Tag: sierra nevada
Dogfish Head / Sierra Nevada Life and Limb
by Paul Arthur on Apr.01, 2010, under ale, beer
Background: Yes, I’m a sucker for collaborative beers (among many other things). This was brewed at SN’s facility using their own barley and maple syrup from the Calagione family farm. Clocking in at 10% ABV, it was fermented using a mix of the house strains from the two breweries, and bottle-conditioned (with Alaskan birch syrup used for priming). There was also a companion beer called Limb and Life made from the second runnings, but that was a very limited release and draft-only.
Nose: Boozy. Darkly fruity. Not much else, to be honest.
Taste: Hot alcohol. Mildly sweet, with some dark toasted character. Medium hop bitterness. Chewy maple toffee.
Overall: Disappointing. I was hoping for a bit more complexity, but whatever was there was buried under an overwhelming alcohol presence. The combination of the heavy alcohol and the unsubtle hops also makes the bitterness a bit too prominent in comparison with the other components.
Sierra Nevada 2009 Anniversary Ale
by Paul Arthur on Nov.17, 2009, under ale, american india pale ale, beer, india pale ale
Background: Brewed to celebrate Sierra Nevada’s 29th anniversary, this is a big bold IPA showcasing Cascade, their favourite hop variety.
Nose: Toasty malt and citrusy hops, mainly clementine with a bit of grapefruit.
Taste: Solid, tasty caramel malt, with toast and honey character. Medium hop bitterness, but mainly the Cascades contribute a bunch of citrus flavour, with a bit of herbalness. Slight sweetness to start, then a long hoppy finish.
Overall: Sierra Nevada knows what they’re doing when it comes to IPAs, and this one does not disappoint.
Sierra Nevada 2009 Celebration Ale
by Paul Arthur on Nov.09, 2009, under ale, american india pale ale, beer, india pale ale
Background: This seasonal ale from Sierra Nevada is an American IPA made with Chinook, Cascade, and Centennial hops.
Nose: Lots of floral and citrusy hops.
Taste: Sweet caramel malt, aggressive fruity hoppiness fading into a grapefruit pith finish.
Overall: Excellent. Well-balanced and exceedingly drinkable.
Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale 2007
by admin on Jan.21, 2008, under ale, american india pale ale, beer, india pale ale, pale ale
Appearance: Deep clear copper with a dense cream-coloured head that displays excellent retention.
Nose: Grapefruit and lemon hop aroma. Lots of hops.
Taste: Subdued malt, spicy pine and citrus hops. A bit of grass in the finish. Lingering hop presence. Some fruity esters.
Mouthfeel: Full, creamy body.
Overall: Excellent IPA. Enough alcohol to be warming on a winter night, but not so much as to be overpowering. The balance is tipped slightly towards the hops, but there's a modicum of restraint that's nice to see from the brewer.
