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

Florida9

Illinois

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

A: Exceedingly clear copper in color. Forms a large bubbly head, but is still quite stable. Good retention. Lots of lacing.

S: Nice aroma. Piney, spicy hops with some toasted caramel malts in the background.

T: Starts off with the strong flavor of toasted malts. Strong pine and pine resin hoppiness. Finishes with more caramel and toasty malts and a lingering bitterness.

M: On the heavier side of medium. Moderate-to-heavy piney bitterness. Appropriate carbonation.

O: Apparently I liked this one much more in growler form than bottle as I thought this was a very good beer this time around. Great hoppiness, but still quite balanced.

Serving type: growler

10-30-2011 02:25:05 | More by Florida9

hippityhophead24

Tennessee

4.45/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Beautiful amber color. Reminds me of a pretty golden sundown. Thick frothy two finger head. Nice retention and lacing.

Smell: floral, citrus, and pine notes. Slight malt and spice notes as well. Not the greatest aroma from a beer.

Taste: A little sweet and citrusy on the front. Has a little kick in the middle that lingers for a while. Sweet caramel notes and bitterness follows.

Mouth feel: Has a great mouth feel. Nice and smooth on the tongue. Good for a hot day. However I do get some oil residue from the hops.

Overall: Great beer for a hot day. Nice full hop flavors through out the whole beer. Nice color.

Glassware: growler into snifter

Serving type: growler

08-14-2011 03:23:12 | More by hippityhophead24

chinchill

South Carolina

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

Appearance: clear amber in color with an ample multi-density head that lasts and leaves plenty of lacing on glass.

Smell: earthy and floral hop aroma with a significant medium toasted malt component. 6.7% ABV is evident.

Taste: immediate hop hit; hoppy throughout but with a detectable malt backbone in mid-taste. Turns more piney, grapefruity and bitter in the finish. Unique hop profile: must be the fresh NZ hops.

Mouthfeel: medium body and carbonation. Crisp throughout with very mild bite up front and a semi-dry finish.

Overall: Very good, certainly, but not up with the Northern Hemisphere version.

Serving type: growler

06-29-2011 03:16:51 | More by chinchill

ebby82

Virginia

4.47/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a growler into a pint glass with a nice frothy head. Lots of lacing as well. A clear golden color.

Aroma is pretty much straight hops. A very nice smell.

The tastes is excellent, not a whole lot of malt presence, yet the hop bitterness isn't overwhelming. Very smooth and drinkable, a really nice, almost light IPA.

Serving type: growler

06-04-2011 16:50:16 | More by ebby82

cdizinno

South Carolina

4.63/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured from a growler purchased at Green's - Piney Grove location in Columbia.

A: Clear, dark orange amber with a nice light tan head and moderate lacing.

S: Sweet malts. Floral and mild piney hops.

T&M: More malty sweet than I remember from last year's bottle that I reviewed. Very well balanced though. Mild citrus and floral hops that finish semi-dry.

The malts really mellow the bitterness to make this a really drinkable IPA.

Serving type: growler

06-06-2010 17:55:04 | More by cdizinno

barczar

Kentucky

3.89/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Clear golden with a frothy cream head that leaves sheets of lacing as it dissipates.

Almost lacquer-like aromas emerge initially, with skunky and catty notes complementing citrus and resin. There's a touch of onion and caramel malt.

Flavor is decidedly resiny and bready mid palate, finishing decidedly bitter. That amarillo umami character is present, and mint surfaces in the aftertaste.

Body is moderate to a touch light, with moderate carbonation and slight astringency.

Somewhat lacking in aroma hops, but the flavoring hops were interesting. Bittering hops definitely dominate. It's a little too bitter for my liking, but the mint finish helps. And the bitterness isn't as offputting as some.

Serving type: on-tap

05-22-2013 02:43:02 | More by barczar

Sludgeman

District of Columbia

3.94/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A bomber purchased for $5.99. Poured into a chalice.

A good beer, an excellent beer for the price. Reminds me a bit of Firestone's Wookey Jack. A decent beer. One that I would be willing to drink again.

A - Pours a clear BRILLIANT dark amber with a half-finger of head, which quickly dissapates. Average lacing.

S - A sweet floral hoppiness with a bit of spiciness.

T - Barley maltiness, some slight carmel sweetness all balanced with a lasting bitter finish.

MF - A smooth creaminess quickly morphing into a sharp bitter finish.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 02:09:35 | More by Sludgeman

elNopalero

Texas

4.26/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Purchased and enjoyed the same weekend, May 2013. I’m assuming it was just released.

This pours a caramel auburn color with great cottony foam. There’s an aroma that’s slightly peppery with a somewhat earthy caramel note to it. Tastes of caramel and pine with some earthy peppery characteristics and a dry finish. The hops in this don’t “stick out” in the way I’d expect from a fresh-hopped ale, nor do they exhibit the vibrancy I’ve come to expect from Southern Hemisphere (New Zeeland) hops. Reminds me of a SNPA with more malt/caramel and an earthier hop character.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 07:23:44 | More by elNopalero

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

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

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

dheacck11

Connecticut

4.03/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2013 batch

Pour is a lovely orange amber color, nice a clear. Finger of just off white head fading quickly, nice amount of lacing remaining.

