There’s a common argument amongst pizza lovers as to whether or not a certain fruit should be considered as a pizza topping. Pineapple is the fruit that typically divides even the best of friends when it comes to determining if it should be on their pie or not. We are not going to delve into that conversation, but we are going to talk about hops that bring out notes of this controversial fruit to the flavor profile of certain craft beers.

The fine folks at Von Ebert Brewing out of Portland, OR brew one such beer that produces luscious notes of pineapple, mango and melon. This is one hoppy fruit salad that we can get behind! Sector 7 is a Hazy New England Style IPA that’s chock full of those enticing tropical flavors, and hop bitterness that make a quintessential “Hazy” IPA.

Image provided by Von Ebert Brewing

It’s A Concept

We recently spoke with Sam Pecoraro, the Brewmaster for Von Ebert Brewing, to learn more about Sector 7. Sam said, “In general, we aim for this beer to be pineapple, mango and melon forward.  Citra, Sultana and Idaho 7 seem to have gotten us the closest to those notes as it stands today.”  Sector 7 is a concept that has evolved over time, and everyone involved in the process has had an impact on the direction of the beer.

If you notice above, we said concept instead of beer. That’s because at Von Ebert, they are adamant that they don’t create recipes, they create concepts. A concept is an idea, or a plan of intention. A concept can adapt and be changed over time and doesn’t have to stay how it is, if there are better ways of doing it. This is exactly what helps drive the success of the beers from Von Ebert. “Creating a concept gives us the latitude to make recipe changes to fit our concept, rather than being tied to any type of raw material that is subject to seasonality, aging, wide specification and etc.” stated Sam.

The idea of creating concepts helps Von Ebert to be agile. While they might not stick to a specific recipe for beer, unless they want to of course, it has certainly given them a recipe for success in the craft beer industry. Sector 7 used to be hopped with Mosaic, Simcoe, Citra and Galaxy. Not getting exactly what they were looking for, they were able to pivot to the current hop combo that gave them the tasting notes they were looking for.

Tell Us What’s In It

Being located in Oregon, we asked Sam if they sourced their ingredients locally. “We don’t necessarily need to, but the majority of our hops come from the Willamette or Yakima Valleys,” said Sam. “We have close relationships with many of the growers and take pride in knowing our supply chain so intimately,” noted Sam. A small portion of their hops come from the Southern Hemisphere and Europe. While their malt comes mostly from North America, with some being from Europe.

So, How Does It Taste

We can tell you that whatever they are doing at Von Ebert works very well. Sector 7 is an instant gratification beer. After the first sip, you instantly know you are going to want more of the deliciousness that’s inside that can. The nose from the pour alone gives off fresh melon and ripe pineapple. The pour delivers a look of liquid sunshine, along with beautiful lacing all around the glass. The juice is loose with this one! Pineapple comes at you first, not overbearing though, just enough to give you the initial tropical vibe. Following the pineapple comes the subtle sweetness of melon and succulent mango. Finally, and maybe the best part, is the hoppy bitterness that cuts into the sweet fruit flavors. Wow, just wow! It can be a delicate balancing act for a beer to not be too sweet or too hoppy or bitter. Consider the folks at Von Ebert tight rope walkers in this case because they nailed the balance perfectly. The soft, pillow-like mouthfeel only adds pure enjoyment to the overall profile of Sector 7.

You Should Try This

Sector 7 is offered year-round on draft and sixteen-ounce cans. You can also find their beers locally in the Portland, Bend and Eugene areas. Even if you’re not an IPA or Hazy IPA fan, Von Ebert has a bevy of award-winning beer on tap and in ready to go packs. We understand that in that area there are a plethora of craft breweries you can visit, and you can certainly find something to appease you. Should you want to try something truly magnificent, then you should head over to Von Ebert, they’ll be glad to have you.

https://beerguysradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/296349602_5603161359696179_8424257824381548804_n-600x600.jpghttps://beerguysradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/296349602_5603161359696179_8424257824381548804_n-150x150.jpgJason MurphyBeer ReviewFeatures#beerguysradio,#hazyipa,#vonebertbrewing,craftbeer,NEIPAThere's a common argument amongst pizza lovers as to whether or not a certain fruit should be considered as a pizza topping. Pineapple is the fruit that typically divides even the best of friends when it comes to determining if it should be on their pie or not. We...Cold beer, hot conversations, stupid jokes.