Highly influential pale ale changed the course of American beer industry with its robust fruited hop nature. Aromatic citric ebullition, serene caramel malt timbre and piney floral hop perk distinguish iconic medium-bodied pale ale. Label claims ‘kraeusening process which produces carbonation naturally in the bottle’ offers unique character. Touche’. Ripe apricot, apple and tangerine tang sits pretty above creamy caramel malt sweetness countering lingered orange peel bittering. On tap, thick maple assertion makes it perfect.
SIERRA NEVADA INDIA PALE ALE (2007)
Pleasant bark-dried piney-hop bitterness fades as spruce-spiced apple-pear-peach tsunami soaks orange-soured tangerine-grapefruit tang. Rye wheat backdrop provides tangible depth.
SIERRA NEVADA HARVEST FRESH HOP ALE (2007)
Pleasing 11th anniversary pale-hazed autumnal finds spice-hopped blackstrap molasses battling back dry herbal-floral potpourri contrasting parched orange-tangerine tang. Oncoming mossy peat graining and shrill metallic astringency recede for sporadic apple-pear-pumpkin fruiting.
SIERRA NEVADA CELEBRATION ALE 2001
Bitter-spiced hop opening and musty dark fruit punctuation lead to moderate lacquered malt pungency. Berries entangle clove, overwhelming creamy sweetness inducing otherwise bitter finish. ’05 version placed savory apple-grapefruit ripeness above peppery hop bed and eternal alcohol bittering.
SIERRA NEVADA CELEBRATION ALE
Fruity amber-reddish tan-headed Christmas seasonal sacrifices expectant cinnamon-nutmeg adjuncts in favor of thick berry-nut-grain mesh. Lingered dry-fruited tartness picks up spiced hop bitterness and alcohol-soaked acridity for delicately flowing, yet solid-bodied, ’00 winter celebrator.
SIERRA NEVADA BROWN ALE
Strangely earthen lightweight can’t push astringent hops, toasted malts, and barren nuttiness above pungently metallic alcohol acridity.
SIERRA NEVADA BIGFOOT BARLEYWINE STYLE ALE (25TH EXPEDITION)
Magnificent 2008 version of extremely popular ruddy-hued barleywine brings up-front brandy warmth to syrupy whiskey malting and chewy pine-sapped goo. Huge hop bittering imbibes overripe peach-cherry-grape jam prevalence and alcohol-strengthened sherry-bourbon whir.
SIERRA NEVADA BIGFOOT BARLEYWINE STYLE ALE
Strong rust-hued 9.6% alcohol-fueled barleywine with alleviating spry fruitiness overwhelming subtle nut-grain bitterness. Maple syrup thickness and cider quip relegate cinnamon-toasted holiday seasoning.
SIERRA NEVADA ANNIVERSARY ALE 2007
Wafting red-fruited esters emanate from phenol medium-bodied IPA. Dry Cascade hop bittering retains piney grapefruit standby opposing honeyed caramel malting. Restraint floral-herbal accents fill out backdrop.
SIERRA NEVADA ANNIVERSARY ALE
Vapid 20th anniversary IPA loses up-front pine needled Cascade hop luster and dry grapefruit bittering to unstable red-fruited splotch. Resinous acridity blurs setback apple-peach-pear reticence underscored by biscuit-y wheat base.
SHMALTZ HE’BREW REJEWVENATOR HARVEST ALE
Middling 7.8% alcohol-doused autumnal needs better up-front fruited malt prominence and more resilient finish. Chewy honeyed malts caress unripe cherry, fig, and date souring as well as delicate orange-bruised red grape and fuzzy peach sweetness. But sherry, bourbon, and brandy whir seems suspiciously inaudible.
SHMALTZ HE’BREW ORIGIN POMEGRANATE ALE
Bright amber-garnet ale brings lusty pomegranate juicing to protracted lemony hop bitterness and grain-toasted dried fruiting. Fig-date-pecan admix and subtle peach-apricot tang tether raspberry-cranberry tartness to sugared almond-praline finish. Latent orange rind snip adds to subtle complexity.