Pale Ale
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Pale AlePale Ale
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
American Pale Ale
Ranked #204
ABV:
5.6%
Score:
90
Ranked #9,070
Avg:
4.03 | pDev: 11.66%
Reviews:
3,289
Ratings:
12,279
Status:
Active
Rated:
Wednesday at 08:36 AM
Added:
Jul 05, 2001
Wants:
  377
Gots:
  3,615
Our most popular beer, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is a delightful interpretation of a classic style. It has a deep amber color and an exceptionally full-bodied, complex character. Generous quantities of premium Cascade hops give the Pale Ale its fragrant bouquet and spicy flavor.

38 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by thehyperduck:
Photo of thehyperduck
Reviewed by thehyperduck from Canada (ON)

4.05/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
355 mL bottle from a sixer picked up at the LCBO; bottled on Mar 25 2015. This one finally became available for sale in the Ontario market sometime last week - and you can bet that I didn't waste any time in tracking it down. And now, let's see what all the fuss is about. Served slightly chilled.

Pours a foggy golden-amber hue, with visible flecks of hop particulate slowly hovering throughout the liquid. Roughly two fingers of head are produced, though it does not stick around terribly long. After a few minutes have passed, a bubbly film and foamy collar have taken its place, accompanied by some scant filaments of lace. The nose is largely dominated by the Cascade hops - plenty of pithy grapefruit, with lesser notes of lemon zest and orange. A light hint of pine resin is also noticeable, with suggestions of caramelized sugar, bready malt and toasted biscuit. Nothing too fancy, but it gets the job done.

In fact, the very same could be said of the flavour profile, too - it's well-made and tasty, but not the sort of pale ale that grabs your attention in any way whatsoever. The malt backbone is unassuming but reliably sturdy; a mild, caramelized sugar sweetness comes through, in addition to some nice toasted bread/biscuit flavours. Cascade hops take the reigns for the latter half of the sip, offering up familiar notes of grapefruit pith and orange zest. Finishes with a touch of resiny bitterness that lingers briefly into the aftertaste. Medium-bodied, with moderate carbonation levels that give this pale ale a somewhat crisp mouthfeel. It goes down smoothly and effortlessly.

Final Grade: 4.05, a solid A-. I can't help but feel that my palate has become rather spoiled, given the explosion of hop-forward pale ales that have flooded the market over the last 10 years or so. Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale hails from a simpler time - and while it may not boast a particularly exotic flavour profile, or the ability to smash your head in with a sledgehammer constructed entirely of hops - you really can't deny this one's quality. It's just supremely drinkable and refreshing - a true staple, though at $15/sixer (in this market), the local guys probably don't have much to worry about yet.
May 11, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of TooManyGlasses
Reviewed by TooManyGlasses from Canada (AB)

4.37/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Years since I had one - never rated….
Pours a clear deep copper to amber colour with three fingers of tawny off white head.
Aroma malty with caramel, a touch of bread but with distinct piney and spicy hop notes, citrus, like its cousin Celebration quite floral on the nose.
Taste follows with the caramel malt sweetness giving way to a piney and citrus hop punch - moderate bitterness with some grapefruit peel.
Smooth medium mouthfeel with moderate carbonation and a crisp slightly dry finish.
Is it Celebration? No but this is very nice.
Wednesday at 01:35 AM
Photo of ChrisMoo
Rated by ChrisMoo

4.5/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
The OG! Very impressive to the taste and smell. Please Sierra Nevada keep it going forever..
Sunday at 11:19 PM
 
Rated: 4 by shadowslink7 from Illinois

Feb 17, 2024
Photo of mooseheadchris
Rated by mooseheadchris

4.55/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Perfectly hopped, bright, and endlessly drinkable. A gold standard.
Feb 15, 2024
 
Rated: 4.13 by Aitor from Spain

Feb 11, 2024
 
Rated: 4.25 by MEnoMoney

Feb 10, 2024
 
Rated: 4.4 by waudozer from Canada (BC)

Feb 01, 2024
 
Rated: 4.15 by gongfu from Connecticut

Jan 31, 2024
 
Rated: 2.3 by notaveragejoe from Georgia

Jan 20, 2024
 
Rated: 3.5 by Dethark from England

Jan 16, 2024
 
Rated: 4.58 by SpencerCaubarreaux from Louisiana

Jan 11, 2024
 
Rated: 4.63 by SeanP99 from North Carolina

Jan 11, 2024
Photo of LanceBiggums
Reviewed by LanceBiggums from Canada (AB)

4.47/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Light amber or dark honey colour. Huge aroma, with bready and caramel malt, rather English in character, and piney, earthy, and spicy hops. The taste follows exactly, with some extra citrus elements. There is a good amount of bitterness from the American hops, but it's well balanced by a stiff-upper-lip English style malty backbone. Goes down a treat as well, perfect amount of carbonation, solidly medium mouthfeel. Overall an excellent beer, the best American ale I've ever had, and well deserving of its reputation.
Dec 21, 2023
Photo of Pomcq
Reviewed by Pomcq

4.86/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
Deserves a higher rating here—never came across a beer produced on as widely a scale, as available, as consistently delicious and as drinkable as this. It’s the go to!
Dec 03, 2023
 
Rated: 4.99 by KeithGreatNorth from Canada (BC)

Dec 03, 2023
 
Rated: 4.36 by Cole3515 from Tennessee

Nov 29, 2023
Pale Ale from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 12279 ratings