Sierra Nevada Wet Hop Ale

gongu · Post by **gongu** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 9:35 pm

Recently opened this bottle I purchased in Colorado. Bottle label info
states: Brewded with fresh picked wet hops from Yakima Wa. picked by day and shipped
to the brewery by evening then rushed into the brew kettle by dawn the
next day. Auburn ale with excellent lacing and notes of pine and honey.
This bottle was a 2008 12th release at 6.7 ABV of 1 pint 8 oz.
I only bought one . Big Mistake . I,ve never tasted a beer hopped
this way before. It was exquisite.

Queef · Post by **Queef** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 9:42 pm

fantastic beer. these are also called Harvest Ales.

I'm sipping a Sierra Nevada Pale at this moment

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 10:22 pm

It's great stuff, and I thought the Chico harvest was even better:
http://www.sierranevada.com/beers/harvest_estate.html

It's surprising how different the wet hops really are (without the drying/oxidation). I've grown a couple in my backyard & cascade doesn't have as much citrus (it's got a peppery spiciness) and Mt. Hood is a little piny.

I'm really hoping some craft brewers take advantage of the local hop farms that are starting up in Ontario.

Ralphus · Post by **Ralphus** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 8:59 am

Is there any history of Sierra Nevada beers at the LCBO?

GregClow · Post by **GregClow** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 9:22 am

Ralphus wrote:Is there any history of Sierra Nevada beers at the LCBO?

Nope. They'll ship private orders, though. I know of at least one group order that was made a few years ago, and beerbistro and (I think) Volo have brought in their beers.

Guybrush · Post by **Guybrush** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 10:27 am

Derek wrote: I'm really hoping some craft brewers take advantage of the local hop farms that are starting up in Ontario.

Uhh... ?? Do you have any websites, or town/cities you can list off the top of your head?

SteelbackGuy · Post by **SteelbackGuy** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 10:52 am

Guybrush wrote:
Derek wrote: I'm really hoping some craft brewers take advantage of the local hop farms that are starting up in Ontario.
Uhh... ?? Do you have any websites, or town/cities you can list off the top of your head?

You might want to check with the people at Better Bitters/Nickel Brook.

They make a couple beers especially for M.E and Suzies in Port Stanley, and they use locally grown organic hops for those beers.

icemachine · Post by **icemachine** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 11:06 am

I'm trying out growing hops up at the farm this year. Depending on how it goes, I may try getting an acre in next year

esprit · Post by **esprit** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 11:43 am

Sierra Nevada won't sell to the LCBO for retail because they insist upon refrigerated transportation, refrigerated warehousing and refrigerated retail space....the LCBO cannot guarantee any of these.

detritus · Post by **detritus** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 12:32 pm

esprit wrote:Sierra Nevada won't sell to the LCBO for retail because they insist upon refrigerated transportation, refrigerated warehousing and refrigerated retail space....the LCBO cannot guarantee any of these.

Which is, of course, ridiculous, since one can cross the border and buy unrefrigerated SN at Premier.

-Josh

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 1:14 pm

Shhh... I wouldn't want them pulled from premiere!

Local hops:
http://www.thestar.com/article/496240
http://ontariohops.ca/

Black Oak did a cask for volo with their own home-grown hops as well, but sadly I didn't get a chance to try it.

sprague11 · Post by **sprague11** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 1:44 pm

something to add to the Easter shopping trip I see

markaberrant · Post by **markaberrant** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 7:00 pm

Derek wrote:It's surprising how different the wet hops really are (without the drying/oxidation). I've grown a couple in my backyard & cascade doesn't have as much citrus (it's got a peppery spiciness) and Mt. Hood is a little piny.

I made an all-Cascades wethop beer in October, and you are right, not as much citrus, but still quite interesting. A couple guys in our homebrew club "hate" cascades, especially when used in large amounts (which I was most definitely guilty of), but they loved my beer.

Wheatsheaf · Post by **Wheatsheaf** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 7:14 pm

Slightly OT, but I requested a private order quote for some Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA back in February. Talk about sticker shock. The LCBO responded fairly quickly, but their estimate was close to $145 for a case.

Guybrush · Post by **Guybrush** » Sun Mar 29, 2009 10:54 am

Tnx for the hop farm locals.

The Straffordville one seems to be closer to me than the Baron farms one... see if I can stop in one day.