Smattering of Beer Reviews

Sierra Nevada Harvest Wild Hop IPA

The Sierra Nevada Harvest series has always meant one thing to me: a tasty IPA at a reasonable price. However, it has always been the Southern Hemisphere Fresh Hop and Northern Hemisphere Dry Hop IPA's. This new Wild Hop was certainly an intriguing venture, as it uses wild grown hops from New Mexico and claims to give melon and apricot flavors. The beer poured with a tantalizing nose that included hints of lavender, oranges, grapefruit, rye bread, and floral notes. I tasted the beer and got nothing in the way of melon or apricot. In fact, it starts with a bitter bite that probably hides any of those sort of lighter flavors. Orange pith, perfume, and just a twinge of green onion rounds out the opening. The finish has the bitterness disappearing with light flavors of perfume and toast. It was a decent IPA, but not close to what was promised.

Mike's Rating - 7.75/10


Founders Imperial Stout

Make no mistake, this is one of my favorite beers out there. I even used some in my batch of chili to pair with this tasty stout.The nose was very subtle with hints of dark chocolate, raisins, and coffee beans. The taste is quite smooth at the start with flavors of fudge brownies, roasted coffee, dark chocolate, and just a few stray floral notes. The finish brings a strong bitter flavor that accentuates the dark chocolate, fudge, and roasted black coffee flavors that round out the finish. I popped a few of these in my cellar, and look forward to reviewing them a few years down the line. Though make no mistake, they can be drank now and are quite stellar.

Mike's Rating - 9.5/10


Left Hand Nitro Milk Stout

A friend of mine left this lone beer at my house. I have looked at this beer for a while, as I tend to love a Nitro-infused Stout. However, the Milk Stout is already so light that it made me hesitant to try it. This was the perfect opportunity and I do have a rule: Leave your beer? Now it belongs here. Heh. So I cracked this one open and poured it and was greeted with a good aroma. I was actually surprised at the depth of the nose. Milk chocolate and chocolate milk dominated initially with lighter hints of roasted coffee and raisins appearing later. However, the taste is thin. I mean, really thin. Only light flavors of milk chocolate and coffee appear. The finish doesn't change that much with a flavor that leans towards espresso with a hint of cream. I can't say I'm surprised, but a little disappointment crossed my mind. Still, can't argue with a freebie right?

Mike's Rating - 6.5/10


Sierra Nevada Hop Hunter IPA

This is another new IPA from Sierra Nevada that uses hop oil. Essentially it is an extract from hops that is super concentrated. However, it seems like every time you turn around there is a new IPA on the shelves. I am certainly a hop head, but it takes a lot these days to distance yourself from the pack. This beer is good, and its biggest pro and biggest con happen to be the same: It is silk smooth. I can't help it, I want my IPA to bite. Whether with hops or bitterness. The smoothness would be fine if this beer had a little more depth to its flavor. The aroma has hints of grapefruit, citrus, and floral notes. All of this transfers to the first flavor with citrus, grapefruit zest, and hints of perfume and floral notes. The finish is exceptionally light with flavors of toast and lemon zest. This beer will drink well as a sessionable IPA when the weather warms, but I wish it had just a little more oomph.

Mike's Rating - 8.25/10