On Tap is a regular column featuring our recommendations on the most unique new draft beer offerings from local pubs.
Our Recommendation: Estate Brewers Harvest Ale, Sierra Nevada Brewing
Where: Side Bar, 10 East Gay Street, West Chester, PA 19380
I sat down with Justin Dougherty, the co-owner of the Side Bar to learn about Sierra Nevada Estate Brewers Harvest Ale. Justin had just tapped the keg the previous night, right before close, so he was interested in drinking a pint and discussing this limited beer from their Harvest series.
The beer poured a copper color with a frothy head on top. “This is the first time we’ve had this ale,” Justin told me as he took a sip. “It’s very hoppy with a bitter grapefruit finish.” The hops pounce out of this beer and the citrus lingers afterward. This comes in at 6.7% ABV.
Sierra Nevada Estate Ale is made with hops and barley all grown on-site at the Chico, California brewery. They claim to be the first brewery to develop their own terroir. The brewery sits near the Cascade River and the Sierra Nevada mountain range, offering a distinct environment for growing the hops and barley.
Justin informed me he has a keg of Sierra Nevada Northern Harvest Ale ready to go once the Estate Ale is kicked. The Northern Harvest is seasonal, made with both dry and wet hops from the Yakima Valley and Eastern Washington. In the spring, I reviewed the Sierra Nevada Southern Harvest Ale, which is made with hops from the Southern Hemisphere.
Justin also showed me a sneak peak at the tap lineup for Side Bar’s upcoming Anniversary Weekend, November 11-13. They’ll be celebrating two years of business with plenty of specials – both food and drink.
