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

Bitter_Echo

Michigan

4.43/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep orange, rust color with fine, extensive puffy foam and substantial and extensive lacing. Smells malt, and very hoppy; pine and resin and citrus rind and complex and, maybe just expecting it, straight-out fresh smelling. Tastes bitter bitter bitter bitter in the best way possible. Terrific balance, the bitterness modulating in different ways, with nice sustain; more pine than citrus and fruit, but both present. Striking detail in the flavors, and a moderate and well-defined backbone of malt. Carbonation and mouth-feel is well defined, a bit leaning to DIPA's slightly thicker flow. I hope there's still some at the store.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 22:22:47 | More by Bitter_Echo

B33R501

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Fresh. Delicious. My favorite harvest beer this year.

Pretty clear amber big fluffy head tons of lace. Fresh big aroma of ripe melon and berry, wow. Fresh taste follows, lots of pine, green grass, delightful grapefruit finish. The flavor and aroma is so deep and rich, making a delicious, extremely drinkable treat. Fresh hops at their best. Outstanding. Get one.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 16:00:04 | More by B33R501

BeerLover99

New Jersey

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

A: dirty orange/shiny copper body, finger khaki head, good lacing

S: lemon peel/grass, pine, floral, clean grain

T: lemon peel, fresh pine, grass, long bitter finish

M: med body, oily/mild sticky mouth

O: SN has quite well. Enjoy this very good + affordable brew.
Would recommend to hop heads and SN fans.

VERY GOOD, WORTH ENJOYING!

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 22:11:06 | More by BeerLover99

facundoCNB

New Jersey

4.23/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

beautiful clean looking amber pour with 2 fingers of white detergent like head (excellent lacing too!)
smells of pine, caramel, passion fruit, lots of grapefruit scent.
a nice earthy bitterness up front followed immediately by a nutty/malty profile, and backed perfectly by a sweet and citrus grapefruit flavor with a burnt caramel/piny finish.

medium body and nice amount of carbonation. sticky and creamy on the lips but goes down very smooth.

an excellent wet hopped IPA! i have now tasted both of the hemispheres and they are both of excellent quality. this is now night 3 of no power/no heat. couldn't be gladder to have great beer by my side at times like this.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 19:12:45 | More by facundoCNB

Dope

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: A clear amber pour with a huge fizzy tan head adorning it. Fades very slowly with excellent head retention - nice island of foam that persists forever. Tufts of fluffy lacing everywhere left behind.

S: Nice welcoming hoppy aroma. Piney, resinous and herbal. Just a touch of citrus in there to boot. Nice floral aroma.

T: Some pine and herbal hops, turning resinous into the middle. Quite resinous in fact. Some caramel and a bit of toasted bread backs it up. Very resinous and a quite herbal in the finish with just a touch of grapefruit. Long lingering resinous aftertaste.

M: Surprisingly full bodied for only 6.7%. Fresh hop beers tend to have a nice astringent mouthfeel though. Enjoyable.

O: Delicious wet hop ale. Always loved the mouthfeel of these beers (northern and southern, founders harvest, etc). You can practically feel the hops and hop oils lingering in the beer. Very tasty and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 05:20:00 | More by Dope

Celtics76

Rhode Island

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

I wasn't planning on buying this today, but $4.99 for a 24 oz. bottle from a great brewery is a good deal to me. For those Rhode Islanders reading this review, Bottles on the East Side has it.

Pours a clear copper with a healthy half inch of head. Quickly reduces to a thin layer. Smells piney more than anything, but also very floral/citrusy. Very well balanced flavor - the pine/floral/citrus notes come out with a solid carbonated bite. Crisp. Good lingering hop bitterness. The bitterness is not overpowering though - quite easy to drink for a seasoned IPA drinker like myself.

Interested in trying other wet hop ales. Founders Harvest is up next - this one is a tough act to follow.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 02:13:16 | More by Celtics76

warrenout330

Ohio

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

Poured from a 22oz bomber into a snifter

A- pours a hazy golden orange color... thick white head, quickly dissolves to a thin ring around the beer... decent lacing to the glass

S- hop resin, mango fruits, apricot, fruity esters galore... sweet lingering malt

T- apricot slurry twisted into mango, tropical fruits. Hoppy pine resin, caramel malt back bone

M- medium body, prickly carbonation... bubbly on the tongue. Sweet hoppy bitterness

O- this is a fine wet hop ale. Well balanced and just a wet, mouth watering ale. Glorious!

