Sierra Nevada Brewing Celebrates Fall with Oktoberfest and Northern Hemisphere Harvest Wet Hop IPA

Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest is a Festbier for its 2020 release.
Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest is brewed in the Festbier style for its 2020 release.

For the 2020 Fall Season, Sierra Nevada Brewing has released its annual versions of Oktoberfest and Northern Hemisphere Harvest Wet Hop IPA.

In recent years, Sierra Nevada Brewing has collaborated with a German brewer on its Oktoberfest. However, for 2020 the brewer went solo on its Festbier style rendition that features German hops and toasty malts for a balanced beer.

Sierra Nevada brewed its Oktoberfest using a blend of Two-Row Pale, Munich, and Vienna malts, and Spalter and Spalter Select German hops. The result is a dark golden Festbier that is more on the hoppy side with plenty of fresh floral and fruity aromas and flavors.

“There’s nuance to this beer–some floral and spice, as well as a unique orange zest flavor from the German hops that hits right in the middle of your palate,” said Sierra Nevada Lead Pilot Brewer Michael Palmer, in a statement. “But it’s also light and extremely drinkable. It’s a crusher.”

Oktoberfest is a pleasant beer at 6% ABV and 28 IBUs, but one that lets the hops take the spotlight more than the malt.

image of Northern Hemisphere Harvest Wet Hop IPA courtesy of Sierra Nevada Brewing
image of Northern Hemisphere Harvest Wet Hop IPA courtesy of Sierra Nevada Brewing

Also available from Sierra Nevada Brewing is what they call “The Original Wet Hop IPA”. For this year’s Northern Hemisphere Harvest Wet Hop IPA, the brewer used freshly harvested Centennial hops. For those taking notes, in previous years Sierra Nevada used Cascade and Centennial hops but this year its 100% Centennial!

Northern Hemisphere Harvest Wet Hop IPA is loaded with notes of citrus blossom, rose, and pine from the ample use of the fresh Centennial hops. Available in 12oz and 24oz bottles, Northern Hemisphere Harvest Wet Hop IPA sits at 6.7% ABV 67 IBUs, and 218 calories.

To locate Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest or Northern Hemisphere Harvest Wet Hop IPA use the Sierra Nevada Beer Locator.