Maybe it was just because I opened it immediately after finishing a particularly sugary dessert, but the first sip of Sierra Nevada Harvest Wet Hop gave me a sharp jolt of astringency which I really didn't care for. The label makes much of the added complexity and spiciness that they claim comes from using straight-off-the-vine fresh hops, but to me this stuff is just bitter to the point of unpleasantly sour. An hour later it had mellowed a bit, but not hugely. Sierra Nevada claim this is what "hop fanatics dream of", so I can only assume that "hop fanatics" are people who enjoy getting alpha acid chemical burns on the roofs of their mouths.The body is rather thin and there's only a faint trace of caramel malts and mango hop flavours -- I would expect a bit more warmth and fun from a 6.7% ABV ale. The overriding sensation is of having a grapefruit ground slowly into one's face. It's a bully of a beer and I'd much rather play with its more charming (or at least less harsh) antipodean sibling.
I wasn't wildly impressed with it either, which is such a pity as I think it is the only SN beer which I haven't liked.
ReplyDeleteGreat - I've had one of these (possibly last years harvest) in the cellar for a while now, and been looking forward to it. we'll see how it goes down.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't travel and age be the problem...? It was a wonderful beer here in California in October.
ReplyDeleteAnd Leigh, if you have last years Harvest, you are drinking it about 14 months too late.
Surely this can't be a beer that goes off after three months? And since it's stabilised, I can't see travel being the issue. Nah, I'm putting this down to my lack of appreciation of Big Hop.
ReplyDeleteChris - only one way to find out.....
ReplyDeleteThe word 'astringency' just doesn't ring a bell. I think there are a few bottles still floating around the area, I'll buy one to see.
ReplyDeleteI'll say I thought you were crazy. To prove your craziness, I went down to the local bottle shop and purchased a bottle of 2009 Harvest. I drank it. And you were correct... the beer had quite quite an astrigent quality.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that the beer did not taste like that back in October.
Well that's odd, and jolly interesting to know. I hope you left enough that you can bring it back to the brewery and claim a refund.
ReplyDeleteIt is odd. The 2008 mellowed, losing most of the resiny hop flavor. The 2009 seems to have done the opposite.
ReplyDeleteA friend is the local rep. I'll gonna mention it to him