Seeing as this Thursday is Thanksgiving I felt it was an appropriate time to take a look at this beer. What with Thanksgiving, the harvest, cornucopias, and all that. I took a look at the companion to this beer, the Southern Hemisphere Harvest, back in June. The hops in the Northern Hemisphere Harvest have a much shorter journey than those in the Southern Hemisphere version, and as such, they arrive much fresher. In the Southern Hemisphere Harvest the hops come all the way from New Zealand. In this one, the hops are picked in the Yakima Valley and are into the brew kettle in Chico, within 24 hours of coming off the vine. Today's beer was actually the first American beer brewed using 100% wet hops. So, in the spirit of the season, lets take a look at a fresh hop IPA, shall we? To the beer!
Northern Hemisphere Harvest pours a crystal clear deep ruby amber with bright scarlet highlights. It's really rather pretty, and in fact, quite a bit darker than I was expecting. The beer is capped by a generous layer of rocky white foam that leaves gorgeous lacing.
In news that will be shocking to absolutely no one, the hops lead the way on the aromas here. Resinous, floral, slightly herbal hops are all over the place here. There's also some nice citrusy grapefruit and pine going on as well. All of the hop aromas are contrasted by a biscuity caramel sweetness.
Northern Hemisphere Harvest is medium bodied, exceptionally smooth, and possessing of a great, full, rich, toffee/ caramel sweetness. Fresh, oily, resinous hop flavors give the beer fabulous balance. That balance, along with tons of great fresh resinous, piney, citrusy hop flavors, make this beer something very special.
I'm hard pressed to remember a beer with this much big fresh hop flavor that is as well balanced and drinkable as Northern Hemisphere Harvest. Seek this one out.
HD
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