Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest Fresh Hop Ale
I don't often give that many 5.0 scores to a beer but this one really is something special. It has a beautiful copper colour with plenty of rising bubbles and big white head that leaves plenty of sticky lace. As soon as the glass comes within sniffing distance of the nostrils I know I'm about to get a beer of the highest order. Citrusy, piney resinous hops are there, a slightly yeasty aroma, and a touch of fresh cut grass. The malt character of this beer makes itself known in the mouth, balancing the abundant hops nicely. When the beer falls down the back of the throat there's a bitter finish but the sweet malt remains on the tongue. It doesn't get much better than this. I'm glad this is only available for a short while - you really can have too much of a good thing. Like summer, an Ashes series against the Aussies, the day the clocks go forward, Wimbledon, Friday evening, standing on Waterloo Bridge watching the sun go down, and falling in love again, it's something to look forward to.