Sierra Nevad Southern Hemisphere Harvest

Gentlemen, start your engines! (Ladies too) This is not your father's brew, and perhaps not your son's. I absolutely love the seasonal harvest beers from Sierra Nevada! I think a blog about this brewery is a must so stay tuned. Hops from New Zealand that are harvested, dried, and whiskcd off to Chico, CA to be turned into a fantastic beer. ABV is 6.5% making this a very drinkable beer on a hot sunny south Texas day. The beer decants well producing a thick head that gradually disappears but leaves residual lace down the glass. Transparent amber in color and with the unmistakable hoppy aroma, the beer is sure to quench you thirst. At $5.99 per bottle (retail) for a 20oz. btl, who can complain! My recommendation is to buy as many as you can while they last and save one or two or more to compare with the Northern Hemisphere Harvest and the Estate Harvest that will appear later this year.

NOTE: The opinions expressed are mine only and I am not sponsored by any brewery or retail store. My goal is for you to see what I am drinking and if you want to try my recommendations. If you do, let me hear back from you to see what you think.

Cheers, fellow beeer enthusiasts.

Lost Gold IPA

Real Ale Brewing Company, Blanco, Texas released a new to me brew call Lost Gold IPA. Do not have the specifics but the label says this is an year-round available recipe. I purchased a six-pack of 12 oz. bottles.

The Lost Gold IPA produced very little head upon pouring. It also rapidly became a thing of the past. The pour is a gold color and cloudy. There is a distinct hop aroma, and no question about it, this beer is an IPA with lots of hops! The taste is very smooth with only a slight bitterness from the hops.

All in all, a very drinkable beer. albeit a little pricey for daily consumption. The beer is regional. If you like IPAs, you will not be disappointed with the Lost Gold IPA.

I would check Gabriel's Superstore for the best buy (cash discount).

NOTE: I do not receive any comensation from any brewery or retail stores. The opinions expressed are purely my own. Prosit!

Sierra Nevad Beer Camp

Sierra Nevada sponsored a beer camp and brewed four of the top brews (not sure of the criteria and who decided). The first one I am featuring today is the Juniper Black Ale which is made using Juniper berrys. The ABV is 8.5% and I do not have the IBUs (it is hoppy though). The beer pours presenting you with a nice 1" head which lasts to the last sip. The aroma presents a slightly Juniper berry smell, but it is not overpowering. There is a discernible hoppiness and it is slightly bitter. This is my second favorite of the series. It is very drinkable and has the "typical" Sierra Nevada flavor. The beer is available in case lots of 12 oz bottles with 4 bottles of each brew. So far I have purchase two of the cases, but I see one more on the horizon. I will taste the other beers this week and tell you what I think.

The Start of a New Journey

Okay, I am very new at this so have some patience as I explore the blogging world. I enjoy trying new brews and read about the latest and greatest through some very good beer related magazines. The problem that I have is the descriptions used to inform the reader what a particular beer tastes like. It seems that beer experts have fallen into the same trap as their wine loving brethern and use descriptive phrases that one can only imagine that a beer tastes like. My purpose is to provide the reader with a simple description that adequately describes the product without getting into 1500 tastes that some folks think a beer has. Poppycock I say, a beer has color, aroma, head, bitterness, sweetness, and a couple more descriptions. I do not see how a beer can go from sweet caramel to banana to peppery all in one taste. I guess my tastebuds are not that educated or perhaps most beer drinkers are like me and they just want something good to drink. With the high cost of beer, wouldn't it be great if someone could explain in simple terms what it tastes like and would they recommend it? I think so.
You all grab your favorite suds, sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. It will be a long journey.