Last year I tried the 2011 SN Northern Hemisphere Harvest, which is described as a 'wet hop' ale as opposed to the 'fresh hop' ale moniker that adorns the version derived from the bottom end of the Earth. Drinking that beer was a gargantuan undertaking, as it was the equivalent of 3.8 standard drinks, and the 'wet hop' element meant that the hops were added without being dried out first, and I can sure as hell tell you it made a difference. The oily bitterness was a synergy of pain and pleasure that has to be experienced rather than be explained. Or you could perhaps just go to an S & M Club. 50 shades of hops.
Being a North American brewer, I was not aware that they did a Southern version and was keen to give this one a whirl. While 'fresh hops' sounds more enticing and less deadly than 'wet hops', I imagine the difference is akin to nothing more than trading in a taipan bite for that of a tiger snake.
Sierra Nevada beers always look great in the glass and this is no exception to the rule. The beer pours a rich amber/orange colour, synonymous with this type of beer, below a soft fluffy head. To give you a firmer idea of the colour, think a jar of rich marmalade. Resinous hops are at the forefront of the beer as is to be expected, but the delivery is far more familiar than when I sampled the 'wet hop' version. There isn't that same sock to the jaw. You can look at it from different angles I suppose, there is not as much of a surprise element here, but at the same time it's easier to digest. Along with the heavy handed hops, there are tones of citrus and caramel, and in the end the combination bears the fruits of a brilliant IPA.
It is an expensive beer, and I'm having an internal battle with myself as to whether it is worth the price of admission or not. Sometimes when you drop this amount of coin on a rare once off beer then you want somewhat of a unique experience. If you've been around the block once or twice with Sierra Nevada and IPAs in general then you won't be caught off guard here. What you will get though, is a fantastic IPA. Should you be asking more than that? I am not entirely sure. So on that note, I will give it the same score as the Northern Hemisphere version and let you decide for yourself.
8.5/10
