Deschutes Chasin Freshies 6Pk Cans

Deschutes Chasin' Freshies 6Pk Cans is a seasonal fresh hop American IPA from Bend, Oregon, packaged as six 12 oz cans at 6.0% ABV. This limited annual release has earned consistent BeerAdvocate scores of 88–89 across multiple vintages, reflecting the brewery's disciplined approach to capturing peak hop character each harvest.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.0%  |  Origin: Bend, Oregon  |  Style: Fresh Hop American IPA  |  Brewery: Deschutes Brewery (est. 1988)

Production & Heritage

Deschutes Brewery was founded in 1988 as a brewpub in downtown Bend, Oregon, and has grown into one of the Pacific Northwest's most respected independent craft breweries. Chasin' Freshies is built around a single defining production detail: at harvest, hops are rushed from the vine to the brew kettles within hours, preserving volatile aromatics that dried hops simply cannot deliver. The featured hop varieties rotate each year — recent batches have showcased Mosaic hops from John I. Haas growers, Centennial hops from Crosby Hop Farms, and Idaho 7 hops — making each vintage a unique expression of that season's harvest.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with bright tangerine and apricot, building into layers of papaya and pine resin. Underneath, delicate floral notes and a whisper of orange peel add complexity without competing with the fresh hop character.

Taste: The first sip delivers honeydew melon and tropical passionfruit, giving the entry an almost juice-like immediacy. Mid-palate, citrus and pine take over, balanced by a gentle toasted caramel sweetness from the malt backbone. The bitterness is moderate and well-integrated, never harsh or astringent.

Finish: A medium-length bitter finish lingers with piney, resinous qualities and a final flash of citrus zest. The overall impression is clean, bright, and remarkably fresh — exactly what the style demands.

How to Drink Chasin' Freshies

Drink this IPA cold, ideally between 40–45°F, poured into a tulip glass or IPA glass to concentrate the volatile hop aromatics that define the fresh hop style. Freshness matters more here than with any standard IPA — this is a beer meant to be consumed as close to its release date as possible. As a standalone seasonal hop-forward beer, it drinks best on its own, though it pairs naturally with food rather than cocktail applications.

Best For

• Hop enthusiasts chasing the annual fresh hop season each fall
• Pairing with a Pacific Northwest-themed dinner party
• Sharing with craft beer collectors who value vintage-to-vintage variation
• Tailgating or outdoor gatherings during autumn harvest months

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Chasin' Freshies taste like? Chasin' Freshies leads with bright tropical fruit — tangerine, apricot, papaya, and passionfruit — layered over a pine-resin backbone and balanced by light caramel malt sweetness. The bitterness is moderate, finishing clean with lingering citrus and pine.

How does Chasin' Freshies compare to Sierra Nevada Harvest? Both are seasonal fresh hop IPAs that change hop varieties year to year, but Chasin' Freshies at 6.0% ABV tends to lean more tropical and juicy, while Sierra Nevada's Northern Hemisphere Harvest typically emphasizes a more classic, earthy Pacific Northwest hop profile.

Is Chasin' Freshies good for hop lovers? Absolutely — this is one of the most accessible ways to experience what fresh, undried hops taste like, and the rotating single-hop or dual-hop approach each year gives returning drinkers a reason to compare vintages.

Where is Chasin' Freshies made? Chasin' Freshies is brewed at Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon, using hops sourced from Pacific Northwest farms including Crosby Hop Farms and John I. Haas growers, harvested and delivered to the brewery within hours of picking.

What foods pair well with Chasin' Freshies? Grilled salmon benefits from the beer's citrus and pine character cutting through the fish's richness. Spicy Thai green curry finds a cooling counterpoint in the tropical fruit notes. Sharp white cheddar mirrors the beer's medium bitterness while complementing its malt sweetness. Fish tacos with mango salsa echo the tropical hop profile. Roasted pork with herb rub aligns naturally with the piney, resinous finish.

What sizes does Chasin' Freshies come in? Chasin' Freshies is available in a six-pack of 12 oz cans, which is the standard format for this seasonal release.

Is Chasin' Freshies worth the price? Chasin' Freshies positions as a mid-range seasonal craft IPA, priced in line with other fresh hop releases that carry inherently higher production costs due to the time-sensitive nature of harvesting and brewing with undried hops — solid value for a limited annual offering with consistent critical praise.

Why Chasin' Freshies?

Fresh hop beers represent one of the most ephemeral styles in craft brewing, and Deschutes has refined their approach to this seasonal release over multiple harvests. The decision to rotate hop varieties each year — Mosaic, Centennial, Idaho 7, Strata, Simcoe, Triumph, and Cashmere among past selections — transforms Chasin' Freshies into a living showcase of what each hop variety can deliver when used at peak freshness. Consistent BeerAdvocate scores of 88–89 across different vintages confirm that the quality holds regardless of which hop takes center stage. For anyone serious about understanding the difference between fresh and processed hops, this annual release from one of Oregon's founding craft breweries remains essential drinking.