Sorry today's post is going up so late. It's been a busy day of website publishing over here. Anyways. Today's beer is a fresh hop ale, otherwise known as a harvest ale. Most of the time the hops used in beer have either been dried or pelletized. Drying and pelletizing makes hops more stable and able to be stored. However, in the fall, and in this case, in the spring, hops can be harvested fresh and thrown straight into the beer. These beers really put the flavors and aromas of these fresh off the vine hops. The hops in this specific beer have been on quite a journey. In the southern hemisphere, hop harvest takes place in the spring. These hops were harvested in New Zealand, dried, flown to Chico, California, and were thrown into the brew kettle in just a little over a week's time. Pretty wild stuff. Also, this is one of the most gorgeous labels on any beer I've had for the blog. I like to imagine that all of the hops came over on that beautiful ship. Doubt they'd be able to make it in a week though. To the beer!
Southern Hemisphere Harvest is one pretty beer. It pours a beautiful vibrant red orange in color. Topped off by a thick rocky white head that leaves great lacing.
The hops are the focus of this beer and its apparent on the aroma. Bright and citrusy with some spicy, herbal hop notes as well.
This is a bigger bodied beer than I expected. Creamy, nearly chewy on the mouthfeel. That spiciness returns here with an interesting, almost hot, bitterness. Southern Hemisphere Harvest is a great showcase for big hop flavors. Floral and spicy, with a nice tart fruitiness that hits on the finish.
This is quite a beer. Well worth seeking out for any self respecting hophead.
HD
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