Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

proc

Michigan

4.38/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A fantastic winter beer. Pours smooth to a nice dark brown, almost ruby color with a decent head. Malt is prevelent on the sip and initial mouthfeel, but quickly gives way to a big dose of hops on the finish. A winter warmer sure to please, but in essence, this is a IPA, not really a specialty beer other than the time of year it is released. The log cabin picture on the label beckons you on a cold, fall or winter day. This brewery, overall, brews some of the best, widely available beer in the U.S.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2001 15:00:23 | More by proc

Jordan

California

4.75/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Many invading flavors here, a bit fruity, a bit flowery, a bit of tarty citrus, and a good kick of hops. It does have a malt edge, but it's the hops that comes through the strongest. Smells like fresh flowers and berries and leaf hops, but not quite as potent as I would really like(big deal huh?). There is a fine sediment floating throughout the glass(gotta love the sediment). Most importantly, this brew is down right delicious...

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2001 23:02:08 | More by Jordan

John1985

Tennessee

4.58/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Beautiful orange-amber color, intensely fresh hop aroma, Malt stands it ground but the hops edges it out. The flavor of hops roll across the tongue with a pleasant long lasting bitter aftertaste.Surprisingly drinkable. A classic I look forward to every year.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2001 19:39:56 | More by John1985

Todd

Massachusetts

4.47/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Balanced? No way. But who gives a rat's ass? 2001 is something to kick the Winter into gear, with its incredible raw hopped character and warming alcohol. A beer to look forward to, regardless. I do recall previous years being more pronounced in the malt dept. and more balanced. But hey, whatever. Drink a few of these and nothing will really matter.

To give this year's a perfect 5 is a little extreme. Everything was great overall, the drinkability ... like crack. I'm off to the pawn shop ...

Notes from 2000:

Presentation: 12oz short brown twist cap bottle. Lovely little X-mas scene on the label. Bottled on date, on neck of bottle.

Appearance: Rich, deep amber/copper. Excellent slightly off-white head ... very creamy, sticky and retains like its fighting for its life.

Smell: There's an absolutely incredible aroma on this beer! A nose full of big herbal hops and fruity esters. Some yeast aromas are also present, but very minimal.

Taste: Dreamy. So smooth. So rich. So fortified with malt goodness. So hoppy. At first there's a creamy feel on the palate, that then opens up to toasty, sweet malt flavours. A bold herbal hop runs rampid on the palate with a semi-prickly, puckering, lemon-rind quality. After a few more mouthfulls the brew begins to warm the body, and you can really feel the alcohol kick in. Finishes a bit dry with grain/husk flavours, and some breadiness as it warms.

Notes: At 6.8% this is one hell of a Winter seasonal! Warms the body and soul. A brew for hop heads too. One of the best Winter Seasonals that I have ever had, and one of the best Strong Ales. Drink with caution as this brew will kick your ass.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2001 18:33:41 | More by Todd

QXSTER1

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Orangish, red brew with light tan head that laces down the side of the glass. Hops explodes on the palate followed by toasted malts with a citric dry finish. Perfect beer to drink with a holiday meal. Hopheads will love this monster IPA.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2001 12:07:12 | More by QXSTER1

BKotch

Texas

5/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

It got perfect 5's last year and this year, if anything, it's a little smoother. I wonder how that six-pack from last year that I've kept in the back of my pantry (right next to a six of 2001 Big Foot) is faring?

Notes from 2000: If this is November, then Celebration Ale must be on the shelves. It's like biting into a raw hop leaf. Would I be too out of line to describe Celebration as a world-class IPA to go with SN's world-class pale ale?

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2001 20:23:07 | More by BKotch

Brent

Kentucky

4.45/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Huge and hoppy. This year's edition seemed even hoppier than '99 or '00. Although a little more IBUs, it didn't seem quite as spicy as in the past. Nonetheless, a great winter brew. Break out the crackling fire.

Notes from 2000: Even 6 months later, I remember this as fruity and hoppy. How long to Christmas?

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2001 09:41:42 | More by Brent

John

New York

4.8/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Every year when Nov. rolls around one of the things that makes the onset of fall/winter bareable is SN Celebration. This year's is the smoothest and most balanced yet. Consistently one of my top ten beers.

Notes from 2000: This lovely brew is got to be top ten material. Won't be long now for this year's supply!

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2001 09:27:55 | More by John

pbrian

Connecticut

5/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is why I drink beer. All year long is merely a warm-up for the day when SN Celebration hits the shelf. Hops, Hops, Hops, accompanied by just the right amount of malt. Onslaught of flavor. Awesome.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2001 10:46:56 | More by pbrian

mattmaples

Oregon

4.45/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a good winter / Stong ale. Real big fresh hop flavor to it. Enough malt to back it up. Nice hop/spice aroma.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2001 17:56:36 | More by mattmaples