One of the current trends in brewing is single malt and single hop, or SMaSH, brewing.  By using single
malts, a brewer is able to better understand the unique characteristics of a chosen base malt and to learn how to alter the expression of that malt through changes in the mash and kettle. Single malt beers can bring us back to a time when brews in Europe were named after the cities where they were developed.  Even today, those names, like Vienna lager, Kölsch or Munich helles still hold a meaning for us today.  In those founding days of the many traditional styles of brews, brewers used malt and hops that grew locally. Those local malt and hops made for brews that were both distinctive and enjoyable. 

Today, brewer’s options for grains choices have not changed drastically since those traditional days. However, the choices of hop varietals are growing every day.  This is why the idea of single hop brewing excites me.  It seems like there is always a new single-hopped beer out there to try.  Mikkeller, Flying Dog and Sam Adams have each featured a series of single hopped beers.

Here is a list of some single hop beers listed by varietal:

Amarillo – Green Flash Hop Head Red

Cascade – Intuition Ale Works Cascade IPA

Centennial – Bell’s Two Hearted

Chinook – Flying Dog Chinook Single Hop Imperial IPA

Mosaic – Terrapin Mosaic (side project #19)

Northern Brewer – Anchor Steam Beer

Simcoe – Weyerbacher Double Simcoe

Sorachi Ace – Brooklyn Sorachi Ace

If you are like me, and you want to try new beers and learn why you enjoy the beers you enjoy, seek out these single hopped beers for an education in flavors and aromas.

Rick Swartz, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Beer Consultant – Miracle Mile Plaza, Vero Beach

Follow him on Twitter @abcbeerrick