A Balanced Dose of Hops & Malt Helps Define Great Fall Seasonals

When it comes to craft beer, a taste of the season is very personal and subjective. We all have different preferences, so it's a good thing fall seasonal beer choices cover a wide range of styles and flavors. Like a lot of people, I often have more of a taste for big citrus hop flavors in the summertime, and go to the maltier side of beer in colder months. It makes sense, then, that an appropriate fall seasonal, or even a spring seasonal, combines such elements into a crisp, hearty, well-balanced beer. Flipside Red IPA by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company is a fall seasonal release that does just that, providing thirst-quenching hop flavors with a healthy dose of malt to back them up. It's one of many Sierra Nevada beers that showcases the wonderful qualities of American hop varieties.

There's so much that can be said about Sierra Nevada's history and contributions to the craft beer industry. The brewery, based in Chico, California, opened in 1980 and was considered to be a pioneer and key player in the craft brewing revolution. With its iconic Pale Ale, Sierra Nevada helped start the trend of brewing aggressive, bitter beers with large amounts of American hops. Unlike many breweries, Sierra Nevada brews using only whole-cone hops, rather than hops pellets. While the hops flowers are still dried immediately after they're harvested to lock in their oils and essence, the whole cone goes into the wort boil, and possibly the fermenter if the beer recipe calls for dry-hopping. Sierra Nevada also utilizes a combination of traditional hop varieties and experimental hops, creating unique new flavor profiles with their beers. Each brewing ingredient is important, but Sierra Nevada seems to give extra attention to hops, and this emphasis is reflected across the majority of their lineup.

Despite this attention to hops, Sierra Nevada makes sure their beers have the malt presence to maintain balance and superb drinkability. With Flipside, you get a truly American beer style that lets each element really shine and come together beautifully. It pours a deep amber color, with an aroma of fresh hops, grapefruit, pine, and toffee. A crisp, zesty character comes through on the first drink, with citrus flavors of grapefruit and lemon, a bit of pine, and a balance of malt that tastes like caramel and toffee. Sweet, bitter, and very satisfying, Flipside unleashes a variety of flavors that seem just right for the season. As a seasonal release, Flipside can be found only for a limited time. With Sierra Nevada's nationwide presence, chances are you can pick some up if you look hard enough.

Flipside is just one example of a beer with a complex grain bill that complements a big load of hops. Keep an eye out for features on the blog about beers that show even more depth and intensity on the malt scale while also delivering a pronounced hoppy bite.