Sierra Nevada Summerfest

Pours an appetizing, semi-transparent honey-golden with a little white head. Aroma is fairly strong, malty, wheaty and inviting. Flavor is mainly malty and wheaty with a hint of hops and a whisper of fruit, not too complex but still pleasing and refreshing. Texture is smooth so it goes "down the hatch" easily.

I really like this beer, I first had it at a fathers day BBQ here in Las Vegas. It was 100+ degrees outside and we were poolside for a number of hours. I really appreciate the light crispness and clean refreshing taste of this beer as a lager. Where it really got me is that it still offers a good balance of hops and malt sweetness on a smaller more refreshing scale. This is defintley not a purist lager drinkers beer I think it would be a little too sweet. But I am an Ale drinker who is happy to have a refreshing summertime alternative for the unbearable Las Vegas summer heat. I would also like to note that this beer unlike some other lagers did not lose it’s appeal at higher temp, if anything it opened up some character which is nice here in the desert.

I think those that have rated this beer low have failed to recognize the American Lager Style. It is not supposed to be overly hoppy. If you compare to other american lager’s (i.e. Bud, Miller, Coors) this is a wonderful example. One of the best American Lagers I have had. Beautiful.

On tap at the White Horse, Parsons Green, 4th July 2008. Unsurprisingly, I couldn’t drink half a dozen SN beers on the trot without encountering one duff one, and this was it. Bright gold with a cheap & nasty corn aroma. Very fruity yet also funky, the taste is over sweet and I was glad I’d only bought a half pint. The worst SN beer I’ve had.

Pours a clear, crisp gold with a short white, frothy head. Plain, grainy, light taste. Very drinkable summer session beer, nothing great.

Kind of surprised I hadn’t had this beer a lot earlier. Pours a clear yellow with a decent size head. Citrus aroma. A little bit of bitterness, citrus, and hops. Average beer, was hoping for a little more from Sierra though.

bottle. Pours a crystal-clear light golden color with a pretty decent (for a lager!) head- thick, 3/4" with enough active carbonation to keep a layer on throughout. Aromas of bready malt with some yeasty twang and a light kiss of floral hops. Flavor improves over the aroma- nice crisp smooth toasty malt flavor without much sweetness that blends well with a middling amount of hop action- light but crisp bitterness with some nice floral and light citrus flavors. Superbly even, crisp and clean on the palate. A great summer session brew- nothing over the top, but hits the style mark spot on and is dangerously drinkable.

I was expecting more, the smell really got to me though, smelled of seafood, or the see. Maybe too citrus. Although, a very smooth and enjoyable lager, to pound on a hot day. Poured yellow, with very little carbonation. Crisp and refreshing, but lacking taste and depth, fairly watery.