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 04:01:51 | More by warrenout330

Kromes

Georgia

4.18/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a tulip glass. A dark amber color with a thick tan colored head that stands on top of the beer and leaves sheets of lacing down the glass.

Aromas of toasted malt, grassy hop, citrus hop, floral hop, and some pine hop.

Right away the toasted malt rises to the top with the grassy hop. The citrus and pine show up more towards the finish and provide a nice mellow flavor with the toasted malt. Finishes somewhat bitter with the lingering citrus hop and toasted malt sweetness.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with some smoothness from the carbonation and oily hop. Very nice smooth feel that goes down easy and leaves you wanting more.

I am tending towards the wet hop ales lately. It's becoming my favorite time of the year. I can actually enjoy the malt flavors in the beer while still getting a strong hop presence without the mouth drying over the top bitterness of some beers. This beer is a very good example of a fresh hop ale. I'm definitely going to reach for this every year...and at $5 a bottle it's a steal.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 23:24:27 | More by Kromes

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

2012 Northern Hemisphere Harvest Wet Hop Ale. Pouring it into my brand new Great Lakes pint glass.

Lightly hazy auburn color with some redness when light shines through it. A darker, more robust-looking, IPA. Spotty lacing.

Rather mellow nose with elements of lemongrass and spruce. Has a subtle maltiness to it that offer a little bit of milk caramel.

Spicy bitterness with pine bark and citrus notes. Lots of hop cone oils present that offset a slight malty sweetness that complements the humulus. The finish is spicy, also. Nothing to blow your hair back, per se, but good.

Drinks like a cinch. Good dose of carbonation to ruffle your tongue's feathers. Elements of the hop profile add to this, as well.

A bit of a letdown. I remember this as a bigger winner last year. Perhaps my bottle sat a few weeks longer on the shelf than I'd have liked, or maybe it's the batch. Either way, it's a middle-tier IPA. Maybe I shouldn't have drank this one after I had a few Lagunitas DayTimes.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 04:00:10 | More by thecheapies

PatriotsRule

Massachusetts

4.58/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a beautiful amber with a golden half-inch of head. Head lingers and some really appetizing lacing is left all over the glass.
S: Fresh hops baby! It is piney and a bit fruits as west-coast hopped brews are
T: A nice balance with roasted malts and a pleasant hop bite at the end
M: Super smooth, super crisp. I could drink a few 24oz bottles of this...
O: Beautiful work by Sierra Nevada. I think this is a bit better than the Southern Hemisphere Harvest Wet Hop Ale from New Zealand, as it is a bit more balanced and extra drinkable. Looking forward to getting some Celebration soon to kick off the holiday season right!

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 01:39:57 | More by PatriotsRule

Jwale73

Rhode Island

3.93/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2012 vintage served in a tulip pint. Pours a translucent copper with a dense, creamy, butter-milk colored head embedded with clusters of tiny craters. Head eventually settles into a creamy dollop with textured strands of lacing evident as the brew recedes. Nose expresses citrus, light piny notes and a trace of earthiness and rind. Taste follows nose; however, there is also a mild, caramel maltiness that sits in the background. Mouthfeel is light-medium in body with an easy carbonation and just a kiss of acidity. Overall, a really well-balanced and easy drinking American IPA. There aren't a lot of nuances to this beer; however, it is really pleasant and quite drinkable. I can't believe I haven't tried this sooner.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 23:42:13 | More by Jwale73

davey101

Connecticut

4.43/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Bottled September 20, 2012. 24 oz bottle into a pint glass.

A - Pours a very dark amber body which almost borders on red. Creamy off white head with dense and thick bubbles. Sticky lacing and retention. Bottom of the bottle has some sediment/yeast.

S - Very malt forward with sweet caramel and bread, then comes a wave of pine and grassy hops. Simple and inviting, but very English style.

T - Sweet caramel malts intertwined with bitter and dank earthy hops. Pine and grapefruit juice. Lingering bitterness that finishes dry despite the creamy and dense mouth feel.

