Sierra Nevada India Pale Ale

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

2007 version. Somewhat floral hop aroma but not the distinct IPA aroma or flavor that I was expecting. Flavor is very hoppy, with a definite English character from the Goldings hops. Feels a little thin and unbalanced, as the malts are not quite up to the heavy hop load. Its good, and has some of SN’s signature hop/yeast flavors, but not as good as the Pale Ale, or the Celebration Ale. If this were presented as an English pale ale, rather than an IPA, it would be better.

Six pack from Total Wine. Thank goodness we have finally gotten this beer in North Florida. Pours a great dark gold color with a white head. Very hoppy aroma, and taste as well. A good drinking IPA, not the best one I’ve had, but one that I will definitely look to acquire in the future.

Not what I was hoping for, I really like the pale ale. This one seemed to go a little overboard on the hops, without the malt backbone to back it up. Pours very nice, clean golden color w/ white head that dissapates fairly quickly. Smells like beer, nothing special.

12 oz bottle. Pour to a beautiful, bright, deep golden, to light amber color, with a nice, white head that fades, and a moderate carbonation. The nose on this beer is suprisingly malty, with good biscuity/bready malt aroma, paired with light, flowery hop aromas. The palate is firm, with good pale and biscuit malt flavor. Really good mouthfeel on this beer. SN IPA finishes with more solid biscuity malt up front, then ends with a flowery/herbal hop bite that lingers. What a delicious beer. Perfect match to pub grub, or a nice juicy rib eye or NY strip steak. I would have liked some more hop aroma, but I like the hop bitterness in this one. Good example of a British inspired IPA, and a solid effort from one of America’s legendary craft brewers.

doesnt smell that hoppy, pours a nice orange. not near hoppy enough but still pretty good. i like the pale ale more.

Crystal clear, medium amber hued body capped with a short, creamy and white head. Bready and nutty English malts peak out immediately, followed by by perfume and lime hop aromas along with a sense of sourdough and forest undergrowth. The flavor starts semi-sweet with a light acidity and finishes with a moderate, earthy bitterness. There’s a lingering, drying minerality. Feels slick and is accompanied by forceful carbonation. Medium to light density. Definitely has that semi-pungent/sour SN house element. A decent pint, all said, but lacks both depth and elegance. Draft, shaker glass.

This beer pours a rich orange color with a small white head leaving some lacing down the sides. Always a go to beer and this one is just a step below the pale ale

Modest floral nose. Malt cereal taste, rich hops that don’t permeate. Not much distinction between this and the Pale Ale, my stand-by.