Frog Water & Sizzle Juice: Beers That Give Back

If you haven't heard "fresh hopped" about a thousand times in the last few weeks, you probably don't live in the PNW. How do I know? Well, 98% of all hops used in the US are grown out here in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. So when summer turns to fall and these little green bombs of goodness are ready to be harvested, we make the most of the season and release a whole bunch of fresh hopped beers. And by "we" I actually mean breweries... I just like to do the tasting and appreciating.

If you're into fresh hopped beer, this week is the best week to be in Bend. There are events at 10 Barrel, Deschutes, Worthy, and Bend Brewing Co. all celebrating the release of these delicious fresh hopped beers. Plus, if you're in Bend for First Friday on the 6th, you might catch a few fresh hopped beers on tap around town. 

As you may know, we love our beer. But we also love our natural environment. That's why we are especially excited about Cascade Lakes Brewing release of its 2017 fresh hop beers: Frog Water Fresh Hop IPA and Sizzle Juice Fresh Hop IPA.

Cascade Lakes Brewing Company announced its Fall Fresh Hop releases: The first brew is Frog Water Fresh Hop IPA, a 100% local farm-to-bottle fresh hop beer. Cascade Lakes partnered with Discover Your Forest and the Forest Service to produce this seasonal beer that benefits the education, conservation, and restoration of Oregon spotted frog habitat. This seasonal release has fresh Cascade hops from Cascade Hop Farm in Tumalo, Oregon and Mecca Grade Malt from Madras, making this beer 100% Central Oregon.

“What an amazing cause and what a delicious Fresh Hop IPA! We are proud to donate $500 to Discover Your Forest to increase awareness and restoration needed for the habitat of the Oregon spotted frog,” said Chris Justema, Partner and President of Cascade Lakes Brewing Company.

Photo by Gary Nafis

“The creation of this beer represents a great coming together of some of the conservation objectives for water in this basin by shining a light on habitat restoration needs for the frog in the Deschutes basin, while supporting local agriculture. It embodies the win-win we are collectively striving for. It is awesome having Cascade Lakes as a partner in conservation!” said Jason Gritzner, Forest Hydrologist and Watershed Program Manager for the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests.

Frog Water Fresh Hop IPA is available in limited 22oz bottles and draft at several Central Oregon retailers: Newport Market, Broken Top Bottle Shop, Whole Foods, Market of Choice and Buggy Stop in Redmond as well as others.

The second seasonal release is Sizzle Juice, another fresh hop IPA with 100% whole cone wet hops grown in Oregon. Each painted bottle is packed with Simcoe hops from Doug at Sodbuster Farms and Cascade hops from Tim “Sizzle” Sisney, a Central Oregon local. “Our friend Tim started growing hops a few years back and had so much success that we decided that team Cascade Lakes and Tim should join efforts resulting in a beer named in his honor. Sizzle juice has a floral aroma and mild bitter finish that is available just once a year.

“This is the third year we have produced this wet hop ale and it never disappoints. The hop trip is worth the effort year after year,” says Justema.

Sizzle Juice is available as a limited series in 22oz Bottle & Draft.

So there you have it! Drink a beer and help save the frogs. 

Wandering in the Wallowas

Billed as one of the 7 Wonders of Oregon, the Wallowa Mountains are an unrivaled marvel within our stunning state. Granite mountains, alpine meadows, glacial lakes, cascading rivers, and abundant wildlife all make this area a truly remarkable playground.

Since they are tucked away in the very Northeast corner of Oregon, though, the breathtaking views of this mountain range are often overlooked. The drive out to the Wallowas is just over 6 hours from Bend, depending on which trailhead you’re using. The Eagle Cap Wilderness area has the highest and most popular concentration of trails and has many points through which to access it.

For this trip, I was heading over for the Wallowa Lake Alpenfest to perform with my Bavarian dance group. The plan was to sneak in a couple days of hiking beforehand. I used the Wallowa Lake Trailhead as my starting point to wander up the west fork of the Wallowa River. Ice Lake was my base camp for two nights while I made a run up to the summit of the Matterhorn. Please enjoy the following pictures from this truly amazing journey!

West Fork Wallowa River trail

Beginnings of fall color

West Fork Wallowa River valley

Ice Lake

False summit of the Matterhorn. The true summit is behind this peak at 9,826 feet.

Hurricane Creek and Eagle Cap Wilderness

Returning from the summit looking down on Ice Lake 

One last look back towards the lake

Sparks Lake in September

Typically by this time of year, the water at Sparks Lake has almost entirely drained. It makes its way through the porous lava rock and travels through the earth before popping up again at a stream. But this year, because of the significant winter snow, and some recent snow and rain, the lake has retained its water late into the season. 

While there are hundreds of Cascade Lakes, Sparks Lake remains one of our favorites. Wildlife like bald eagles, beavers, and tree frogs are often visible as well as some of the most stunning views of the Cascade Range. Its windy fingers make you feel like you are discovering a place for the first time, and the frigid waters remind you that you're paddling on (or swimming in) snowmelt. 

Reason #1 to bring a Hydro Flask of hot cocoa on the tour... Sometimes those early morning paddles in the fall are cold! 

Photos by Danny Walden