Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale

Brewed by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Chico, California USA

Pours a hazy amber with a nice two fingers of white head that dissipates rather quickly but leaves some nice lacing. The smell is mostly of floral hops with a small hint of citrus and malt. The taste is wonderfully hoppy with the dominant hops being floral and pine. There are hints of citrus as well with an extremely faint hint of malt. The first few sips seemed overly bitter, but as the brew warmed I was able to pick out all of the flavors. The carbonation is balanced very well and compliments the bite of the hop bitterness. The finish is bone dry. A very well crafted IPA. There are many dimensions to this beer than you might initially think as you get into the glass a bit. SN usually makes a solid straight-forward brew, but there is definitely a bit more to this one. Reviewed on: 10-29-2008

Bottle from Utobeer market stall. Pours orange with a white head which soon disappears. Nose of citrus, sulphur, vanilla,pears. Tastes of grapefruit, herbs, summer fruits, ginger. Sweet, hoppy mouthfeel. Finishes laden with hops. Tasty.

12 oz bottle. 2009 vintage. Smells sweet. Pours a thin head with a beautiful copper hue. Pleasant bitterness juxtaposes with a creamy mouthfeel to produce an exceptional taste experience. Without a doubt one of the best IPAs I’ve ever had.

2009, 12 OZ Bottle. Very enjoyable aroma, excellent blend of hops and citrus. Pours to a surprisingly thin head. The flavor itself is very reminiscent of SN’s standard IPA, big hops hit on the front end citrus and more hops seem to effervesce up through the nose as it finishes. Great overall taste, almost ’wet’ in one regard. Unmistakable Sierra Nevada-esque taste.

Poured from bottle into Nonic Imperial Pint. Clear amber-orange with a creamy head that leaves slight lacing. SN beers always look good. Aroma of citrus, pine and toasted malt. Smells bitter. Slightly sweet citrus and toast, with a nice bitter pine counterbalance. Finishes quite bitter as expected, but some sweetness remains through the end of each sip (unusual for an IPA). Moderate carbonation, relatively light body for an IPA but has a smooth creaminess to it. Finishes mostly dry. Light and refreshing, but bitter, everyday IPA. Seems like this should be year round and the Torpedo should be seasonal. Of course, both are great and I prefer the Torpedo, so it all works out.

Not too bad. My initial impression was the Pale Ale with more hops, but there is bit more to it. It has a hoppy nose and dry bite at the end. A little more citrus notes and probably a bit less balanced (favored to the hoppy side, woohoo!). $7.99 for a six pack. Not too bad.

The beer spews forth from the 12-ounce stubby bottle a crystalline deep amber color with a presidential sized creamy light tan head that settles slowly, leaving the lace to from a thick concealing sheet. Nose has a sweet malt aroma, assisted by the hops, which provide a piney, flowery and spicy tone, citrus like crispness, fresh and clean, quite a nice aroma. Start has a sweet malt presences, the hops spicy and pleasing with the top moderate in feel. Finish has a rather commonplace acidity; the hops provide a nice spicy bite, quite dry aftertaste, a nice drinkable IPA.

Glorious cascade aroma wafts from the bottle and glass. Thick white head sits atop a beautiful a medium golden color with tons of efferevesence - I haven’t seen this good looking a beer in a while! This is a quaffer. Light in body with a touch of caramel, but plenty of juicy and resiny, citric cascade hops. A nice offering - I could drink a few.