Sierra Nevada Audition 66

Brewed by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Style: American Pale Ale
Chico, California USA

Serve in Lager glass, Shaker, Tulip

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes  

Sampled at the brewpub on 6/16/2010. This American Pale Ale pours a medium orange gold color from the tap. Small sized white foamy head. The aroma is grapefruity and citrusy. A medium bodied American Pale Ale. The malts are fruity and sweet. The hops are grapefruity and citrusy. Nice carbonation. Good balance. Crisp and clean with a fairly dry finish. Nice grapefruity hops in this one. Like Audition #44 there is not a lot or residual bitterness. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

Growler from Sierra Nevada courtesy of my beer-loving wife. Thanks, Ali! Pours a bright, golden-orange color; brilliant clarity; lightly effervescent; a modest, creamy, fine-bubbled white head with decent retention and lacing; attractive pour, but didn’t quite give the head size of SNPA or the 44. Quite a pleasant hop-forward aroma, if not necessarily as forward as other types of aroma hops; the citrus and grapefruit are light, lighter and less pronounced than their standard pale ale, but there’s also the presence of a rounding floral character that really fills out the nose; the malt core is quiet; just subtle, filled-out, non-abrasive hoppy goodness. Perfect mouthfeel, which is the case for so many Sierra Nevada beers; medium body; medium to medium-high carbonation; lightly creamy, with nothing close to astringency or alcohol showing through; the grapefruit is much more pronounced in the mouth: nicely juicy, with plenty of other citrus around it; there’s also a pronounced earthiness here (along with the floral notes, following the aroma) that wasn’t suggested in the nose; this doesn’t have the same uniqueness as the 44, but it’s definitely well-presented and even a touch spicy; tasty stuff; I actually think this is just a touch better overall than the 44, but without that really unique blueberry / blackberry character that the latter offered; both excellent, excellent stuff; the toasty, quiet malt core is perfect for setting off a pale ale like this. Is it even possible for Sierra Nevada to make a bad beer (aside from that godawful Stricklander tripel)? Hugely drinkable, this is the kind of beer I want in a growler. Medium finish, nicely toasty, with lasting soft citrus.

The description from SN on this beer is very accurate. It’s dry with a nice cereal malt flavor complimented by the citrusy hops. Not too heavy, not to strong, this is a great thirst quenching beer with good flavor and character. If you’re in Chico, give it a shot!