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Harvest Fresh Hop IPA - Southern Hemisphere
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- From:
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- American IPA
Ranked #726 - ABV:
- 6.7%
- Score:
- 90
Ranked #8,970 - Avg:
- 4.04 | pDev: 9.9%
- Reviews:
- 1,347
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 25, 2021
- Added:
- May 07, 2008
- Wants:
- 95
- Gots:
- 229
SCORE
90
Outstanding
90
Outstanding
Notes:
This ale marks our journey to the only place on the planet where fresh hops are harvested in our spring, the Southern Hemisphere. Our task was daunting-we needed to get the hops picked, dried, flown 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 an intriguing floral-citrus aroma leading to layers of fresh-hop spiciness. Enjoy!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota
4.13/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.13/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
These are tasting notes from 2009. It's the 2009 bottling and 2nd release of the beer.
Large bottle into a tasting glass.
L: deep orange and fairly clear. White head. Lacing.
S: colorful hops, fruity, some malts. Herbal.
T: floral firm New Zealand hops and rich caramel malts, lightly grassy.
F: Med bodied feel and med-long finish.
O: It is hoppy and lightly bitter in the finish. Very easy to drink.
Oct 13, 2021Large bottle into a tasting glass.
L: deep orange and fairly clear. White head. Lacing.
S: colorful hops, fruity, some malts. Herbal.
T: floral firm New Zealand hops and rich caramel malts, lightly grassy.
F: Med bodied feel and med-long finish.
O: It is hoppy and lightly bitter in the finish. Very easy to drink.
Reviewed by 86sportster883 from Maryland
4.09/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.09/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Vintage: 2008, 1st Release
Why would anyone wait 12 yrs. to open a ‘fresh hop ale’? No reason other than it got stored and mostly forgotten, then every time I saw it afterward, I thought, ‘well that’s got to be awful at this point‘, and so it sat till today. As I continue to work my way through the limited, but interesting beer stash from the past 20 yrs. (during my self imposed 2020 lockdown), this was a pleasant surprise.
I rolled the 24oz bottle vigorously to stir up the remnants of NZ hops that had collected at the base, prior to opening. The pssst of escaping CO2 on opening, assured me that the seal had survived the disintegration of a marriage, the loss of good friends, the raising of two kids now teens, and the peak and pending fall of American craft brew diversity and independent spirit. I say this prematurely, as the industry grapples with a new reality that no longer can support the shear volume required to keep everyone afloat. Survival will be the ongoing theme for most, and I thought it appropriate to crack open this throwback to a more promising time in the industry, and the continued expansion and success that has preceded this moment.
This poured a dark honey brown with lots of suspended bottle dregs and a rocky, dirty off white head that quickly faded. There’s a big malt nose that melds with a floral happiness that also fades to a rich malt dominated aroma that is both intriguing and inviting. The taste follows the nose but an assertive spicy, herbal or mineral hoppiness has prevailed to present and maintain a strong hop balance to rich malt flavors and aroma.
A most excellent beer overall, and obviously one that has stood up to the test of time.
Aug 08, 2020Why would anyone wait 12 yrs. to open a ‘fresh hop ale’? No reason other than it got stored and mostly forgotten, then every time I saw it afterward, I thought, ‘well that’s got to be awful at this point‘, and so it sat till today. As I continue to work my way through the limited, but interesting beer stash from the past 20 yrs. (during my self imposed 2020 lockdown), this was a pleasant surprise.
I rolled the 24oz bottle vigorously to stir up the remnants of NZ hops that had collected at the base, prior to opening. The pssst of escaping CO2 on opening, assured me that the seal had survived the disintegration of a marriage, the loss of good friends, the raising of two kids now teens, and the peak and pending fall of American craft brew diversity and independent spirit. I say this prematurely, as the industry grapples with a new reality that no longer can support the shear volume required to keep everyone afloat. Survival will be the ongoing theme for most, and I thought it appropriate to crack open this throwback to a more promising time in the industry, and the continued expansion and success that has preceded this moment.
This poured a dark honey brown with lots of suspended bottle dregs and a rocky, dirty off white head that quickly faded. There’s a big malt nose that melds with a floral happiness that also fades to a rich malt dominated aroma that is both intriguing and inviting. The taste follows the nose but an assertive spicy, herbal or mineral hoppiness has prevailed to present and maintain a strong hop balance to rich malt flavors and aroma.
A most excellent beer overall, and obviously one that has stood up to the test of time.
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
3.94/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From old undated notes. Had this on draft.
Deep orange color; see through.
Nice white head; strong lacing throughout.
Autumnal skunky nose. Medium mouthfeel.
Bitter hoppiness melts into just enough malt backbone. Hop forward and not as citrus-like as I usually enjoy, but this is a well crafted beer.
Oct 04, 2019Deep orange color; see through.
Nice white head; strong lacing throughout.
Autumnal skunky nose. Medium mouthfeel.
Bitter hoppiness melts into just enough malt backbone. Hop forward and not as citrus-like as I usually enjoy, but this is a well crafted beer.
Rated by ClintGoodman from Iowa
4.25/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Exceptional
Aug 16, 2018
Harvest Fresh Hop IPA - Southern Hemisphere from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
90 out of
100 with
3108 ratings
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