I'm not that much of a craft beer aficionado, but a coworker is and he waits patiently every year for Sartori. The difference between the two is that Sartori is wet-hopped, as opposed to dry-hopped like most other beers, like Fat Tug. I have no idea what that wet-hopped vs dry-hopped does to the flavour.
It's crazy how much excitement there is for Sartori every year. I remember a couple occasions where I have received frantic calls or texts from friends asking me to check my local stores, as theirs were all sold old.
Anyways, wet hops vs dried hops. Wet hops still have a lot of essential oils, so they impart more flavour. They also taste fresher, and don't have as much bitterness as their dried counterparts. Dried hops lose some of their flavour but gain more of that bitterness that characterizes IPAs. The general rule is that hops have to be either used or dried within 24 hours of harvest.
At least that's how I understand it. I could be totally off base!
Edited by Jackerbie, 30 October 2018 - 09:11 AM.