Very interesting. This actually occurred to me when I visited one of the mentioned mint extraction facilities here. I wonder though what the difference is between this method and the CO2 extraction method. Regardless it will be interesting to taste!
This just extracts the oils, from what I have read.
Edit - there used to be a number of mint farms not far from where I grew up. The farmers would distill the mint oils, that was very aromatic when riding in the car and the folks would drive by on of those. I think most of the mint production moved out west by the late 60s.
its a year round style, and I was able to find Nooner within a week of them announcing the release, so if you’re getting all their year round styles, I bet you’ll have no problems.
Yeah, we normally get all of their stuff, except that I wasn’t able to find a few of the Harvest (single hop) IPAs. I just assumed they were done on a more limited basis.
They went thinner with the body. I like it, but a little diffetentiated compared to other SN brews. The aroma is there but not out of this world. The flavor is more of the point of emphasis. It’s a solid beer and very drinkable in the 6.5 range. I gave it 4.5 on Untappd. This is a very high rating for me. I only have 4, maybe 5 five star ratings.
It sounds essentially like steam distillation, something that’s common in chemistry labs. I’m surprised that there’s much of a difference, and I would have expected the CO2 extract to be more aromatic. By doing the steam there’s two big differences: the solvent, of course, is water, not CO2. There will be some difference in the nature and ratios of compounds extracted. However, the bigger deal will be temperature. The steam extract will be done at a much higher temperature. Normally in flavor extracts this extra heat is a detriment to the quality of the extract. I wonder in this instance, since hops are boiled during brewing, if the steam extract more closely approximates what happens when making a wet hop beer. Before retiring I was an analytical chemist and worked with both CO2 and steam distillation, so I’m hoping that something on the technical side gets published. Whatever happens, I will be looking for the beer!
It is steam distillation. SN explains it briefly on their website. This beer isn’t done exclusively with the extracted oils. It is still hopped with bitter and flavor hops.
man. florida is still waiting to receive it according to my package store guy. really looking forward to it. thanks for the review frank - sounds good!
thankfully, i have some of the best IIPA i’ve ever made on draft to hold me over 8)
Checked 3 liquor stores on the way home - none in Indy yet according to the owners. Dammit. Sounds like maybe next weekend. Anybody else find it yet (except for fmader) ?
I’ve looked at six places to find it packaged today. No dice. It’s odd that this little bar has it. They have a few craft beers on tap (one always a Great Lakes) at a time but they’re not known for it. It was a good evening there. Hop Hunter was used to wash down a couple black pearl long boned pork chops… Also a rare special.