Nose is dry hops with a soft hint of grapefruit. Not too potent.

Taste is lots of bitter, wet hops. Very soft hint of lemon and grapefruit, but minimal. Strong malt backbone, with lots of nuttiness. Hops are strong, but not overpowering.

Feel is medium thick and fits well with the flavors, though is maybe a bit more than needed.

A nice beer overall. Not mind blowing, and certainly not the hoppiest beer around. But a very pleasant and drinkable IPA, especially for the price point.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 23:25:37 | More by dheacck11

arfenhouse

California

4.18/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A: Clear amber with off-white head. Good retention with decent lacing.

S: Aroma is not very impressive. Orange, lemon, and sweet malt.

T: Sweet malt present at all stages of the taste. Small amount grapefruit and peach upfront. Pine comes in halfway through all the way into the aftertaste. Grassy (in a good way) in the aftertaste. Well balanced.

M: Full bodied with medium carbonation. Very fine carbonation with a creamy feel. Wet.

O: One of the best single IPAs that I've had in a while. Very interesting mouthfeel that I don't see in many IPAs. Not very hoppy, but just enough hop on the taste to keep me interested.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 01:21:13 | More by arfenhouse

rangerred

Tennessee

4.23/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a pint glass out of a 24oz bottle.

Pours a clear deep copper with a two finger white billowy head. Amazing head retention that sticks around for a long time and when it does fade, there is abundant lacing on the sides of the glass.

A really amazing hop aroma that just explodes with citrus and earth. There is a definite dank component as well along with pine resin. I can detect a bit of a toasty backbone but hops really rule and rightly so. A definite wet-hopped character.

Like other wet-hopped beers I have had, the depth of the aroma doesn't quite carry over into the flavor. There is still an extremely resiny character with a bit of tropical fruit but it is not on the same level as the aroma and the dankness is almost non-existant. Some more maltyness shows up along with a touch of alcohol along with a mild sweetness. Bitterness is on the high side and lingers for a long time.

Overall, a very impressive beer, especially in the aroma. While the flavor falls a bit short, this is quite enjoyable and one I am glad I picked up.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 01:49:20 | More by rangerred

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.69/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

We pour a beer the color of terra cotta. It holds an off-white head of chunky bubbles. This retains nicely, leaving thick sheets and patterns of lacing as it eventually goes. There is a thick haze, with no sediment noted. Carbonation appears mild. The aroma gives sickly sweet nectary hops, light grapefruit citrus, mild metallic adjuncts, baked apple sugars, buttery diacetyls, brown sugar sweets, and brown and caramel malts. With warmth comes light but fusel booze and warm vinyl plastics. Our first impression is that the hops are nicely bitter, standing hard against the darker background of malts. As we sip, heavy pale and caramel malts hit first, with citric and herbal hops, moderate soapy bitterness, flashes of brown sugar, and burnt butter. The malts continue their strength to the peak, with light leathers, bittered pales, sweet caramels, toast and roast, and dark cherry fruitiness. The end comes with phenolic plastics, black pepper booze, more of an adjuncty and metallic malt, brown apple sweetness, and those same bright, herbal and grapefruit hops. The aftertaste breathes of those same bitter hops, grassy malts, chalky yeast, chalky pale grains, cooked brown sugars, and big metallics. The body is medium to full, and the carbonation is medium to full. There is nice slurp, smack, cream, froth, and pop to the sip, with a coating left all around the mouth. This gives way to a light pucker, and chalky astringency far down on the hard palate. The abv is fine, and the beer drinks easily.

Overall, the best thing about this beer was richness of flavoring, and full, hearty glug to the feel. From the start of things, the look is inviting, but the aroma tapers off into metallics, adjuncts, and overpowering maltiness. This actually plays well into the flavoring, as the strong grain base is enough to balance the dark, bittering Pacific hop varietals. Thus, the flavoring remains robust and interesting throughout, helping in large part to make this guy a success.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 02:12:36 | More by TheBrewo

JPlo

Maryland

4.13/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Copper color, hazy, slightly above avg head retention. Lacing is long lasting.

Aroma/taste: strong smell. Floral, citrus, spicy, bitter, fruit, slightly herbal.

Feel: Smooth, light-creamy, medium body, average lasting finish and slightly wet.

Balanced hop bitterness, sweeet hops. Hop flavour a little more interesting than Northern Hemisphere, but lacks the great "fresh" taste of the hops.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 23:06:16 | More by JPlo

BierStein711

Illinois

4.24/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Draught into Guinness pint, four finger off-white head.

Cloudy straw gold body!

Smells of wet hops and hemp!

Tastes of pine, resin, wet hops, herbs, cloves, and much more in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Thick and dry

Overall, this is a beer that is very delicious and rewarding. I would not get a six pack though.

Serving type: on-tap

01-17-2013 05:07:46 | More by BierStein711

ckollias

Maryland

3.74/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Enjoyed this large bottle out of a large snifter glass.

