really known for their punchy hop flavours so it was a good surprise to have that in this beer. Those same dank notes lingered into the aftertaste and left a slightly sticky texture on the palate.
Sankt Gallen Fresh Hop IPA The Bottom Line
Why can’t all Sankt Gallen IPAs be this nice? They can obviously make them, so why not do it all year round?
Where To Buy Sankt Gallen Fresh Hop IPA
Sankt Gallen Fresh Hop IPA can be bought online at the following places:
