Northern Hemisphere Harvest Wet Hop Ale - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

KenOnBass

New York

3.18/5  rDev -24.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Beer distributor in Patterson, NY. Poured from a growler.

A: Amber dark color, decent head and okay lacing

S: Very citrusy sweet smell, smells like oranges.

T: Very sweet and intense bitter taste. Weird and smooth like juice. I also had this at the end of the keg so not sure if this can be a fair assessment or not.

M: Really smooth, almost like juice. Too smooth.

D: I will have to try this again in from a bottle or on tap somewhere.

Serving type: growler

08-10-2009 23:23:02 | More by KenOnBass

Amalak

New York

3.08/5  rDev -27%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

I grabbed a growler of this at Pawling Beer Distributer in Dutchess County, NY.
A- Muddy brown color, opaque with a decent head and some lace.
S- Fruity, sweet scent.
T- It should be noted that this came of a keg that was kicked after serving. It had an intense taste, very bitter with a banana kind of taste. Slight balance of wheat to it.

Serving type: growler

08-06-2009 15:38:07 | More by Amalak

LilBeerDoctor

New York

4.72/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Growler from Big Z. Pours dark orange with a small, thick white head (not quite as luscious as the head from the bottle). Aroma of sweet caramel malt. Flavor of rich, sweet caramel malt with a bitter finish. Some tropical fruits make their presence too. Pretty much just as awesome as the bottled version!
Appearance: 5/5
Aroma: 8/10
Palate: 5/5
Flavor: 10/10
Overall: 19/20
4.7/5

Serving type: growler

02-08-2009 22:00:03 | More by LilBeerDoctor

BuffaloTapHugger

New York

4.28/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: A dark reddish amber color. Big head and extravagant lacing to boot. Eye appeal is at pinnacle level, superior if you will.

S: The wet hops play the game well, and a matter of fact ends up as the MVP. Very hoppy indeed. The malt coagulates with the hops and form an essence of bliss.

T: A big bang on the forefront. Hops in nature come forward, then settles with some mild spice and tones of pine and citrus. Magnificent!

M: Bite a plenty. Little thick on the forefront, sippabilty is not a problem. Crisp brew with some punch sums it up nicely.

D: American Pale Ale or IPA is the question at hand. Hopheads will love this concoction. Its intense in flavor and will do the trick if you're looking for a fix.

Recommended to craft beer lovers and hop fans, both far and near.

Serving type: growler

02-03-2009 03:39:43 | More by BuffaloTapHugger

DIM

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a: Clear and copper colored. Big foamy head with a gentle pour, lots of lacing.

s: Fresh hops dominate. Smell is very nice, but not a lot else to be detected

t: A very fresh hop profile dominates here also. Robust and piney. Againnot a lot here other than hops.

m: Tingly and oily. The hops are almost chewable.

d: I split the two liters with a buddy and was glad for the help, though I would not have minded a bit more.

Serving type: growler

10-29-2007 19:45:23 | More by DIM

Boilermaker88

California

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a growler of SN's fall seasonal at Hollingshead's Deli and enjoyed a couple pints while watching the Chargers/Chiefs football game.
SNHA had a clear dark copper color and scattered light carbonation that rose lazily to the base of a dense off-white head that bore up well and left thick sheets of lace.
The nose showcased the hops punch this APA-on-'roids has. Lots of citrusy hops aroma mixed with the hearty caramel malt notes for a real enticing brew. The taste initially had a solid malt base which also carried a slight earthy note. Then came the rush of Cascade hops, all citrus peels with a lighter inclusion of pine sap. Finishes drily after starting off with a full-bodied creaminess.
SN's Harvest Ale is one big bad-ass American pale ale. It has a great aroma and taste in which the malt and hops complement each other to the fullest. Drinkability is damn near off the scale. Great stuff worth seeking out.

Serving type: growler

10-31-2005 22:11:04 | More by Boilermaker88

orbitalr0x

Illinois

4.63/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

1/2 gallon growler. Pours from the growler a wonderful clear amber red with a huge pillowy two finger white head that slowly falls. Sticky patchwork lacing adorns the side of my SN tulip. Aromas of sweet caramelly malts collide with a fresh, vibrant citrusy, piney hops. Lovely hop oils make me feel like I'm in a field of hops smelling them right on the vine..covered in a sweet blanket of hops. Yum.

First sip brings a rush of sweet caramelly pale malts...chewy and a tad bit toasty, bready on the back of the palate. The citrusy, piney resinous hops soon take control and bring a lovely sturdy bitterness. Fresh, lush, floral....the green leafy hop flavors keep me coming back for sip after sip. The big "C" hops are in full effect. Subtle lingering bitterness after each gulp. Simply an amazing APA. Extremely well balanced and incredibly tasty...the malt and hops have a harmonious relationship...a new benchmark for APA's in my book. Big, tasty hop burps can't help but bring a smile to my face as well!