O - Very well made beer, and at less than $5 for a 24 oz bottle its a hell of a deal. The fresh wet hops are on certainly display but are balanced by a great malty base. I could drink this year round.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 01:29:29 | More by davey101

Gatch

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev -10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I was actually very disappointed in the bottled version of this beer. I had high expectations and excitement because we don't get many fresh hop beers on the East Coast. Maybe this has lost the hop strength during the trip across the country and it may have sat in the distributor's warehouse for a while seeing as it's now early November. When I had this beer on-tap last November in Arizona, it was later in the month but had a much stronger hop presence. This has lost nearly all of the hop flavor. There's none of it. It's all malt. The malt flavor isn't bad but considering this is supposed to be a fresh/wet hop beer, I don't get it. Disappointed and confused. Hopefully Estate tastes better on Sunday.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 01:11:13 | More by Gatch

dbrauneis

New Jersey

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

2012 Vintage

A: Pours a crystal clear deep copper to amber in color with moderate amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a two finger tall dense off-white head that slowly reduces to a thick film covering the majority of the surface of the beer with a couple of small thick patches and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate flavors of citrus/orange peel and pine hops over the top of caramel malts with just a touch of sweetness.

T: Upfront there are moderate flavors of caramel malts with some light amounts of sweetness followed by fairly intense flavors of citrus/orange peel and pine hops. Light to moderate amounts of bitterness which lingers through the finish.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Smooth and crisp.

O: Easy to drink because of the pleasant wet hop flavors and well hidden ABV - enjoyable and one I will look forward to getting again next year. Overall the flavors are well balanced with a good amount of complexity.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 22:44:35 | More by dbrauneis

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.7/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in a shaker pint glass at Durty Nellie's.

Been dancing around this one for years, figured it was time to finally take it down. It pours a clear brass-amber topped by a finger of lightly sandy cream-white foam. The nose comprises pine needles, caramel, sweet toffee, and a bit of lemon zest. This isn't to say that it smelled old or anything, but rather it smelled more balanced than I imagined a wet hop from SN to be. The taste holds notes of pine resin, light cedar, mild caramel, light menthol, and a kiss of spearmint. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a fluid feel. Overall, a nice wet hop, one that maintains a healthy balance without disregarding or canceling out the wet hop addition. Still, it is a bit one-sided in terms of hop flavor, but this isn't a total negative, as it works well with it.

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2012 19:42:02 | More by TMoney2591

BarryMFBurton

Indiana

4.15/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Here comes the hop harvest – and in a big ol’ 24 oz. bottle, to boot. And at a quarter an ounce, there’s no way this isn’t a good deal. Cheers!

Brewed at 6:54 in the morning on September 19, 2012, about a month and a half before the date of this tasting.

A: Clear orange body glimmering with an amber-orange shine. Head is foamy, bubbling up to an inch high and settling slowly to a thin, patchy retention; leaves lacing in layers everywhere.

S: Supremely fruity, like a sugary jam mix of mango, grape, apple, and strawberry – a noseful of Smuckers. Hops are probably a little faded by now, as they don’t show much aroma besides light grass, pine, and lemon. I’d describe it as smelling earthy-sweet; emphasis on the earthy.

T: Now this is an interesting beer; wow, that’s good. It fills the palate as soon as it hits the tongue with malts: chewy barley, fresh-baked pumpernickel, and sweet bread with dark fruit (almost like a Fig Newton). I’m impressed more with the malts than I am with the hops, and for me, that’s saying something. And the bitters aren’t just that – bitter – they’re a big component of this beer’s flavor. It does prickle with acidity, sure, but I’m getting mango, blood orange, juniper/pine, Noble zest, and a weightless floral note. Surprisingly, the citrus doesn’t really stand above everything else as much as it just melts into the other flavors of the palate. Finishes faintly dry, with mostly deep, sweet malts leaving a lasting impression.

M: Damn smooth body, medium carbonation. You can tell a ton of malt went into this beer just by the texture.

O: Besides the weird mix of scents in the nose, this one is an absolute winner. This is darker, sweeter, and heavier than Southern Hemisphere, making it drink almost like a barleywine; just what I was looking for in an autumn IPA. One of the best values in beer I’ve had this year – I’d be happy to buy it if it were double the price (disregard that statement, Sierra Nevada…please keep it low).

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 19:12:51 | More by BarryMFBurton

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2012
Poured into a pint glass.

Appearance
Golden amber with 2-3 fingers of frothy head. Excellent clarity and head retention. Leaves behind clouds of ringed lacing with moderate carbonation.

