Review – Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest
From Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. – Like our Celebration Ale, the fresh hops in this beer are dried right after being picked then shipped immediately to Chico for brewing so that they retain their peak aromatics and flavors. To ensure the freshest hops possible, we went to the added expense of flying these hops from New Zealand to Chico so we could brew with them the week after they were picked.
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. – 2nd Annual Southern Hemisphere Harvest Fresh Hop Ale – 24 oz. bottle poured into a pint glass.6.7% abv.
Appearance: Pours a clear amber with a fluffy 1/2 inch tan head.
Aroma: Herbal, earthy resinous hops.
Taste: More herbal earthiness, some rock sugar like sweetness, and some citrus flavors such as lemon or orange.
Mouthfeel: Thick, full bodied.
Overall: The closer you can get this to when it is released the better. I tried this last year, and it was near cardbord status (Because it was sold past its prime at the retailer). This beer is meant to showoff some great hopping skills, and this brew does just that.
December 17, 2009 @ 7:02 pm
Just had dinner at the Brewery in Chico with this new seasonal beer and it was the best! Can’t wait already to go back to the brewery for more!!!
July 23, 2009 @ 12:09 am
I realize this is a late post but I respectfully disagree with the “Overall” comments about this beer. It was not on the shelves beyond a year in the SF Bay area. Understandably, we probably received beer in better condition in the Bay Area.
It was the 1st release and I can say without a shadow of a doubt that a few months of bottle age did this beer well. I am not sure where the destination for this beer rendered the above description. I imagine that this beer is more fragile and of course, I agree it is best consumed at a young age.
Now that it has been on the market for a month or so 2009, I need to get my hands on a case and hopefully experience a similar 2008 tasting. I’ve got my tasting notes somewhere