Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest

Tropical orange hue, big sticky hop vine nose, fluffy egg yoke head, mild fresh flavor, strong malts and citrus hop fruit... A pretty tastey beer but a horrific and disgusting concept for a beer. I mean seriously, with the energy crisis as it is how can you justify importing hops fro so far away when you could support local economies and lower your carbon footprint. Poor choice Sierra Nevada, I think less of you for this

20080827 24oz bottle just picked up at Red Bank Spirits. Lightly hazed copper-amber color with sturdy beige head of pillowy foam that laces in thick clumps. In my book, the finest looking IPA I’ve ever seen. Aroma is herbal (savory, sage, basil), with strong notes of freshly broken felled oak and maple branches. Yes, the aroma reminds me of yardwork in autumn. In the background, mild accompaniment of toasty biscuits and light citrus jam. I have a feeling that I may be affected by a great mood, since I’m playing hooky right now, but this beer is going to get a big score. The body is soft, full but not thick, with a pleasing, coating effervescence. Flavor nearly mirrors the aroma, but the bitterness is pronounced, changing smoothly from a citrus and resin middle, to a long spicy tongue scraping finish. Wow, this one has eluded me for a while but I am for sure going to pick up whatever remains at the local shops. Only $3.89 for this - are you kidding me?!

Poured to a medium colored, ever so slightly hazy orange-red, with a medium off-white head that lingered well and left good lacing. Aroma was an immediate blast of hoppy citrus grapefruit. Mouthfeel was bitter to start, but as the beer warmed, this rounded well toward a bit of a malty sweetness. Flavor was a continuation of the nose and mouthfeel...bitter hoppy citrus to start and a warming, earthy malt taste to finish. A very good beer!!!

Bottle; pours a nice amber color with a medium off white heading. Long lasting head with some lacing. Aroma of fresh hops (grass, flowers and citrus), with some caramel and yeast. Really tasty beer. The hops tasted familiar, but also added something different that I couldn’t put my finger on. Solid caramel backbone. Hops were grassy and citrusy with a hint of fruit. Solid bitterness. Very good for the style.

Medium amber color with a fine, medium-dense creamy tan head. Vibrant hops aroma with herbaceous, earthy, and spicy notes primarily with fruity and floral aromas supplementing along with some grain and malt. Excellent earth and spice hops flavors enveloped by orange peel and summer blossoms. Not made from wet hops but from freshly-dried hops which imparts a much more substantial and complex flavor profile to the beer. These New Zealand varieties are rarely found in the States in a beer of this quality and freshness--having greatly benefited from being brewed in the United States as opposed to being shipped across the ocean after it was made. The are an excellent comparison study to the usual line-up of Cascade-based beers. The hops here are very prevalent in the flavor and are aided by a dry malt profile with good depth that doesn’t take over. This makes for an extremely well balanced body that showcases these new hop varieties well. Thank you Sierra Nevada.