Sierra Nevada Pale Ale - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

tobelerone

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The iconic west coast pale, still a standard bearer for the style, although not as exciting as it once was. On draft, pours coppery gold, nearly clear, with a sizeable head that has good retention and lacing. Aroma is mostly citrusy hops; mild sweet and grainy malt underneath.

Flavor follows suit; primarily features the citrus hop notes of cascade and other C hop varieties; light caramel malt backbone; feels mild and lightly bitter after all these years of escalating hop bombs. Finish is mostly dry with lightly lingering bitterness in the aftertaste. Flavorful and easy to drink.

Medium body and carbonation; good smoothness in the draft version. An excellent choice on a night trapped in a shit-kickin' BMC bar, thankful for this option. Doesn't fire up the imagination and palate the way it did 20 odd years ago but still a reliable and satisfying drinker.

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2012 13:27:10 | More by tobelerone

Spaz7

California

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-24-2013 21:05:23 | More by Spaz7

vinicole

United Kingdom (England)

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-24-2013 19:25:47 | More by vinicole

RBCIPA

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

05-24-2013 00:09:24 | More by RBCIPA

visionaries

California

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

05-23-2013 17:07:31 | More by visionaries

kvnstfrd

Missouri

1/5  rDev -75.4%

05-23-2013 13:51:23 | More by kvnstfrd

ipas-for-life

Virginia

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-23-2013 13:09:30 | More by ipas-for-life

jroberts8811

Missouri

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-23-2013 12:58:33 | More by jroberts8811

Topher78

California

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-23-2013 02:49:02 | More by Topher78

UWBadgerFan4Life

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-23-2013 01:36:52 | More by UWBadgerFan4Life

erialbill

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-22-2013 23:11:05 | More by erialbill

Kuaff

Alaska

4.21/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass slightly warmer that fridge temperature.

Upon being poured, Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale develops a wonderfully long-lasting, two-finger head of dense, white foam. The liquid is transparent gold.

The smell is pretty subdued, but I get a sweet biscuit scent and maybe a slight hint of citrus.

This beer’s taste is remarkably well-balanced and packs a lot of flavor for its style. More than anything else, I taste sweet, bready yeastiness, but it also has some pine and citrus, and a subtle, hoppy bitterness.

The mouthfeel is crisp and smooth, yet substantial.

This is what plain old beer ought to taste like. Really high-quality plain old beer, that is.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 22:08:15 | More by Kuaff

woostergooner

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-22-2013 21:31:04 | More by woostergooner

EduardoOrtega01

Panama

4.75/5  rDev +16.7%

05-22-2013 21:09:34 | More by EduardoOrtega01

Rdc67

Kentucky

3.25/5  rDev -20.1%

05-22-2013 20:36:46 | More by Rdc67

billbeers

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -26.3%

05-22-2013 17:34:43 | More by billbeers

bf7

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -26.3%

05-22-2013 17:15:59 | More by bf7

YamagamiTravis

Japan

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-22-2013 08:13:44 | More by YamagamiTravis

BillyLrsn

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

05-21-2013 23:36:30 | More by BillyLrsn

pin

Australia

3.5/5  rDev -14%

05-21-2013 22:39:16 | More by pin

verge

California

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-21-2013 18:13:15 | More by verge

cfaulman

Louisiana

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-21-2013 15:06:21 | More by cfaulman

cfitterer

Arizona

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

05-21-2013 02:49:13 | More by cfitterer

Kingcurio

Oklahoma

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-21-2013 01:53:12 | More by Kingcurio

Lucoli

New York

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-21-2013 01:21:40 | More by Lucoli