Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest 2013

Continuing on our American Craft Beer Week celebration, we dive, pint glass deep, into another Sierra Nevada selection. This time is the Southern Hemisphere Harvest (from here on out in my portion of the review, shall be referred to as SHH). The SHH is a 'Fresh Hop' ale (for description and shortened debate of 'fresh hop' vs 'wet hop', see our previous post about Sierra Nevada's Estate) with hops from New Zealand. It utilizes, according to Sierra's website, Southern Cross hops as bittering and Pacifica, Motueka, and Southern Cross as finishing hops. Another Dave Navarro brew (6/7/67 being his birthday, this beer is 6.7% ABV and 67 IBU), this makes me wonder about how many brews out there have my birthday between the IBUs and ABV. But then I start thinking at I think too much, and the problem of focusing becomes more prevalent.

This beer pours a beautiful amber color with moderate white head that doesn't stick around. The aroma is faint, but has earthy, citrus, and floral tones to it, pretty well balanced between the three. The flavor is much different than the Estate. This has a lighter body and lighter maltiness to it, giving way to the hops. The hops, however, aren't that overwhelming. There's a slight herbal tea with hints of citrus flavor up front that fades to some earthiness and bitterness.The backend leaves some slight resiny tone about it, not overwhelming, though.

This is good, definitely worth checking out for $4.99 a bomber. Worth checking out to expand your horizons on the world of hops (as these are non-American hops that most people around here are familiar with).

4.5/5 caps

-Nathan-

Nathan's description was pretty right on. And I don't know about you, but after the last review, I'm afraid of what happens in his head. Thankfully he didn't take us on a guided tour this time, other than his unabashed man-crush on Dave Navarro. Understandable.... he's totally tappable. As is Nathan. But it's late on Saturday night/Sunday morning... let's let things happen as they may.

My beer is now about room temperature, which is now about 105 degrees, or so it seems. Must be having a hot flash. We've returned the upstairs neighbor's daughter to her, and my charge tonight is assuredly sleeping soundly. The malts come out more at room temperature, but it's still about half the body-weight as the Estate. Earthy tones are still prevalent, and the citrus and pine notes are much more subtle at this late hour. The body is much thinner than Estate. On the very back end, there are some lovely pine and grapefruit notes, leaving a resinous dissonance dancing happily in my mouth.  Funny aside, if you should, say, for example, belch from the carbonation, it's a whole lot hoppier.

Agreed, it's definitely worth checking out. I like that it's not in-your-face hops, and different hop strains (and flavors) from the usual west coast-east coast battles. Or discussions. Because we beer lovers tend to be a lot more mellow and loving and hippie/hoppy than Tupac and Biggie could have dreamed. On that note, I think it's time to delve into some lovely dreams of hop farms and malting processes. Or jump around to some The Presidents Of The United States of America. One of these things is going to happen. Just not sure the order.

4.4/5

-Jennie