Esquire: Sierra Nevada New Hop Hunter IPA Is Like No Other Beer In Its Class

It just arrived to widespread availability in Southern California last week.

 

But SN IPAs are awesome IPAs. No shame in like Sierra Nevada! Screw the beer snobs!

NO SHAME!!!!

 

Oh, I don't feel shame, I just don't want to be considered a glutton. "Hey man, you have access to so many great IPAs, what are you complaining about?!"

 

Cuz' quart bottles Suck(s)

 

Well played sir!

Cheers to Bill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

This did better than I expected in a blind DIPA/IPA tasting I did with 7 total beers. Aroma actually set it a part a bit. The mouthfeel and finish was very thin, dry, and thin yet again. It almost feels like a pilsner. I find the 6.2% very well hidden. Scary actually as it doesnt taste too sweet at all. The lack of mouthfeel may turn some off, but I liked it.. The beer itself has this biscuit like toasted taste that was distinguishable among all other samples (the only 1 I picked correct). This, and two local ipas (marble and La cumbre) may be all I need this spring and summer for my IPA fix.

 

Had it last night on tap at My Place in Newtown, CT. To keep it simple, one of the best beers I've had!

 

Bold statement saying Portland is the land of awesome IPAs. Don't know about that claim.

 

Got a 12 of Hunter and a 6 of Nooner yesterday. Good stuff. Hunter has a real nice fresh aroma and if you have a few a euphoric kinda buzz. Good stuff.

 

Definitely enjoyed the Hunter the aromas were great

 

Breakside, Laurelwood, Barley Browns, Block 15, and Boneyard IPAs can all go head to head with the best of San Diego or Vermont.

 

Sarcasm?

 

"Hey, I live in Cali - a state that medicinal marijuana is legal. Hey, I also own a brewery - Sierra Nevada. Hey, I just watched this guy extract oil from his pot buds and its potent! Hey, mary jane and hops are botanical cousins. Hey, maybe I'll try it with hops. Hey, it worked!! Now I need a clever story about mint extract. Done. Hop oil!!"

Potheads have been extracting oils from their bud for years and years. Pretty much over-looked genius. Now will there be a massive expansion into hydroponically grown hops - cross-pollinating, hybridization, gene-splicing, etc....?

 

Decent IPA, but IMO it is nothing to write home about.

 

Potheads did not invent concentrated oil extraction. Food scientists and perfumers have been doing this for centuries. Cross-pollinating, hybridization, and intensive selective breeding have been common with hops for a long long time.

 

Finally had this both in bottle and on tap and IMHO it is amazing. As this is a year round beer, I can guarantee it will be year round in my fridge.

 

You know Bill, there's gotta be one of "those guys" in every crowd. This beer is amazing and you guys rock. Keep doing what you do and keep churning out all the great stuff you guys come up with. You got me into craft all those years ago. You make it, I will drink it!

 

Anybody seen hophunter in MN?

 

"Sierra Nevada new Hop Hunter IPA is like no other beer in its class."

That's very true. It is like no other beer in its class because I've never had this much trouble finding bottles of a nationally distributed year-round beer from a large craft brewer. I strongly suspect I'll find a 12 pack of 2015 Summerfest before I find any Hop Hunter.

Luckily for me, we just started getting Deschutes Fresh Squeezed in my neck of the woods. I guess the beer gods never close a door without opening a window.

 

I traded some of my own maple syrup for some with a friend near Chico....

 

Its a good beer but you really have to try Sam Adams Rebal Rouser..it taste more like Sucks or Maximus then Hop Hunter.

 

State liquors park ave worcester

 

Pro tip: You can use the same extraction method for coffee. Don't try it at home though

 

Funny enough, I've seen it in SE Minnesota but not the Metro. Maybe I just haven't looked hard though.

 

You might not realize that hops—one of four necessary ingredients in beer—are only fresh, or “ripe,” for a 6- to 8-week window every year. That’s usually from mid-August until mid-September

I don't know if anyone else point this out but mid-August to mid-September is about 4 weeks, far short of 6-8 weeks.

 

Not out here on the coast either!

 

I've seen and had it on tap at a few locations. Apex has it right now. Bottles are also readily available at most of the bottle shops. I love it. Very well balanced and super drinkable.

 

Finally tried this, and absolutely love it. First, this is not for the extreme hop heads. It's not in any way extreme or daring.

It's just, a solid, flavorful, crisp, sessionable IPA.

The smell is fantastic and the front is all moderately bitter, fresh hops. But, the middle and finish is relatively dry, which surprised me. No big bang of hops on the end, or that sometimes syrupy sweetness that is there in some big-alcohol, high IBU IPAs.

IMO, it was like if a fantastic, but not adventurous IPA mixed with a crisp lager. I LOVE it. Great session beer.

I may like it more than SNPA - though I'm probably particularly enamored with it because it's new to me, and SNPA is very easy to take for granted. SNPA may actually have more "bite" than this.

So, again, this serves a terrific purpose - when you want flavor, crispness, but nothing extreme or high alcohol. There are other beers for my more adventurous, extreme side.

 

Just finished off my first sixer, and the thought "Pliny Light" keeps coming to me, now if we could just get some for sale out here on the Oregon Coast I'd be happy

 

Just bought a six pack this afternoon. Can't wait to give it a try.

 

I haven't seen it anywhere in NJ yet but am definitely on the lookout for it. Sierra's products are consistently top-drawer and this one sounds like another winner.
Based on the descriptions I've read, Hop Hunter sounds an awful lot like the IPA I was enjoying a lot of during my college days some 45 years ago.

 

It's out there as of Thursday. You should see 6's and 12's in Essex, (some of) Morris, Union and Hudson counties.

 

I'm guessing you're on the west side of the state? First time I've heard of SE Mich getting something before you guys. Hope Fresh Squeezed makes it over here soon though (or any Deschutes, for that matter.)

 

I got the Fresh Squeezed at McNeil St. Market in Shiawassee county (between Lansing and Flint).

 

just tasted this today at a local retail tasting. very nice citrusy aromas. the ounce and 1/2 I had were good but I've had other beers lately that were right up there with it

 

Pretty easy to find around here. I have seen it in a lot of shops, although I have not purchased any yet, because I have so damn much beer. I guess living in NC has its perks occasionally! Gotta love Mills River!

 

Both beers are enjoyable. HH sixer rings in around $8 and FS around $10 in my parts, so both are a great value. I found that hop hunter and fresh squeezed smell very similar, but fresh squeezed taste better, and is the overall better beer (so I think you are ok).

 

I really did not find Hop Hunter to be anything more than average

 

I have been looking for it since it was announced. My wife found it for me today in Morris County and bought me a case.