Sierra Nevada Again? Estate Homegrown Ale marks the intersection of two beery trends: wet hopped and estate grown. Wet hopped beers make for a special seasonal treat, with extra grassy floral notes. Estate grown beers are a way for (usually bigger) players to talk about terroir and the mystique of place.
Here goes:
Why we bought it – We had a great wet hopped Citra IPA the other day., and have been on the lookout for more wet hopped beers.
Why we like it – It reminds us of our memory of Celebration back in the day, plus the extra special fresh hop notes. It is a little sweet, with enough malt complexity to balance the assertive citrus, grass and floral notes from the hops. A lingering bitterness completes the package. It is contemplative, and very drinkable.
Bonus – Growing your own ingredients is pretty cool marketing, and plays to sustainable and local – though when it’s bottled and shipped a thousand kilometres away, not so much.