A: Pours an orangish hue with a thin 2-finger white head that slowly dissipates leaving a generous trail.

S: Mild hoppy aroma – not as strong as I would have expected or liked. There are scents of caramel and orange peel in here too.

T: Starts out more hoppy than I expected from the smell. Grassy hops followed by some caramelized malts and citrus fruits.

M: Medium body and medium carbonation.

O: Decent American IPA – but nothing I would grab again.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 00:27:25 | More by ckollias

SouljaSaia17

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: This beer pours a light, hazy orange color with a solid 2 inch, soapy, white head that leaves some significant lacing.

S: I get some orange citrus and hops in the initial aroma. From there I sense a little bit of pine and some honey.

T: Tastes of fresh hops with a piney resin and apricots. The flavor finished with a hint of pepper and honey sweetness.

M: Very hoppy and sweet with a slight tartness on the mouth. Very drinkable as the abv allowes this to be a sessionable beer opposed to a slow sipper.

O: I have had the Northern hemisphere before and this is a lot like it, but has a little more hop character. Very nice beer and well worth the buy.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 05:41:39 | More by SouljaSaia17

AmitC

Indiana

4.35/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the 1pt 8 fl oz bottle into my large snifter glass.

About three fingers thick head of off white color with top notch persistence. Super awesome lacing. Some bubbles. Golden amber color. Hazy looks and translucent.

Aroma: Quite subdued may be due to the fact that it is old or something. I could not find the bottling date. Or may be it is fresh hopping. I don't know. Orange peel, grape fruits and some earthy hop smell. A lot of malt in the nose that forecasts some sweetness.

Taste: A good mix of malt and hops. Front part is more malt heavy with the tail end leaving some bitterness. Very slight bitter aftertaste. Dry finish. Not that sweet as the nose suggests. More balanced taste than expected.

Mouth feel: Very well medium bodied feel. Higher than moderate carbonation coupled with bitter hops contribute to mild astringency. Easy on palate especially for an AIPA.

Style Rate: 4.25
Personal Rate: 4.25

Compared to Northern Hemisphere, this is certainly a lower status brother. Taste and everything confirms that. Worth trying nonetheless. Some may like it for its mild hop presence.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 00:22:54 | More by AmitC

CwrwAmByth

United Kingdom (Wales)

3.9/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 650ml bottle into a pint glass and topped up.

Pours a clear light amber colour with a pretty decent head.

Smells fresh and hoppy, not as fresh as it could have been due to being several months after the 'Southern Hemisphere Harvest'.

Taste reflects that freshness as well as the dulled down qualities of an old IPA. However this does not bring the beer down too much. It is still very well hopped, with nice fruity and bitter flavours from the new world hops. Some light malts there too, making sure the hop taste isn't too overpowering.

Overall quite a nice beer, though I probably wouldn't drink it again due to being expensive and definitely not representative of what it should have been, i.e. when fresh.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 01:59:47 | More by CwrwAmByth

Chas58

New Jersey

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

Poured into a Firestone Walker Nonic Pint Glass

A. Burnt Orange with a very persistent thick head that clings to the glass and remains for a very long time. 

S. Piney and Resiny but not as floral as I remember from past years. A really pleasant and inviting aroma though

T. A nice pale ale lightness with a good hop bite. Very pleasant and so drinkable. Small bubble carbonation with a moderate amount. The Wet Hop does distinguish itself in the second taste, as the freshness does come through. 

M. Clean and Surprisingly Crispness. Initially it provides little resiny remains on the palette, but after multiple sips the IPA/pale ale resin remains with a moderate level. Not a palette wrecker. 

O. I look forward to wet hop ales and the Sierra Nevada is one of he best. Balanced , drinkable and refreshing. Would love a more floral nose, but the taste makes up for it. 

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 01:59:19 | More by Chas58

TheRealBigC

Nevada

3.58/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This is an oddly dry IPA. The malt presence isn't too strong - I couldn't really detect any sort of sweetness. Hops weren't pungent & and it was noticeably a wet-hopped beer. The hope profile was definitely unique, likely due to the hop selections. All in all I wasn't overly thrilled with it, but it's unique and worth trying.

Serving type: on-tap

10-29-2012 02:32:12 | More by TheRealBigC

SaisonFest

Washington

2.9/5  rDev -29.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Fresh bottle served at 55f in a samual adams perfect pint glass, paired with a tombstone veggie pizza that i added pepperocini peppers from a jar onto, and some Gouda cheese. no crackers.

Visually i would say the color lies in the middle range for an IPA, a deep sunburst orange throughout. Plenty of sticky lacing, the cap fades after a few mins. This could go either way.

nose is a mixture of mellow orange citrus and floral notes, nothing abrasive on the nose and nothing overpowering.

flavors are approachable, nothing astringent, just rounded orange, flowers, and everything is mellowed out by a backbone of caramel. This one borders the line of Pale ale and IPA.

Body is moderate-heavy, not sticky though. I like them really light for pales and IPAs, so this is off my mark.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 01:11:00 | More by SaisonFest