Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest Fresh Hop Ale - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

KBomb

Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a pint glass. A good two fingers of thick snow-white head. Body was a dark copper brown, slightly opaque.

Big aroma on this bad boy. As soon as I popped the cap off robust hops jumped up my nose: spicy, floral, piney, and a subtle note of citrus. A rather amazing bouquet of nearly the entire hop spectrum! One would be remiss to forget to mention a strong caramel malt presence as well.

Tastes not quite as wild as it smells. Generous hops lean mostly floral and piney. "Fresh" really does describe this beer. Sufficient malt sweetness provides just enough contrast. Each sip is a journey of flavor, but unfortunately the journey doesn't end as well as it starts. The fiinish is quite bitter. Aftertaste does not go away very quickly.

Fine carbonation creates a nearly creamy mouthfeel, but manages not to feel so heavy (especially considering the big flavor).

This is a big beer with more to celebrate than to fault. Drinkablity is limited only because of all that goes into it.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2009 15:36:41 | More by KBomb

Thedrizzle

Florida

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-19-2013 22:10:22 | More by Thedrizzle

EnronCFO

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +10%

05-19-2013 21:20:06 | More by EnronCFO

DanE

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-19-2013 19:55:16 | More by DanE

jbeervt

Vermont

3/5  rDev -26.7%

05-19-2013 16:40:47 | More by jbeervt

anteater

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

05-19-2013 16:02:43 | More by anteater

tdj13

Connecticut

2.5/5  rDev -38.9%

05-19-2013 15:37:06 | More by tdj13

mc4z

California

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

05-19-2013 05:43:07 | More by mc4z

mactrail

California

3.63/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

Dark orangey amber in the Crooked Line tulip. The usual SN professional-strength head and fine carbonation. Smells like apples, lemons, and marmalade. Very attractive with a long-lasting foam. Some fruit and sweet malt to start. Pears and Schweppes Bitter Lemon.

This is all about the hops, which I find are Southern Cross, Pacifica and Motueka from New Zealand. They are all new varieties to me, but it's a bitter blend. Spicy and on the acidic side. Almost severely woody, like it was strained through leaf mold. Drinkable enough, but not a brew to gulp. Medium body. From the 22 oz bottle bought at Barons Marketplace in San Diego.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 04:31:04 | More by mactrail

firstlighthiker

Tennessee

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-18-2013 23:18:48 | More by firstlighthiker

rabiddawg

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-18-2013 21:39:06 | More by rabiddawg

bluestar0828

Virginia

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-18-2013 21:08:47 | More by bluestar0828

jl28r1

Texas

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-18-2013 16:32:49 | More by jl28r1

jkane101

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-18-2013 00:41:28 | More by jkane101

lic217

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -14.4%

05-18-2013 00:38:35 | More by lic217

Ri0

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured into my Duvel tulip from a 24oz bottle. It was about a month old when I drank it.

A - A reddish brown color with a big dirty white two and a half finger head. It dissipates slowly and leaves behind a bunch of lacing. Frothy bubbles remain floating until I finish the beer.

S - Slightly floral hops with earth and pine scents.

T - More malt upfront, with a earthy floral hop mix and some pine on the finish. Not as hoppy as I would expect from a fresh hop ale.

M - Medium body and light carbonation. Oil and pine residue linger on my tongue.

O - Decent fresh IPA, but I prefer the Northern version a bit more. The 2 hop profiles are noticeable different between the N and S. The north has a bigger grapefruit taste.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 23:40:04 | More by Ri0

Greywulfken

New York

4.3/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: medium-to-deep amber color, with orange highlights in my nonic pint; many fingers of head slimmed into a persistent cap and left lace drapes down the sides

S: earthy, musky hops and hearty malt grains

T: lots of pine and resin atop a chewy husky malt base; bitter and crisp, wholesome grains come through strong

M: touch of tack, slight coat, medium-light, clean across the palate

O: presents well and tastes nice - very satisfying and easy-drinking, but with some heartiness to it - lots of good hop and malt mixing, well-balanced and enjoyable. I'd buy this every season.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 21:08:11 | More by Greywulfken

HopChef44

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-17-2013 20:01:47 | More by HopChef44

sansho

Tennessee

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-17-2013 04:54:49 | More by sansho

dwtyler

California

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

05-17-2013 04:07:24 | More by dwtyler

AL89BR

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-16-2013 23:04:44 | More by AL89BR

ThirdEyePA

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

05-16-2013 19:41:39 | More by ThirdEyePA

eulerthegrape

California

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

05-16-2013 17:56:23 | More by eulerthegrape

Jason1337

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

05-16-2013 03:39:10 | More by Jason1337

KevinGordon

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-15-2013 02:05:02 | More by KevinGordon