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feste_sylvainThis is apparently the 13th year that Sierra Nevada has made a wet-hop ale. "Wet-hop" means that the hops are delivered lickety-split from the fields to the brewery, so that they haven't had a chance to dry. This is supposed to impart some sort of hop-sap to the ale.
And there is definitely something. "Harvest" is a heavily hopped pale ale (some call it an "American IPA", but I don't truck with such oxymoronic appellations). It has an excellent coppery color and a light head, but the head does give it a complex nose. There are some fruit notes here, and something resembling rosemary.
The mouthfeel does carry some of that IPA dryness, but the swallow has a decent body. And then, after the bitter pale ale impression, the complexity hits again. sip Yes, there are some earthy notes to this. (We say "earthy" because it sounds better than saying "dirty".)
This is not heavy, and absolutely not light; it would stand up to fragrant cheeses, but a steak might overpower the subtleties in it. I think it would go well with a pasta carbonara with duck prosciutto, but my tastes may be skewed.
Not an everyday beer, but definitely one that belongs in a well-stocked beer cellar.
And there is definitely something. "Harvest" is a heavily hopped pale ale (some call it an "American IPA", but I don't truck with such oxymoronic appellations). It has an excellent coppery color and a light head, but the head does give it a complex nose. There are some fruit notes here, and something resembling rosemary.
The mouthfeel does carry some of that IPA dryness, but the swallow has a decent body. And then, after the bitter pale ale impression, the complexity hits again. sip Yes, there are some earthy notes to this. (We say "earthy" because it sounds better than saying "dirty".)
This is not heavy, and absolutely not light; it would stand up to fragrant cheeses, but a steak might overpower the subtleties in it. I think it would go well with a pasta carbonara with duck prosciutto, but my tastes may be skewed.
Not an everyday beer, but definitely one that belongs in a well-stocked beer cellar.
