Sierra Nevada Handful of Hops

Brewed by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Chico, California USA

Tap @ San Pedro Brewing Company This poured a orange yellow color with a short white head. The nose was fresh of citrus, mostly grapefruit with not too much alcohol. It tasted just like a classic DIPA should - hop-a-licious! Super hop grapefruit like flavor really comes out with a strong carmel malt flavor to back it. The finish is a nice long dry finish. A little thick on the mouthfeel, all in all a VERY delicious DIPA. I want more!

Tap @ Johnny Brown’s. Pours a mostly clear light copper color with a small off white ring. Nose held lots of citrus peel followed by just the right amount of semi sweet malt to balance things out. Its hard to imagine but the flavor held some faint perfume-y qualities.....

On tap at O’Briens Pub in San Diego with Katie. Pours a golden-orange color with a medium frothy white head. Really nice, crisp aroma of sweet candied oranges and fresh green hops. Slightly grassy/hay notes blend with sweet rumcake tones in the aroma as well. Flavor is clean and refreshing with hop acids and a decently sweet malt base. No overstatement from thick malt backbones, rather a lasting crisp bite, which I prefer in my DIPA’s. Overall, very drinkable.

On tap at Beachwood about a week ago. Aroma of sweet malt, citrus and a bit BO/earthy. Poured a dark orange type color. Flavor was not up to the level expected for the style. Taking it on its own or as an IPA, it was solid. Citrus and flowers with a lot of caramel shining through. Overall it was a bit of a let down given the name.

Tap@O’Brians Nice red/amber color w/decent diminished head. Nice wcoast hop aroma. Well balanced wcipa not what I would call a imperial dipa.

On tap at Toronado SD. If this is a Dipa then I’m the PUSA. Pours clear amber with a medium sized white head and good lace. Smells of red fruit and light hops with a dishtowel backer. Tastes of sweet, red fruits with a bit of hop flavor, fruity and pleasant. Apparently the name comes from the actual amount of hops they use. Medium body, nice carbonation.

On tap @ Toronado SD. Clear medium gold with a smalloff-white head, down to a thick ring and thin film before long. Some sweaty citrus and spicy hops dominate with some light caramel and earth behind. Flavor seems like an amped up SNPA with a little more citrus--the same as the aroma. Bitterness peaked @ a 4-5 in the semi-dry finish. Medium body with moderate prickly carbonation. Alcohol was masked well, but I didn’t enjoy this a whole helluva lot. Severely lacking for a DIPA--almost overstated if advertised as an IPA.

Tap at Naja’s. Nose is dank hops, biscuity malt. Caramel color. Flavor has one of those sour, grainy hop stings up front and a bit of an over-balancing malt bill. Well unified with a moderately long finish.