BTN and WTN: Autumn libation

First up, another in Sierra Nevada's harvest series emphasizing getting mighty fresh hops into the brewing process--this one from estate-grown hops grown in Chico:
2009 Sierra Nevada Estate Brewers Harvest Ale. Chico, California. (american india pale ale) – appears reddish with thick tan head, smell, soapy hops, slight mint/green herbs, deep and interesting nose, mouthfeel thick, great grip, medium carbonation, taste spicy hops, delicious grip, different and wow, delicious approach to hops, phenomenal beer

2009 Full Sail Grandsun of Spot Brewmaster Reserve India Pale Ale. Hood River, Oregon. (american india pale ale) bottle, 6% – appears bright reddish chrome, thick off-white head, smell thick citrus hops, green onions and garlic, nice, mouthfeel sharp and direct, slightly thick, taste savory vegetables, heavy piney and hopsy, base that stays nicely in the background, nice

Dogfish Head Punkin Ale. Milton, Delware (pumpkin ale) bottle - smell christmas spice, pumpkin pie, apple cider, more of pumpkin pie than pumpkin, mouthfeel has sharp entry that quickly fades, taste flat of syrup, very light pumpkin pie, weird grip, okay with food, but rather bizarre and lacking focus

2006 Les Cretes Torrette Vigne Les Toules [Petit Rouge] (Torrette, Valle d'Aosta DOC, northwestern Italy) 12.5% - imported to USA by DSWE, New York, New York – appears dark cranberry, smell earthy funk, deep and interesting from the get-go, hint of sweet mountain herbs and mint, smells of hiking, taste punch of tingly acid upfront then a fade to die for, how beautiful, tender fruit and gentleness, bits of rust and funk underneath, fantastic match for winter squash flan with sauteed greens and juniper berry, shallot and reduced wine sauce (the reducing aromas probably the best of the fall in my kitchen), I love this wine

2009 Sierra Nevada Estate Brewers Harvest Ale. Chico, California. (american india pale ale) – appears reddish with thick tan head, smell, soapy hops, slight mint/green herbs, deep and interesting nose, mouthfeel thick, great grip, medium carbonation, taste spicy hops, delicious grip, different and wow, delicious approach to hops, phenomenal beer

How big is the production/how wide is the distribution on this? Is it likely to make its way onto taps across the country? (One always sees some sort of Sierra Nevada in bars and it would be nice to have something as 'phenomenal' as this).

fantastic match for winter squash flan with sauteed greens and juniper berry, shallot and reduced wine sauce (the reducing aromas probably the best of the fall in my kitchen)...

Sounds like a good dish. And nice that you were able to make the juniper berries work without meat. I've found them a bit strong/difficult to control with my vegetarian cooking (they so easily overwhelm the vegetables).

2009 Sierra Nevada Estate Brewers Harvest Ale.

How big is the production/how wide is the distribution on this? Is it likely to make its way onto taps across the country? (One always sees some sort of Sierra Nevada in bars and it would be nice to have something as 'phenomenal' as this).

I believe it is nationally distributed, but most likely not on tap--previous versions were only available at the brewery and this is the first Chico Estate Harvest Ale being made widely available. I'll warn you, though, it is also phenomenally expensive--10 bucks for a 24 ounce bottle (if the video on Sierra Nevada's website reflects the pace at which they actually harvested the hops, I have a feeling I know why the beer cost so much to produce).

I think this was my first experience in actually cooking with juniper berries . . .

I think this was my first experience in actually cooking with juniper berries . . .

Well it sounds like you started off the right way! I had a few bad experiences and haven't been back since.