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, slightly creamy and smooth. Mellow carbonation helps this one go down easy. Chewier maltiness than most APA's. Drinkability is only hindered by availability. This growler will disappear far too fast and I'll be left searching for more. Please, please, bottle this!! A world class APA from one of my all time favorite breweries. Many, many thanks to kmpitz2 for allowing me the pleasure of sampling this fine brew.

12-9-07: 24oz. big bottle. Love the unique bottle and big size! This beer is as good as it's ever been and I'm glad to finally see it bottled. Big citric, piney hops all over the place in the aroma and flavor. Fresh, green with a sturdy smack of bitterness. I really can't say enough about how much I love this one. Cheers to Sierra Nevada for bottling this and I hope to see it again in the future.

Serving type: growler

08-26-2005 02:30:01 | More by orbitalr0x

JackStraw22

Virginia

4.53/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Had this in a growler from Fingerlakes Beverage in Ithaca. Crystal clear golden/Amber body with a really nice thick, caramel head. Great retention, nice lacing down the entire glass. The aroma is hoppy as would be expected. The floral aroma is intense and quite nice. The taste is very clean and crisp. It's dominated by the hops, but they aren't overpowering. The taste of the hops is complex, it's not just a "whack you over the head with all the hops we can" taste. The drinkability is outstanding. I had this throughout a day of football, and I wish I had another growler when my first one was gone.

Serving type: growler

01-17-2005 15:15:27 | More by JackStraw22

BurgeoningBrewhead

Pennsylvania

4.78/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 5

Poured into becker pint glass. Dark orange with a beautiful, thick fluffy white head that isn't going anywhere fast. Smells floral and hoppy, a bit of citrus, and clean malts in the background. Taste is incredibly well-balanced; a bit spiky up front, but it smooths out in the middle and finishes with a delightfully bitter aftertaste. The aftertaste seems to also have an aftertaste, which is sweet again. Love this beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2013 02:45:58 | More by BurgeoningBrewhead

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

3.85/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A 24oz bomber with no visible BB date. 2012 vintage. Acquired a little while back from Trembling Madness in York. I enjoyed SN's Southern Hemisphere wet hop ale, so I hope this matches the quality.

Poured into a Duvel tulip. A deep coppery-orange hue with light haze and medium carbonation. Produces a vast head of creamy off-white foam with good retention; this slowly subsides to a surface layer. Great lacing all down the glass. Aroma of fruity hops with hints of citrus and grass. Underpinned by grainy caramel malt, earthy yeast and a touch of sweetness.

Tastes of caramel malt with a fruity hop character and a powerful bitter finish. Notes of grapefruit, citrus, grass, faint pine, caramel, grain, earthy yeast and stewed hops. Slightly sweet, with a strident bitterness upon swallowing. A hint of solventy booze in the background. Mouthfeel is smooth, tingly and dry, with pleasant carbonation and good body. Somewhat astringent, with an aftertaste of bitter aromatic hops and caramel malt.

Tasty stuff - a beer of substance. Plenty of hops, as might be expected for a wet hop brew. Looks fantastic, and the aroma/flavour are solid. I'm a little surprised the alcohol comes through as much as it does, but there you go. Good body. Quality - might be a bit late to find one now, but if you do see it in the future it is well worth your while.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 22:55:21 | More by jazzyjeff13

buschbeer

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

1 pint 8 ounce bottle
Served in a perfect pint glass

A - It is a lovely amber color with soft orange highlights. The three fingers of off-white head are rocky in appearance and have some staying power.

S - I get some citrus, caramel malt. I also smell some wet grass which is interesting.

T - The taste is a lot more bitter than the smell suggests. I'm assuming some citrus or something else would come through if this beer were fresh. I do get a little caramel malt, but the bitterness is overpowering.

M - It is kind of thin for an IPA and lower in carbonation than expected.

O - This beer is all bitter. That is not my favorite approach to an IPA. I doubt I would like it much better fresh. I am impressed that it held this much flavor for a fall seasonal IPA.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 01:53:54 | More by buschbeer

thezach

Maryland

4.26/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A: This is a damn good beer. Pours a 2-finger frothy, rocky, creamy off-white head. Beer itself is a bronzed copper. Looks like it got some time in the sun (but not really, because that would ruin it lolz). Lacing is insane.

S: Hop oils, grassy, ever-so-slightly sweet and malty with a bit of caramel. There might be some slight alcohol aroma and taste, but it blends so well with the beer that it doesn't detract from the experience at all.

