Sierra Nevada Harvest

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

New England Road Trip Easter ’05 with MartinT, tiggmtl and Rastacouere, beer #67. Pint on tap at Sunset Grill. Dark orange with a lasting creamy small head and thick coating in the glass...sweet citrusy/hoppy nose is nice but gives little indication of the treasure to come...hugely malty body subtle with fresh, juicy peaches, new-mown grass and late finishing earthy bitterness...very sweet throughout, but never cloying, with one of the most gorgeous, pillowy, light yet enveloping mouthfeels ever. I’ve waited a long time for this beer, and it did not disappoint. Best of the weekend.

12 release wet hop ale. I’ve said some beers were dank before but dammit this one takes the cake! Just a huge bag o weed smell in this one! Flavor even hints at the same, also a little piney, but its not overwhelmingly flavored with hop, as there’s a big sweet bready malt, alot of fluffy carbonation keeping it moving over the palate and down real easy. Finish has a good whack of bitterness but it feels balanced. Warming and heady. Copper penny in color, fluffy beige head.

Clear shimmering copper, thick and sticky off white head. Great aromas of a rainy pine forest, white grapefruit, orange and lemon zest, with caramel coated biscuits adding a sweet touch. Hop bitterness bursts forward initially, but slowly dwindles as the sweet malt bill rounds things out. Great balance. Full bodied for a pale ale, soft carbonation and smooth, sticky, semi-sweet, dry citirc finish. If only this was bottled...

Draft: Very clear and deep red-rust with a nice head. Very toasted and roasted malts with a sweet side. Light nutty flavors, too. "Quenchy" hops with a decent bitterness in the finish. Very tasty and easily enjoyed. RERATE (2007 version): Chestnut-amber hue. Foamy, lasting off-white head. Fresh, "green" nose, with a "cakiness" to it, too. Crisp and sharp mouthfeel, but it also had an interesting soft and creamy side to it, too, mainly in the middle. Malts were full of bread dough (only a mild sweetness) and dark grains. Hops were sharp and snappy, with black pepper, evergreen and bitter citrus (orange rind). Healthy amount of drying bitterness. Good stuff! 2009: Toasty, cracker-like malts. Zingy, green and grassy hops. Snappy, tasty beer.

Pours from the huge 24oz. bottle a clear orange-bronze color. Produces a huge, thick and creamy head with superb retention throughout the entire glass. Rings of lacing remain after each and every sip. Just a beautiful looking beer. Of course the aroma profile is all about the hops, a skill that SN does pretty damn well with many of their brews. Notes of freshly cut grapefruit and orange along with dried pine needles and Juicy Fruit gum greet the nose. Although the hops were in the forefront here, for a brew that is supposed to be featuring them I thought the hop aroma could have been a bit more agressive. Mouthfeel was full, smooth and creamy with just the right amount of CO2 to make it lively. Flavor began with a mild caramel, malt cereal sweetness which was quickly replaced with a moderate, but firm, crisp citrus, spice and slightly peppery hop bitterness. Nice long bittersweet finish. Goes down real easy and is a well crafted special release. Would be nice to see it in sixers someday like their Anniversary Ale was packaged.

Copper color with a thin bead of foam on top. Great, thick maltiness to back up a wonderful hop palate. Assertive bitterness but definitely well balanced and enjoyable.

We were lucky enough to get the last keg in the Philadelphia area at the Grey Lodge Pub. I got to drink the first beer from the keg after tapping it and was very impressed by this APA. Fresh hop aroma and taste overwhelms you when you first sip this beer. I’m thinking the hops used are Tettanger or Willamette. No matter what hops is used this beer is great! A hop lovers beer come true. If you can find it try it! I’m next going to try mixing this beer with some draft porter for an over the "hop" black & tan.

Draught. This was just wonderful. A nice deep amber color with a light head. Aroma and flavor were both dominated by the hops used. There is a nice malt base, but "hop" is the word with this beer. Quite nice.