Sierra Nevada: Hoptimum 2012 - Review

Ok, ok. I get it. I'm addicted to Sierra Nevada beers at the moment. I have issues. So what?

The very latest addition to my ever-growing 'beer list' (see right) is Sierra Nevada's Hoptimum - a whole-cone Imperial IPA. This is number 234 on my list if you're interested.

 

Recent consumption of Sierra Nevada beers have left me wanting more and more. I saw this baby on the shelf in the shop and despite the pricey price tag of AU$12 it made its way to my beer fridge at home no questions asked. This is what an addiction is all about I suppose.

 

The review:

 

 

Although an annual release, this is only the second year that Hoptimum has been brewed and, at 10.4% abv, it is the strongest beer to have passed my lips (the second strongest was La Trappe's Quadrupel at 10.0%).

 

I have sipped quite a few strong 'uns and most of them tasted strong (sometimes off-putting). In my opinion, the alcohol content in Hoptimum, wasn't overwhelming. It didn't possess me like I thought it was going to. I didn't need a priest on standby to perform an exorcism like I feared. It was this slight fear that had me waiting and waiting for the right time to open it. Any beer drinker will agree that the timing has to be just right for some beers. For me and my new friend, Hoptimum, it was a sunny Sunday afternoon in Spring. Perfect timing...

 

 

I've given Hoptimum 4 stars because I really liked it. Simple as that. Similar to Sierra Nevada's Bigfoot, this one (as the name suggests) was very hoppy - with a very bitter explosion indeed. With an IBU of 100, this will knock your socks off in a nice way.

 

As you can see above (click for larger view) it poured a wonderfully welcoming, cloudy, golden amber colour. Really and truly, a big boys beer like this should have lasted longer than the 10 minutes it took me to finish it however, I just couldn't help it. It was an extremely pleasant beer to drink although, this isn't for the faint hearted. Steer clear of it if you're planning to drive a car or operate machinery soon afterwards. Just sit back, relax and enjoy this one.....and then another.

 

 

Sierra Nevada: Bigfoot Ale 2012 - Review

Hot on the heels of my Southern Hemisphere Harvest Ale consumption was the 2012 incarnation of Sierra Nevada Brewing Company's Bigfoot Ale - a barley wine style ale - a limited release.

NM and I went halves on a 6pack - mainly to keep the cost down (AU$30 for a 6pack) but equally in case we didn't like it. There's nothing worse than buying a 6pack of beer only to be let down by the first sip of the first bottle. Certainly not the case with this one!

The review:

I thoroughly enjoyed it. In a big(foot) way. I was expecting something different - I don't know why - but as soon as the first mouthful was swallowed I looked up and exhaled a loud 'FFWWOOOAAARRRR'. A real taste explosion - yet very difficult to describe.

As you can see from the image above (click for larger view), it pours a nice deep amber/ruby colour with a strong, somewhat chunky head which disappeared quite quickly (the froth was at the brim of the glass before I focussed the camera and had already reduced by 25% by the time the photo was taken).

This really is a hu-mighty-mongous beer - not just the 9.6% abv content but the bitterness too - it swept me off my feet.

Quite hoppy too. Which I'm a big fan of.

If BIG, bitter, hoppy beers are what you like, then go and treat yourself to some - don't let the price-tag stop you.

Sierra Nevada: Southern Hemisphere Harvest Ale - Review

There are more and more great beers from the USA working their way over to our shores (look out for a post on this blog in the near future focusing on the American mini-invasion). To date, the guys at Sierra Nevada Brewing Company (SNBC) have impressed me a lot.

Their most recent brew to tickle my taste buds is the Southern Hemisphere Harvest Fresh Hop Ale (2012).

This is the 5th SNBC beer that I've managed to lay my hands lips on. They are (in chronological order) the Pale Ale (5.6% abv), Ruthless Rye IPA (6.6% abv), Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale (5.5% abv) and Torpedo Extra IPA (7.2% abv).

The review:

As much as I have enjoyed all of the above 4 SNBC beers, the Southern Hemisphere Harvest Fresh Hop Ale (6.7% abv) is my favourite by quite a stretch. A real hoppy taste left me wanting more.

SNBC claim to be the first brewery in the United States to use fresh hops from as far afield as New Zealand. 3 kinds of hops in fact - Pacific Hallertau, Motueka and Southern Cross.

As you can see above, it pours a beautiful, deep amber colour with a full, fluffy-but-strong head which retained it's character throughout - which wasn't long to be honest but only because I drank it quite quickly. 

I savoured every citrussy sip.

At the time of writing, there is only a handful of retailers in Brisbane (that I'm aware of) that has these available. At AU$10 per bottle, you might think it's a little bit pricey. It is worth every cent and I will go back for more.