Sierra Nevada Pale Ale (Bottle)

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

Dark-amber/golden colour. Smells of american hops with some honey and lemon-citrus characteristics. toasty malt flavour balances out the large hop flavour. Very balanced and very smooth in the mouth.

This was ’the one’ for me - I’ve been drinking craft or pseudo-craft beer for a long time, Fat Tire and assorted CO micros opened my eyes after moving to Denver 14 years ago. Then, my first GABF in 1996 really popped things, but not to the point of extremity (until a fateful email exchange with theisti a couple years ago). During a lot of that time, SNPA was my standard. I’d go through more than a case a month, only occasionally grabbing something different (German Hefes in the summer, the random IPA to mix things up, etc). Finally went back and got another 6. Pours beautiful golden ambber with a fluffy head that dissipates slowly into oily swirls. Nose isn’t overwhelmingly good, but solid floral and citric hops with a slight maltiness. Flavor is what I measure other APAs against - Citric hops are the star, but there’s a really nice caramelly background that gives it a nice pleasant mouthfilling feel. Hops kick back @ the end and finish it crisp and dry, with no lingering sweetness. Wonderful APA.

Poured from bomber into Nonic Imperial Pint. Light golden-amber with moderate head and impressive layers of lacing for an APA. Aroma of floral, citrus hops countered by light grainy malts. Floral citrus hops take center stage, with a nice grainy malt undercurrent. Just a touch of sweetness, less so than most APSs. Ends with a nice level of bitterness. While not as bitter as most IPAs, it is certainly more bitter than many APAs. Fairly smooth, medium body with moderately high carbonation. Finishes more dry than most APAs. This may be the prototypical APA, but it is also one of the best, maybe because it straddles the APA/IPA line closer than most.

Although I’m not a big fan of pale ales, this one was very good. Perfect bitterness to complement the citrusy sweetness. I liked the first one enough to order a second.

A very solid and extremely well done pale ale. Pour is beautiful golden copper with minimal head and decent lacing. Aroma is clean hops of pine and floral notes. Flavor is an almost perfect bitter. Palate is creamy, and full. Excellent beer.

The gold standard by which all other west coast pale ales are judged. Clean flavor profile of light caramel malt and the signature Cascade hops with a dry finish and medium-light body. With the introduction of all the super-hopped pale ales and extreme hopped beers, this is a good one to come back to just to remind ourselves what the original breakthrough pale ale tastes like.

My standard for pale ales. This crisp, refreshing, punchy beer is an old favorite and the beer that taught me to take bitterness and like it. I’m glad that a beer of this quality is so widely distributed. Faint aroma but a sweet, citrus nose followed by a full, hoppy body. Ends bitter and citrus as well and lingers for a few moments. Always enjoyable and probably the best pale ale for the price. Cheers!

light amber with thing white head. Citrus hop aroma with a little malt. Clean citrus hop flavor but not too bittter. clean finish. Quite thick for an APA. A solid pale ale.