Sierra Nevada India Pale Ale

I have to say i was not impressed considering the quality of the brewery. The hops do not have that zest in the aroma or bitterness that more new wave hops like cascade or amarillo. Still, it isn’t too bad, just missing a certain something.

Copper colour with off-white head. Aroma of hops, raisins and darker malts. The flavor is maltyness, a bit of grassy hops, a bit of sweet alcohol and some oakiness with a bitter aftertaste from the hops that is short. A very fine example of an English style IPA.

2006 vintage, 12oz bottle. Pours a glowing peach colored body that is topped by a small, receding off white head. Some lacing attempts to cling to the sides of the glass but ultimately fails. On the nose we have sweet malts, citrus fruits and the smallest amount of hop aroma. Think some apricot comes through as well. Doesn’t smell like a typical IPA, but maybe a year or so in the bottle has caused that. Very sweet on the fore, rolling to the back of the tongue brings in some citrus notes but not really a hop presence. Hops are mainly defined in the overly bitter finish. Finish is amazingly long as well, which is not a good thing in this case. Lightly acidic on the tongue, medium bodied, oily mouthfeel. Just average.

Pour: orange/caramel. Head: creamy, light beige, foamy. Aroma: hoppy caramel, malt. Flavor: hoppy, alcohol, bitter, waxy. Palate: smooth. Finish: bitter.

Draft at the Monte Carlo casino in Vegas - Poured a darkish amber in color with a medium off-white head. Aroma was of citrus and flowery hops. Flavor was nicely hoppy with the flowery hops dominating, A decent amount of malt comes through providing a nice balance to the hop bitterness. Good, but not as good as I expected or hoped...

Bottle. I have tried this a couple of times and I must admit it is a disappointment from this otherwise excellent brewery. Very light aroma with some citrus and pineapple - OK but I would wish it was more intense. Flavor is sweet and caramelly without much hop flavor going into a long and very bitter finish (reminds me of dandelion bitterness). Light perfumy in the aftertaste with lingering bitterness and a breath of alcohol. Seems a bit under attenuated and reminds me of less successful home brew.

Different to the other IPAs I’ve tried because of the English hops used, it’s probably quite authentic. Quite alot of hops here but well balanced. Really nice

[572-20070831] 12floz. Hoppy citrus aroma. Clear, brown amber body with a quick foamy white head. Bitter bite of hops flavour, grassy lemon rind and lightly sweet later. Medium body. Fair hoppy beer.