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

VikeMan

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -14.2%

05-28-2012 23:19:35 | More by VikeMan

ajzy

Wisconsin

2.5/5  rDev -38.7%

06-18-2013 00:32:14 | More by ajzy

Hopdaemon39

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

06-18-2013 00:23:14 | More by Hopdaemon39

Jadjunk

Georgia

4.14/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

"Southern Hemisphere Harvest Ale features fresh hops from New Zealand, where the annual fall hop harvest occurs during our spring. Brewing this beer is no easy task; we get fresh hops picked, dried, and shipped halfway across the world and into our brew kettle in a little over a week's time. The result is a North-by-South fusion of fresh New Zealand hops blended with the finest North American malts. Its robust hop character presents intriguing floral citrus, and fruity aromas and fresh-hop spiciness." Brewed in the style of an American IPA with New Zealand grown hops. Released in 24oz. bottles once annually in March.

Poured from a 24 oz. bottle to a tulip snifter. Served north of 53º Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a golden cream head of a creamy froth consistency, medium thick consistency. Body color is an amber-orange with a very mild haziness. Mellow carbonation. Retention is very nice and lacing is medium, draped. Solid appearance overall. 4.25

(Smell) Aroma consists of moderate floral, citrusy and lemony blends of hops, followed by a mild pale biscuity malt backbone with a touch of mild sweetness. Bitterness is moderate, potency is medium. There are a lot of delicate hop characters- mostly bright, floral and citrusy characters, although a touch more herbal and less sharp than in traditional west-coast IPAs. Smells very inviting. 4.25

(Taste) Mellow sweetness from a mild biscuity malt follows through with a mild resinous and floral hop blend, less bright in aromatics and more sharply bitter than the aroma gave off. Clean, mildly dry finish. The flavor is not as invigorating or energetic as the aroma predicted, but the end result is still very pleasant and drinkable. 4

(Mouthfeel) Light, drinkable body with a very mellow carbonation, slick profile with a mild bitterness for a good balance. Body is light/medium for the style and light/medium overall. Alcohol presence is low. The low carbonation and mild body showcases this beer's delicate flavors and demonstrates great balance and high drinkability. 4.25

(Overall) Despite an intimidating 24 ounce bottle size, this beer shows itself off to be a highly drinkable, very flavorful and uniquely-hopped harvest IPA with a bright, balanced floral and citrusy hop profile with a moderate bitterness. Paired with very mellow carbonation and a light body, this is a great beer worth every drop the bottle gives you. It's a great buy for the low price. 4.25

Vertical Notes:

2012 Harvest (1 Year, 2 months old):

Head is slightly less creamy and more frothy, although retention and color is equally solid. Aroma has a more pronounced malt character with a pronounced mineral character, smells much like a traditional British Pale Ale, oddly close to the target for a New Zealand-influenced beer. The flavor has lost a lot of the hop character and bitterness it had- the malt bill is thus front-and-center, with a bold hard water profile and a mineral-like flavor. Bitterness is a bit too shallow and the balance is slightly sweet, yielding a more heavy malted profile, and a cloying one for most. It's not a great aging choice, especially since the main focus is the fragile hop bouquet of the Southern Hemisphere and not particularly the simple malt profile. I recommend having this as young as possible.

Recommended Vintage: Fresh (6 Months Maximum)

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.'s
Southern Hemisphere Harvest
4.14/5.00

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 02:56:12 | More by Jadjunk

Matt73

New York

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

06-16-2013 23:44:02 | More by Matt73

cjac

Maryland

4/5  rDev -2%

06-16-2013 22:58:46 | More by cjac

JohnBender

Texas

4/5  rDev -2%

06-16-2013 22:39:24 | More by JohnBender

UWBadgerFan4Life

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

06-16-2013 21:56:46 | More by UWBadgerFan4Life

Orange

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%

06-16-2013 07:30:08 | More by Orange

fluidmotion

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +16.4%

06-16-2013 06:00:28 | More by fluidmotion

LoFiDave

California

4/5  rDev -2%

06-16-2013 02:54:34 | More by LoFiDave

GarretD

Minnesota

3.25/5  rDev -20.3%

06-16-2013 01:14:36 | More by GarretD

Gagnonsux

Texas

4/5  rDev -2%

06-15-2013 21:18:30 | More by Gagnonsux

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

4.18/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a balloon glass.

