BEER: Sierra Nevada Northern Hemipshere Harvest 2010

BEER; Sierra Nevada ‘Northern Hemisphere’ Harvest ale 2010 
6.7% alc $US5.45 (plus tax) 750ml

After banging on about the disappointment that was the 2010 Cascade First Harvest, it was a pleasure to enjoy a glass of a better version of the ‘harvest’ style tonight, on what is my second last evening in the USA (for this trip at least).

Sierra Nevada call this a ‘wet hop ale’ and they produce both a northern hemisphere example (crafted from overnight shipped Washington state hops) and a southern hemisphere example (crafted from 3 different types of air freighted Kiwi hops), both of which are available over here at present.

It’s a serious beer this one, although I’m not sure how much you could actually drink of it given the raw power. Golden amber in colour, it shows a spicy, heady hop driven, hop laced and hop drenched nose. The palate follows with big, spicy, almost astringent hop bitterness, followed by some richer caramel flavours through the tail.

Super bitter and almost raw yet also very tasty, this just lingers and lingers, helped along by the noticeable 6.7% alcohol. It’s supercharged stuff, but in the best sort of fashion. The big red of the ale world maybe, and to be enjoyed in a similar sort of fashion. I liked it, but it did follow about 3 Margarita’s…