Beer Made Clear: Sierra Nevada - 2008 Southern Hemisphere Harvest Fresh Hop Ale

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Sierra Nevada - 2008 Southern Hemisphere Harvest Fresh Hop Ale

by Jonathan Kosakow

It was a normal Sunday evening when I decided to go the grocery store and stock up on my lunch for the week. As always, I walked to the beer aisle to see if there were any new gems the beer gods decided to drop on me. Normally, I walk out either empty-handed or with a 6-pack of an old faithful. On this day, though, I was pleasantly surprised when I noticed a bottle I had never seen before, by a brand I had often relied on. The 2008 Sierra Nevada brew, using the only hops on our planet harvested in the spring (found in New Zealand), rested on a shelf in an inviting 24-oz. bottle. I almost didn't take the bait, I was in the mood for an Hefeweizzen, and hadn't even considered an ale. In the end, though, I couldn't resist.

My first reaction was to note that it's quite similar to Sierra's Pale Ale, but after one or two good sniffs and sips, I knew I was holding something more special. The freshness of the hops gives a much crisper taste, and a sweeter finish, while at the same time maintaining the basic flavor and aftertaste of the Pale Ale.

When I give it serious thought, I can't help but think that it's not much different than the reliable Pale Ale, and therefore maybe not worth the extra effort. However, there is something to this I can't put my finger on. It's special. It's a great idea. The combination of the freshest hops of the season, on one side of the world, with the malts we all know and love from the other side, adds such a subtle difference to the taste of a beer we all know and love, that I feel I must recommend it. The 6.7% ABV doesn't hurt too much, either.

Color: amber
ABV: 6.7%

http://www.sierranevada.com/beers/harvest_southern.html

No comments:

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

After being in semi-seclusion for four years in rural Pennsylvania as he reached toward a degree in Psychology he would probably never use, Jonathan discovered a love of words, and began to use more of them on a daily basis - both on paper and by use of his vocal chords. You can find some of his writing on Popmatters.com, Glide Magazine’s HiddenTrack blog and Relix.com, but most of it can be found on the floor of his home or stashed away in files on his computer. He has recently fled the comforts of home in New York City for the vast open spaces of Colorado, where he breathes fresh air and is reaching towards a higher degree in Creative Writing. Aside from his work on BeerMadeClear, Jonathan is also the co-founder of the music-related website NoiseReport.net.

I hated beer the first time I drank some, but don't hold it against me, I was about 8 at the time. Then in 8th grade my older sister took me to a pool party at her friend's house and I tasted my first Pete's Wicked Strawberry Blonde. These days I tend to stay away from the fruitier flavored beers, but I owe my beer adventuring to that wonderful brew.

Since the time of my beer virginity I have gone through many phases of being a booze hound, including the high school drink whatever you can get your hands on phase, the college drink the cheapest beer you can find phase, the post college drink as many different kinds of beer as you can phase and am currently in the drink whatever I feel like phase.

Along with drinking beer, I also love to travel and find new beers, brew my own beer, drink wine, whiskey and tequila, and go to beer related events such as festivals and pub crawls. These passions have led to many trips to Europe, across North America and even a short stint in Brazil.

Looking back, the day that I became a true beer enthusiast was during my sophomore year in college when I tried a bottle of Troegs HopBack. Before that, I drank natty light or whatever was available at college parties, and whatever I could steal from my neighbors' garages in high school. One sip of that sweet brew forever changed my perception of what beer could be. Having the Selinsgrove brew pub around only fueled my passion for great beers (their IPA is still the best in my mind)

After graduation, I was lost for a year, working a job that I hated- selling insurance and financial products. The only things that kept me sane were playing music, brewing beer, and visiting the flying saucer in Raleigh NC. It is there that I was truly turned on to the world of Belgian brews. Trying such masterpieces as St. Bernadus ABT 12, Tripel Karmeliet, Delerium Tremens, Duvel, and Maredsous, I was once again amazed at the flavor spectrums that were made available in a beverage.

A year later, I moved back to PA, got a job selling beer and haven't looked back since. Prost!

Many of the beers I stole from my parents in high school made my mouth begin to water profusely after a few sips. Now, 10 years later, this phenomenon happens in reverse - I salavate at the sound of carbonation escaping from a bottle. Maybe I'm too dumb for my brain to appropriately catch on to Pavlov's theory of "Classical Conditioning" or maybe my taste buds just said screw it this guy's in for the long haul. I'm not sure. Either way, I've come to appreciate the many styles and flavors of beer that are around.

Who ever thought the "we'll talk in 10 years" conversation with your parents would sound like this: "Christopher, if you only put as much effort into doing something constructive as you do with your beer drinking you could get a lot done." I don't know what that really says, but as a former band member of the "Booze Brothers" according to my Dad, I would say that I thoroughly enjoy drinking beer.