Look: Deep cinnamon copper, off white head that leaves a film, lots of nice lacing.

Aroma: Somewhat subdued, but spicy, woody, and laced with citrus.

Taste: A very clean, almost crisp IPA. Spicy wood notes mingle with a hint of caramel malt sweetness. Lemon rinds come in and offer a clean finish.

Mouthfeel: Clean, semi-dry.

Overall: Damn, this is very nice. Good wood, hop, citrus notes. Refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 18:45:51 | More by JuicesFlowing

dertyd

California

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

06-15-2013 07:31:10 | More by dertyd

BMMillsy

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -14.2%

06-15-2013 01:28:38 | More by BMMillsy

tbryan5

Louisiana

3.9/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured from th24 oz bottle into a nonic pint glass.

Pours a copper color with ruby hues. Two finger head that dissipates quickly but leaves a very nice intricate lacing down the sides. Very nice. Smells like grass and bananas and a little citrusy in the finish. I get pine first and a some grapefruit grapefruit citrus on the palate. It's pretty good!! Medium carbonation and a light to medium body. Refreshing...I am drinking this after work but it would be awesome on a hot day when you want to relax.

I would recommend this one to an IPA lover who doesn't want there palate destroyed. Seems pretty sessionable for 6.7% abv. I really enjoyed this brew.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2013 23:57:43 | More by tbryan5

Rosanne

California

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

taster: very smooth, hoppy but sweet, well balanced, delicious. I want more! 4.75 but need more to rate.
1/2 pint: a little watery, wanted more flavor - hence a 4.25

Shared a taster on-tap as part of four flights at the brewery; Sierra Nevada Brewing Co, Chico, USA. Then ordered a half pint later. Yum! As part of a six-week West Coast beer tour. I rate to taste, not to style. See my blog for more details: carbeers.wordpress.com

Serving type: on-tap

06-14-2013 07:43:05 | More by Rosanne

Illmaticzx

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

06-14-2013 04:29:05 | More by Illmaticzx

jburd19

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +16.4%

06-14-2013 00:36:37 | More by jburd19

Yummmmiller

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2%

06-13-2013 21:02:25 | More by Yummmmiller

Hubarooski

Florida

2/5  rDev -51%

06-13-2013 20:19:25 | More by Hubarooski

Paccamacca

California

4/5  rDev -2%

06-13-2013 04:52:00 | More by Paccamacca

FroggieG

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -14.2%

06-13-2013 00:09:39 | More by FroggieG

dar482

New York

4.3/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours out in a light ruby color with a bit of orange.

The aroma is super dank fresh hops, a bit of pine, tropical fruit, some sweet caramel malt.

The flavor is of caramel sweetness up front with some grapefruit and citrus, then there’s a piney, herbal, resin bitterness with a hint of grapefruit that follows. The beer is actually really

The beer is very easy drinking, yet follows with that dense rich bitterness on the end. The mouthfeel is quite silky. The finish on this one is really herbal and earthy. The hops are quite interesting and remind me a bit of Chinook. The bitterness really does linger and is a bit too strong, but the beer is also well balanced.

This beer is a pleasant surprise. It also is a great value as its Sierra Nevada. I would buy this bomber again over some beers I prefer.

Bonus: I infused this beer in a jar with fresh papaya and lime peel. On the infused, you just get tons and tons of lime peel on the aroma. The carbonation has unfortunately gone away, but you do get papaya and lime in the flavor. The bitterness and lime peel compliments really well. The sweetness of the papaya gives this beer a beautiful fruity tinge.

I only used half the beer to infuse and the other half to review. After reviewing the original bottle (which I held with a wine stopper in the bottle for an hour, so it held the carbonation), I poured it into the infused to recarbonate the dead infused one.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 22:20:20 | More by dar482