We love hops here at Odell Brewing Co. We also love experimenting with how we can add these beautiful little green flowers to our beers to achieve new and previously unobtainable hop flavors and aromas. We have been using whole leaf hops in our hop-back for years. As most people know the hop-back is a traditional English brewing vessel originally used to aid in the clarification of wort by running the post-boil hot wort through a bed of hops on the way to the heat exchange. We re-appropriated the traditional hop-back to serve as a means for adding more finishing hops for our IPA, 5 Barrel Pale Ale, St. Lupulin Extra Pale Ale and other special hop-forward releases. So, what are we experimenting with now on our pilot system? How can we fit more hops into our beers through new and unique additions? How about whole flower hops in the mash tun! Our most recent pilot brew, a Double IPA, provides a totally new hop schedule possibility for us, not only with the hop additions in our mash tun, but also with each addition thereafter. If you want to experience a progression in hop flavor and aroma, be sure to stop in the tap room when this beer is tapped. We will announce the tapping of this beer to our fans and followers on Facebook and Twitter, so hop on!