T: Well-balanced between a snappy bitterness and its malty, slightly grainy side. A bit of breadiness comes out, especially as the beer warms.

M: So smooth, creamy, moderately full but not heavy by any means. Definitely a more filling beer than some IPAs, but that could be a result of being about 20 oz. into a 24 oz. bottle (worth it).

O: Find this, savor this, enjoy, repeat.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 00:37:04 | More by thezach

Rast

Maryland

3.66/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Bomber style while watching Iowa St. dismantle Notre Dame in March Madness 2013.

The appearance intrigues. Copper colouration with a majestically thick, lacy head. I see this beer. I want this beer. Furthermore, not only do carbon bubbles ascend, but some sorts of fragments descend. Hops? Unsure. The mouthfeel also intrigues. Initial carbonation gives way quickly to smooth silkiness, even when gulped rather than sipped. The nose is much as the taste: bright, nutty malt matched with subtle hop over/unders. Complexity abounds. No. Hemis. Wet Hop demands digestion of both the mind and stomach. All-important aftertaste leaves one satisfied, but desiring a bit more. Intriguing.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 03:48:10 | More by Rast

Tang07

California

5/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is a truly wonderful brew. I look forward to drinking the NH and the SH Wet Hop Ales seasonally.

It's very drinkable and is more balanced and has more flavor and character than say their Torpedo.

It looks great, a nice dark copper with a fabulous hopyy smell.

It can be a session beer despite it's high abv.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 10:55:40 | More by Tang07

patre_tim

China

4.36/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A: Orange brown with a little sediment, 3 finger orange brown tinged head, moderate carbonation.

S: Caramel with orange, hops, citrus, pine, slight barnyard. Fruity and floral.

T: Follows nose with caramel, orange, hops citrus, pine and some fruity and floral, only getting the barnyard when siphoned over the top of my tongue.

M: Syrupy, medium thick body, medium low carbonation.

O: Great IPA. Balanced, the barnyard is not overwhelming and acceptable, but does bring it down slightly in my opinion. Love the idea of it all harvested fresh in one day, love the bottle, love the taste. Should be tried.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 04:04:48 | More by patre_tim

SmashPants

Australia

4.19/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Bottle: solid dark brown 710mL bottle, with a very stylish, vintage-style label. A good-looking package that has me expecting a quality product.

Appearance: a vibrant, pure orange colour, with hints of red and dusty brown. Very little carbonation. A fairly solid head pops up to two fingers, and settles to a thick, rocky pure white with great lacing and decent retention.

Aroma: a definite caramel malt comes forth, with some citric hops backing up - predominantly grapefruit. Not much more than those, but they'll definitely do.

Taste: I'm not sure if it's the speed with which they deliver the hops to the bottle, but this beer seems very fresh, quite organic. Defined characteristics of pine, grapefruit and caramels. I really enjoy the addition of the caramel malts instead of the usual AIPA "million hops with no distinct flavour".

Aftertaste: a lingering bitterness in the throat that makes one feel like drinking more. Sounds good to me! A dryness across the palate too.

Mouth feel: smooth and quite heavy in body, with a heavier yet fine carbonation. More carbonation than the initial appearance would suggest. Goes down very easily, which is a bit of a concern considering the price.

Overall: a very good example of a good-quality, flavoursome American IPA. I am a bit sick olf the usual "whop the hops in an hope for the best" AIPAs that have no taste. This one is clean, crisp and distinctly flavoursome. A very nice beer, that whilst a bit dear at AU$80 a case of 12 x 710mL, is a darn site better than half of the worse, but more expensive AIPAs out there.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 12:15:02 | More by SmashPants

JPlo

Maryland

4.26/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Copper color, hazy-cloudy. Head slightly above avg lasting, with good lacing.

Smell/Taste: Smells like freshness and herbal. Citrusy, grassy, piney, earthy, biscuity, grainy. Very "Juicy" finish.

Feel: smooth/silky. carbonation is light-creamy, medium body. Finish is avg-long with a slightly wet finish.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 22:59:05 | More by JPlo

Luke4

4.29/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Great SN AIPA. The color is deep orange/amber with a hint of red? The head is sticky lacy and lingering until the last drop. Te smell is sort of fruity, but also is reminiscent of freshly cut grass. The citrus/grassy/earthy bitterness of this beer is just fabulous. Am I the only one also tasting a bit of rye on the body? Unlike the Estate from Sierra Nevada, this one is not 100% organic, but it kind of taste like it. The wet hop method truly adds to flavor and aromatics.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 01:34:40 | More by Luke4

Sunnanek

Sweden

4.45/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A: The deep amber color is clear and warm. The medium tall off-white head is really compact and slowly dissipating. Nice lacings.

