Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

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

Bottled. This bottle conditioned beer is one of the best beers I've ever had! I look forward to this hop monster every winter. To me, it is what makes the cold northeast winters bearable. From the citrusy nose, to the VERY hoppy taste and aftertaste, this is a beer that I stock up on in the winter months. My belief is, you can never cram enough hops into a bottle of beer, but this one comes damn close to meeting that goal! When I have this beer in my fridge, I am guaranteed to have a Hoppy New Year.

awesome hops, not over spiced - just right

Almost done with the 1/2 barrel I got for the Christmas season. My favorite American winter beer for sure. It pays to buy it by the barrel: when I saw the $9.50/six price tag i decided to buy in bulk.

Ok, I freely admit it I am extremely biased when it comes to this beer. I used to buy cases of this stuff every year. I finally broke down and started to buy a keg of it instead. The first time I had this it absolutely blew me away. The hops where so intense so fresh the just screamed to break free from the confines of the bottle. This beer is definitely best when fresh, because it is all about the hop flavor and aroma. The hops lend a wonderful spicy citrusy greatness to this beer. And wonderfully the brewers saw fit to outfit this paragon with a solid malt backbone that just carries and delivers the hop celebration to every corner of your mouth. Just a plain awesome beer.

<font size=-4>Purchased: <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp? Liquors, Tucson, AZ<font size=-1>

I am blown away. Pours out with a dark amber orange body and an extra tall beige head that is creamy and smooth. One of the loveliest display of carbonation I’ve ever seen in a beer. There is a near constant stream of tiny bubbles rushing to the top the entire time I drink this beer. The aroma is pure hops with citrus, pine, spruce, and spices in every whiff. Body is medium with an appropriate mouthfeel enhanced by the tiny bubbles that coat your tongue as the beer warms in your mouth. Bitter hoppy taste is a delightful departure from the sweet and syrupy winter fare from others. Malt backbone is solid and creamy, but hops are front, center, and back. Many thanks go to nvsblman for this trade. Hopefully next year this beer will be on the shelves in Georgia. When I see it in the stores, I’m going to be celebrating for sure. Update: It is now fall of 2004 and by the grace of God, HB 645 is now the law of the land in the State of Georgia. I just picked up a Sierra Nevada Celebration off the shelf from Green’s. When pouring it in the glass I notice something that was missing last year. This year’s version is cloudy. The bottle conditioned release is much less bubbly than the force carbonated 2003 version. The mouthfeel also seems more soft this year, and the spiciness has gone down a notch. Still a classic IPA. Update 2: Got a 2003 bottle as part of Cellar Meat BIF 18 from pentathlete. After a year and a half, the hops had faded, and the beer could be considered balanced. The taste had taken on shades of an Old Ale at this age, with some chewy sweet malt. The hops lurked in the back as a peppery wispy presence. I much prefer the assertive fresh taste, but still much to like here.

Dark amber with with frothy white head that sticks to glass. Aroma of hops, citrus and malt. Upon first sip, hops hit you and malt comes through. Full-bodied and strong, this is one of the very best beers I’ve ever had. One of the best IPAs. Makes the holiday season worthwhile.

This beer is ridiculous...as in ridiculously good. Refreshing spicy, bitter, wood-y and fruity tastes compete for your attention. Go to your local beer-selling establishment, purchase a case, and hurry home and drink it!

This is Sierra Nevada Brewing’s finest Ale ever! Robust hoppy bite with a tangy citrus and grapefruit finish that never washes the hoppy platform flavor away. They need to brew this all year round. Why not celebrate all year round?