Sierra Nevada Harvest

Brewed by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Chico, California USA

Okay, this one caught me by surprise, and I am glad to see others rating this as highly as I did. (Usually) not swayed by gimmicky labels or elaborate descriptions of brewing processes, I nonetheless pronounce a simple amen after finishing the glass.... opens with a tremendously aromatic fragrance with a floral, buttery smoothness... beautiful orange-brown body in an oversized Hop Devil snifter; two-finger foam leaves wonderful lacing, the look of a limited release... medium to full-bodied, with a crunch that reverberates--a smoothness early that balances well with the grit betweent the teeth... not at all my expectations: no big Christmas tree suck of pine cone explosion, no cascade of Cascade--mellow, almost laidback to the point of sharing common ties with the creamier, more balanced English pales... start to finish, a crowning achievement... an excellent spring nightcap to a day of work, but in most (any?) settings this would work well, well enough to finish the 24oz. bottle and wish for a second...I get more of the citrus as the glass drains, but this may be misadvertised as a hophead’s "wet" dream , due to the fact that the pleasure of drinking this beer is its bouquet and its flavor balance... I had to buy brother Jer a bottle before the 4th, just to share the triumph with someone...

Bottle. Aroma is of citrusy dry hops. Nice peppery bite, dry hops and citrusy floral mouthfeel. Nice smooth creamy citrusy dry finish. Very nice beer.

On tap at the Ginger Man, beer came to the table bright & champagne-bubbly-frothy. Resin-pine-forward, citrus notes in the back on the nose, very fresh. A well-built beer- tasting malt in the middle (with hops to start & end)- enough malt so that the wet hops don’t run away with the show. Nicely bitter, makes your mouth water for the next sip, pleasantly carbonated, clings to your mouth in the best way. Actually was dangerously drinkable (higher ABV)- but no more than 2 in a sitting due to taste-bud overload from the hops.

Golden orange color with thin head. Fresh sweet hop aroma that is very nice. Taste of fresh ass hops and citrus. A little bit of spice present. Very smooth easy drinkable beer.

Bottle. This is a hearty beer. The color is harvest brown, with a creamy, tan head that fades quickly. Excellent floral hop aroma, with a hint of malt. Heavy, with a stronger malt presence than expected.

Bottle. Such a sucker for these fresh hop beers. Pours an amber body with an off white head. Citrus, and grass fresh cut at that, woody pine and a spritzy spiced hop resin. Very nice brew.

12th release, 24 oz. (2008). Dark amber pour with an off-white head. Malt aroma with piney hops in the background. Nice malt taste wih the hops equalizing a nice balance. Little spicyness at the end of the drink. Very tasty beer. I wish I tried the first 11 releases. Nice lacing on the whole glass.

Poured with a nice head. Very fresh, yet subtle hop smell. The flavor is very hoppy, but also very drinkable and smooth. I really liked this beer as I typically do with Sierra Nevada.