Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest

24 oz. bottle from Ludlow Wines. 2009 edition. Pours a cloudy red-orange color with a small off-white head that thins and hangs around for the whole ride. The aroma is fairly muted- citrus and floral hops, sweet malts, grass, and caramel are all present. The flavor is better, with all of the above in addition to tea, citrus, and very mild spices. Not too different than the 12th release SN 2008 Harvest- balanced, subtle, and refreshing. Light-medium bodied, not overly bitter, but a little more so than the other version.

2009, 2nd release. Copper hued pour with a light beige head. The head needs its own description. It lasted until the end of the drink. It was frothy, full of taste, a treat in itself. It reminded me of the head on an A&W float. I tipped the glass to get the last remaining chunks of the head. Mmmm. Floral hops and malt in the nose. The hop flavor was floral, but it was a little spicy in the aftertaste. The malt worked well with the hops.. Very tasty combo. This is another fine example of a S.N. beer. Thanks Chico!

Pours hazy deep amber, white head. Hoppy, spicy nose. Full of citric hops but they’ve gone a bit tea-like.
A wonderful grapefruity hop character dominates the flavour with an earthy bitterness. Malt is sweet and well balanced.
Overall, a great IPA.

Poured from bottle into Nonic Imperial Pint. Clear amber-orange, which formed a very nice foamy head that left lots of lacing. Most impressive head/lacing I have seen from a bottled beer in the Pale Ale/IPA spectrum. Aroma of semi-sweet toasted malts, grains, and floral/citrus hops. While it definitely smells good, I would have expected it to be stronger. Semi-sweet, somewhat grainy malts juxtaposed with a very strong hop taste of citrus and pine. Bitterness is moderate and more evident at the end, when it takes on a more spicy tone. I love a beer that can have a strong hop taste without overdoing the bitterness. Moderate carbonation, medium body, very smooth with a nice dry finish. Very, very drinkable. That’s all I have to say here, except I wish I had more than one bottle. Style wise, this is a conundrum. Seems to be halfway between an American Pale Ale and a Double IPA. Seems like that would mean an American IPA, but it’s not - too grainy, too smooth, too hoppy without the accompanying bitterness. Seems to be a Double Pale Ale if that means anything. Oh well, it is damn good whatever it is.

Pours clear amber / slightly red, and leaves some lacing, though the head does not last too long. Taste is caramel, smoke, and citrus. Carbonation is lower than expected (a good thin in my mind) with a silky palate. Very good.

A random pick my mom in law grabbed for me from the Austin Liquors in Mass, god bless her. Poured into a snifter, colour is a deep orange with a big head, that dissolves down, leaving behind a huge amount of lacing. Aroma is big on hops, fresh of the vine, citrusy, floral, hops. The flavour, as you can imagine, is very hop forward, like a good smack in the face of grapefruit, citrusy, hops. Finish is grapefruit rind. Medium carbonation, resinous mouth feel.

Pours a hazy, light tangerine colour from the 24oz. bottle: Flavors of floral hops dipped in juniper berries, lemon/citrus effervence in the mouthfeel. Crisp bitter enhanced with some spice. Drinkability: Huge. I can have this again and again and not be bored. Rebuy: Yea. #171 on 29102009, DG.

bottle 24oz. - Poured amber copper color with medium light beige head that hung around the entire beer. Aroma - citrus floral hops, grapefruit and this fresh yet pungent hop scent..awesome!!! Flavor - Instant citrus and floral hops along with this spicey bitterness, good stuff!! Palate - medium bodied with great carbonation. Finish is dry and lingers a long time!!!, kinda dandelion floral aftertaste. Overall - Excellent brew, has a different yet good hop taste and is not overly done like some IPA’s.