Kees Hopping Fox SMaSH IPA

In collaboration with Hollands Hophuis brewery Kees created Hopping Fox, a SMaSH IPA with the Slovenian hop variety Fox.

SMaSH stands for Single Malt and Single Hop. Brewing a SMaSH beer is a challenge: with only one type of malt and one hop variety, the ingredients are revealed in their purest form. For Hollands Hophuis, this is a very good reason to brew a SMaSH together with breweries, because in this way, beer lovers can really taste what a hop variety does in a beer. Kees brewery proves with Hopping Fox that a SMaSH can be quite complex in flavour!

Orange Hop plant
The hop variety Fox is also known as Styrian Fox. In fact, all hops from the Slovenian region of Stajerska (Styria in English) are given this prefix. The special thing about this hop variety is that the vines and the branches on which the cones grow change colour to a striking orange just before the harvest season. Hence the orange artwork on the can.

Aroma profile Fox
Fox was developed relatively recently in Slovenia and is a cross of a European and American variety. The aroma is pretty fruity (citrus, blackcurrant) and floral. Hints of pepper makes that this hop variety have quite a complete aroma profile. Its relatively high alpha acid content makes it a very versatile hop variety.

New England yeast
Brewery Kees fermented Hopping Fox with Verdant yeast, developed by the English brewer of the same name who is known for his New England IPAs. This yeast produces beautiful fruity aromas and accentuates the fruity flavours of the Fox hops.

Hopping Fox is a one-off beer. But don't worry, this beautiful collaboration with Brouwerij Kees will not be the last. Keep an eye on our website and socials for more of these Collabs!