Nose
Pineapple, lemon juice, tangerine and navel orange. Bread, caramel and candy sugar.

Taste
Pineapple juice and caramel drizzled breads. Sugar coated navel orange with touches of lemon juice and tangerine. Finishes with lemon rind, grapefruit pith and light notes of pine sap.

Mouthfeel
Medium bodied, smooth, creamy, oily, juicy and drying.

Overall
Hops are forward and juicy. Malts are bready and candy-like. An incredibly easy drinking IPA. Sierra Nevada keeps it classy and balanced.

---
2011
Poured into a shaped pint glass.

A: Pours a crystal clear golden/amber with an explosive, fluffy head that dissipates extremely slow. Thick, billowy lacing spots the glass. Low carbonation.

N: Bright orange and lemon citrus with hints of floral and pine along with candied caramel.

T: Candied orange, lemongrass, rich caramel, resinous pine and tangerine upfront. The mid-palette picks up spicy notes of pine, spruce, florals and grass. Finishes with everything harmonizing together and leaves lingering caramel, pine and floral notes.

M: Light-medium bodied, smooth, bitter and dry.

O: Big, resinous hop notes, bright citrus and rich candy caramel abound. High bitterness, smooth and easy drinking. Dead on and a great Wet Hop IPA!

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 14:24:48 | More by justintcoons

THANAT0PSIS

Wisconsin

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

Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere Harvest (2012)

Appearance: Hop masters Sierra Nevada’s take on the generally delicious and sought after wet hop ale pours a crystal clear amber color with a rocky three fingers of cream colored head that leaves lacing all over the glass in its wake. The head dissipates at a reasonable pace and has the perfect staying power, leaving about half a finger of tightly packed crust. There is no evident carbonation, but no doubt it will make itself known during the actual drinking. This looks like it could be a dark IPA or a pretty typical imperial IPA, but that is most definitely not a bad thing. Above average is what is expected from the ever-consistent Sierra Nevada, and that is exactly what the drinker gets here.

Aroma: This is just as impressive as the appearance with bouquets of hop aroma giving off citrus notes, tart notes (perhaps like homemade raspberry or strawberry jam), and a surprisingly sweet and prominent malt backbone. This smells like hops right off the vine, which is exactly what this style is going for. Wet hopped ales do not get much better smelling than this.

Taste: Up front is a symphonic blend of malts and hops, with the hop bitterness hitting ever so slightly in the middle of the tongue. The malts impart a slightly sweet toast-like quality that is just enough to match the hops perfectly. As with most Sierra Nevada, this ale is an exercise in balance. Citrus, some pine, and an almost apple-like quality are the tasting notes given by the hops, and they are just wonderfully done. Unlike most ales of this nature there is no lasting bitter aftertaste, which is somewhat disappointing for a hop-head like this reviewer. Still, this is an excellent example of the style and tastes deliciously fresh.

Mouthfeel: The beer is soaking wet everywhere and quite refreshing, even though it is a bit sticky from all the hop oil that one expects from the style. The carbonation is minimal (just as the appearance let on), but it really does not hurt the beer all that much and gives it a creamy feel that one usually only finds in lactose-brewed beers, malt-heavy imperial IPAs, or heavy stouts. Fantastically done, immensely drinkable, and just matches the quality of the rest of the beer.

Overall: Sierra Nevada has done it again with a great representation of the style. It is a shame that this beer, by its very nature, cannot be brewed year-round. This beer just pushed wet-hopped ales that much closer to being my favorite style, which is unfortunate given their limited releases. This is art in a bottle. Keep it up, Chico, California. 18/20

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 00:33:38 | More by THANAT0PSIS

RoamingGnome

Wisconsin

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

Poured from 22oz bottle into Cheer's drinking mug. Served chilled...

A) Deep amber, with a nice 2 finger head that was beige in color. The head is thick and creamy. The retention was excellent, and the lacing was quite heavy. This beer is very inviting... Top notch appearance...

S) Piney with some nice citrus, mainly oranges. There is caramel malt sweetness + some grass and flower petal. A nice balance of aromas.

T) Initially some sweetness and a little toast. Then a pleasing bitterness takes over, with a fair amount of citrus and pine. Quite earthy/grassy.

M) Solid medium body with spot on carbonation. Crisp drinking, with mouth watering bitterness. Nice aftertaste.