S: Caramell malts, somewhat sweet and quite biscuity is dominated by the hops; both bitter and floral. Tropical fruits and pine; pineapple, ripe grapefruit and red oranges with a lemon twist.

T: Fresh and crisp. Bread and biscuit from the caramell malt, a bit sweet. Rich hoppy bitterness that only grows and grows. The floral hops are still very obvious, but a bit held back compared to the smell, but everything is still there. The malt and hops are in better balance in the taste.

M: Fantastic long and lovely bitter aftertaste. Body is smooth and on the fuller side. Carbonation is quite rich but very smooth and holds only very small bubbles.

O: Very nice and well balanced. Everything that you expect in an AIPA is there. Nothing is too strong in comparison. Lovely.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 19:25:58 | More by Sunnanek

Seanniek91

New Hampshire

4.38/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Served from a bomber into a Grey sail pint.

Appearance- Nice copper/amber with a finger of fluffy off white head. Nice lacing.

Smell- Piney hops. Some grapey smell. Peaches? Light caramel malts. Herbaceous.

Taste- Piney/fruity hops. Not bitter. Malts balence out the hops. Some apple flavors.

Mouthfeel- Lighter body. Mild carbonation. Super smooth and drinkable. Not too sticky.

Overall- Another great IPA from Sierra Nevada. This one is super drinkable and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 18:32:10 | More by Seanniek91

tdm168

North Carolina

4.19/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A - orangish amber with a huge, towering mountain of off white head that has great retention

S - citrus, floral, faint bread

T - bready malt, some caramel, faint sugary sweetness, grapefruit, mango, some floral hints, piney bitter finish

M - medium bodied, well carbonated

This is a really nice beer. The flavor is well balanced. The malt is bold and forward. The hops are intricate and incredibly flavorful. They seem to hit each note on the hop spectrum. It's not overpoweringly bitter and the ABV is manageable which allows one to work through a 24oz bottle with ease. I am really glad I picked this beer up.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 00:39:03 | More by tdm168

Kulrak

Australia

3.89/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear brownish red with a fair amount of chunky tan head that clings to the glass. Smells of citrusy hops and malty sweetness. The taste is heavy hoppiness with a small amount of malt, but mostly of hops. it's not so much bitter as it is just citrusy hop flavor. Mouthfeel is heavy and creamy, very nice. Overall, if you love hops, this is a great beer for you.

Serving type: can

01-24-2013 11:14:12 | More by Kulrak

Greywulfken

New York

4.31/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: into the ole' nonic pint, a medium amber body capped by a few fingers of off-white head; great head retention, moderate lacing

S: floral, herbal, and crisp, fresh hops dominate softer malt aromas

T: wow. Clean, fresh, delicious malts overlaid with mellow bitter hops of pine and earth; made me think of grassy fields and fresh air; tiny bits of spice and citrus

M: light, clean, palate refreshing, crisp carbonation and smooth finishing

O: no wonder this beer gets such acclaim - truly delicious, extremely drinkable - a seasonal must-have.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 01:10:44 | More by Greywulfken

trxxpaxxs

New York

4.29/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

2012 vintage...

A: Pours a deep amber with two full fingers of light khaki colored head. The foam takes a good amount of time to settle, and There is some great lacing left on the glass as it drinks.

S: The nose is pine, earth, it's a bit vegital, and has a touch of malt in the back end. It smells exactly like I would imagine a Wet Hop beer to smell like.

T: I get a mild sweetness, earth/dirt, and a great piney hop kick. The balance is great. Sweet to hoppy to sweet to hoppy. The finish is a great mix of spice and sweet. I'm impressed.

M: Medium bodied beer. It has some heft, but it's never overwhelming. This is an easy drinking beer and goes down smooth, stick around for a bit, and then moves off the palate.

O: This is a really nice beer. Another solid offering from Sierra Nevada. I would drink this again and again and again.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 19:11:53 | More by trxxpaxxs

KFBR392

Illinois

4.24/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: A clear golden amber color. Lacing stuck masterfully to the glass as I slowly enjoyed this brew. Enjoyed out of a tall pilsner type glass.

Smell: Caramelized malt aroma. This aroma was much more subdued then I expected. Hops were not as present as I would have hoped.

Taste: Subtle. Once again the caramel flavor dominates this brew. Hops are there but I don't think this bottle was as fresh as it could have been. The pine flavors of this IPA are very pleasant. Although not as fresh as its been, the taste is very well rounded and balanced.

Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel was not what I hoped it would be. The hops or pine flavor did not stick around like I hoped. Going down was definitely very smooth though.

Overall: Really solid. I wish I would have had this right when it came out to get the full effect of the design of this beer. Sierra Nevada makes some of the best beer around, their high end stuff really can go toe to toe with anyone.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 05:05:42 | More by KFBR392