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

sraimondi

Connecticut

4.75/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Wow!

Poured into a wide-mouth Killian's Imperial Pint, large white head which sticks around for a long time. A gorgeous orange copper color, simply beautiful.

Smell is of hops but with some faintish malt. Citrus is trying to break through, but doesn't quite materialize.

Taste is very complex with grapefruit definitely present upfront.Some earthiness also present. What I really like about the taste here is that it is extremely balanced. In these days of over the top IPAs, it's nice to see that one of the US' seminal craft brewers has taken the high road and come up with a specialty beer that is balanced.

Mouthfeel is very full for an IPA. Balance present once again.

Overall drinkability is very good, and the "higher" ABV is well-masked.

I'm a big fan of SN beers and their previous Harvest releases. This one is the best Harvest I have had to date. Great stuff, which will appeal to "extreme" IPA drinkers as well as the more mainstream brew drinkers.

Wow!

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2008 01:37:23 | More by sraimondi

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

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

3.98/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

24 oz bottle split two ways into a pint glass

A: Pours a clear golden/amber color with two fingers of very dense off white head. Great retention and lacing. Sierra Nevada knows how to make a pretty IPA.

S: The aroma starts out with a very fruity hop profile - peaches and mango mostly. I get a nice bready malt profile with a hint of caramel sweetness.

T: Sweeter than I expected, I get a caramel sweetness balanced by a mild breadiness and a mixture of fruity and spicy hops.

M: On the thick side with slightly more than average carbonation.

O: Another win from Sierra Nevada. I did expect more given how much I typically like their IPAs and how much I generally love New Zealand hops.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 00:15:27 | More by coreyfmcdonald

dcbeers

District of Columbia

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

05-13-2013 20:48:34 | More by dcbeers

RedneckBeerz

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

05-13-2013 05:03:31 | More by RedneckBeerz

Holland

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-13-2013 02:45:06 | More by Holland

2dogbrew

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

05-12-2013 22:45:11 | More by 2dogbrew

vitese

California

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-12-2013 18:15:18 | More by vitese

mikeburd1128

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -20.5%

05-12-2013 17:54:43 | More by mikeburd1128

Rhettroactive

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

05-11-2013 23:57:46 | More by Rhettroactive

smccann

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

05-11-2013 22:05:37 | More by smccann