O) I think this is the best wet hop ale I've enjoyed to date. Glad to recommend...

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 19:35:19 | More by RoamingGnome

nimrod979

Maryland

3.78/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

22 oz Bottle poured into a pint glass.

Appearance: Pours an amber-orange with a pillowy thick head beige head. Good clarity. Decent retention and sticky lacing down the sides.

Aroma: Fresh cut grass, hay, fresh piney hop oil. Some orange rind type citrus.

Taste: Similar to aroma. Hints of biscuity malt are present. Not overly bitter. Not really even any lingering bitterness in the finish which I felt was rather surprsingy.

Mouthfeel: So smooth and so creamy. Fulled side of medium and is so soft on the palate. Carbonation is low. The finish is quuck and too the point. Nice juicy "wet hop" feel to it.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 02:56:16 | More by nimrod979

elNopalero

Texas

4.48/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the bottle into my Sierra Nevada imperial pint glass, just because it seemed appropriate.

This is a luscious caramel-toasted amber color with a heady layer of foam atop that could linger for days.

As it warms a delicate malt biscuit note emerges, faint and subdued behind the hoppy goodness.

I get a bouquet of sweet citrus, tangerine and orange marmalade in a perfume, followed by a flavor that’s lightly bitter with some piney orange resin notes and a long, dry, piney finish.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 01:20:12 | More by elNopalero

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

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

Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere Harvest Wet Hop has a medium, creamy, cream-colored head and a mostly clear, amber appearance, with a few bubble streams and some splotchy lacing left on the glass. The aroma is of pungent, piney hops and sweet, bready malt. Taste is similar, with sweetness and pine as the overriding characteristics. The bitterness is strong, but not too strong. Mouthfeel is medium and slick, and Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere Harvest finishes mostly dry, satisfying, and relatively drinkable. Overall, it’s great, and I think it’s a must-try beer.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 15:38:38 | More by RonaldTheriot

secondtooth

Indiana

4.15/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Having loved the Southern Hemisphere Harvest a little while back, I was anxious to open this one. Presentation-wise, it pours with a big, thick head of off-white bubbles. A+ in the lace department, with big, frilly, and detailed retention.

Nose is hops, sweet hops. I get orange citrus, pine, floral, and grass. Splended and delectable!

Taste is definitely hop-forward, too, but well-balanced. I get pine most emphatically, with a lingering maltiness at the finish. Overall, very tasty and a great value, running about $4 on average for the 220z.bomber.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 12:34:54 | More by secondtooth

RescueKitty

4.1/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle poured a deep golden- amber and had a beautiful creamy white head. Very clear and glowing. Gave off nice hoppy floral scent as well as a light malty-ness. Taste of full on hops but not overly bitter. More mild than I expected. Has a steady lacing. Beer has a clean, balanced feel and a mild, dry citrus zest finish. What's interesting is that the more I drink this, the more hoppy. It keeps building on the finish. I could drink a lot of this in a short time. Nice.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 13:43:23 | More by RescueKitty

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

4.23/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

24 oz bottle poured into a tulip at cellar temperature.

L – Deep amber color with a huge 5-finger frothy cream-colored head. Awesome retention and patchy lacing throughout. Clear with a good amount of bubbles.

S – Bready and caramel malt with a nice hop bouquet consisting of grapefruit, tangerine, grass, and pine.

T – Starts off sweet with bready and caramel malt as well as some citrus flavors. Bitterness appears quickly with grapefruit, pine, and grass flavors and continues to build at the finish while acquiring a definite peppery kick.

F – Medium-bodied with good carbonation, a sticky and very chewy mouthfeel, and a very bitter and dry finish. Grapefruit and peppery hop bitterness and spiciness linger for a long time.

O – This is a nice wet hop IPA. I’m not going to lie; I expected this to be hoppier in both the aroma and the taste. However, I began to realize that a big dose of hops are in this thing at the finish. Bitterness and spice just keep building and building and finally linger on the palate for what seems like forever. This beer is also very well-balanced for one that is meant to showcase fresh hops. Other pluses are that it looks fantastic (standard for Sierra Nevada) and the mouthfeel is phenomenal. It is so sticky and chewy and the bitterness and spice seem to linger endlessly. Great beer from Sierra Nevada.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 04:57:21 | More by BlackBelt5112203