Sierra Nevada Pale Ale - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Aaron_Ramson

California

4.11/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Surpassed only by Deschutes Mirror Pond pale ale, Sierra Nevada's offering is still the benchmark of what a great pale ale is. The epitome of balance and nuance, drastically simple and overwhelmingly pure, Sierra Nevada's use of whole hop leaf allows all of the flavors and aroma to shine through, highlighting the best part of a good beer: the sublime hop flavor, which this beer has plenty of! Delicious, and a great "anytime" beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 04:30:03 | More by Aaron_Ramson

Nixonbrew

California

4.59/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

As a chico state grad this was a staple of my education.

A - always a golden color with medium carbonation (amount depending on how rough it was tubing down the sac that day)

S - cascade hops, fresh malt, chico strain yeast, clean

T - cold, refreshing, a whiff of hops, light crystal malt flavor, with a slight bitter finish

MF - cold, clean, nothing better

O - excellent while tubing down the sac, at a party on 5th and ivy, or with the friends while fishing in deer creek off hwy 32

My favorite pale ale hands down. No other like it.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 05:49:53 | More by Nixonbrew

paymerick

Texas

3.91/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

first review ever.. take it for what i...you get it...

12oz bottle, poured into pint glass

A: Half to 3/4 finger of head. Doesn't hang around too long. Darkish orangish color. Lacing is minimal.

S: Citrusy, piney. A little bit of grain and malt back there, but mostly citrus and pine

T: Again, citrusy and piney. There is a sweetness back there that i enjoy, kind of peaks out during the citrus and pine just long enough before the bitterness takes hold. Enjoy the bitterness. Not too harsh, but for sure not shy.

M: mouthfeel is what I'd call medium *leaning light, but medium. Tingly carb.

Overall: It's solid. Maybe not the best, but solid.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 03:04:09 | More by paymerick

UncleBart91

Indiana

2.9/5  rDev -28.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Golden blonde, like a Swedish goddess. Rich foam. Thick fermentation

Aroma: Crisp Cascade hops, definite pale blend of pine and spice

Taste: Light, yet hoppy with a very crisp aftertaste. Almost on the lighter side of pale ales

Overall: Not my favorite pale ale, but a decent beer. Too crisp for my taste. Very defined aftertaste leaves a very pale aroma. Not bad for a craft brew.

Serving type: Bottle/Pint Glass

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 04:04:21 | More by UncleBart91

Huffs

New York

3.86/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured into a Sam Adams glass, developed a nice off white head which dissipated surprisingly quickly and had only some lacing. Appearance was a light amber with a slight haze. Aroma was light and of malt and grain. Taste had hints of caramel, grain and a sweetness on the finish. Mouthfeel was very full and nice with a clean, slightly sweet aftertaste.

Serving type: can

02-17-2013 22:38:27 | More by Huffs

Bernardkowalski

5/5  rDev +22.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Absolutely one of my favorite beers!! honestly can go good with anything, but you are better off enjoying this beer by itself. it has so much too offer, such great combination between the yeast and malt's making this an outstanding brew. you can put this on my list of top beers.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 21:14:18 | More by Bernardkowalski

screamking

Ohio

3.99/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

12 oz can poured into snifter.

Appearance-pours a nice apricot color, white foam head that doesn't linger long. 3.75

Aroma-grapefruit right up front, orange, lemon zest, some lite floral notes. 4

Taste-bitter citrus mostly grapefruit, apricot, hint of pine, honey. 4

Feel-leaves mouth feeling bitter, light bodied easy to drink, but overly bitter and dry in my mind. 3.5

Overall-for a beer that everyone can get just about anywhere this is a no brainer. One of the first craft beers I ever had still lives up to what it was 10 years ago. Price is among the cheapest for any craft offering. If you have few options in beer this is the one to get. 4.25

Serving type: can

02-17-2013 20:43:39 | More by screamking

ElSid

California

3.91/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

The Beers of California

#66

Bottled Date: None

A: Golden and copper with a finger of white foam. The foam leaves some lace on the glass ultimately dissipating to faint residual layer.

S: Caramel and bread with fresh pine and citrus. Ample bitterness is also detected; overall a classic pale ale nose.

T: Equal portions caramel and buttery bread maltiness and pine and citrus hop freshness. The finish is clean with a herbal bitterness and a dash of aromatic spicyness.

M: Feel is medium with a hop oily linger and moderate carbonation. Smooth and well balanced making for a highly sessionable brew.

O: The touchtstone of the APA style and an ideal gateway beer into the craft brew world.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 04:45:55 | More by ElSid

weonfire

Kentucky

4.35/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A - light golden hue. see thru. 1.5 inches of white head. slowly dissipates. great carbonation continuously rising. I may call this the standard of what an excellent APA should look like.

S - Musty, slight citrus and bitters. lemon, orange.

T - crisp. clean. citrus isn't overpowering. not real bitter. very flavorful. little bit of lemon and grapefruit.

M - Just right. Light & crisp but full. alcohol gives tongue a slight zap on entrance- rest is flavor.

O - Very very good. Sierra Nevada is a staple in the beer world. I believe this was the first APA i ever had. It maintains high status. Whenever unsure - a Sierra Nevada brew will not steer you wrong.

Serving type: can

02-15-2013 02:54:08 | More by weonfire

bottle

4.16/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

This beer has a clean and well defined taste. Fresh and very well balanced beer with a unique characteristic. Good citrus flavours, medium hopy, light sweetness.

One of my favorite PAs... something i always keep on stock and this is enjoyed by everybody.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 00:36:02 | More by bottle

mattknueven

Indiana

4.41/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I've had Sierra Nevada Pale out of the bottle and on draft plenty but from a can and poured into a glass is phenomenal. Even straight from the can is great! Everything about this experience is fantastic, from the lacing on the glass, to the creamier fuller bodied mouthful. This summer I will be drinking plenty of this!

Serving type: can

02-09-2013 06:39:39 | More by mattknueven

Kromes

Georgia

4.1/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass. An orange color with sediment floating in the beer. A thin soapy head on top.

A clean, fruity aroma with some citrus hop in the background.

The taste is way better than the aroma lets on. The taste immediately shows the sweet and fruity esters and complimentary hop. A sweet malt sets the tone and the hop finishes it out. Finishes sweet with a mix of peach and citrus hop that lingers for a few seconds and then fades.

Medium body with light carbonation. Very drinkable.

This beer is what I compare all other pale ales by. A great blend of flavors and qualities makes it one of the best.

Serving type: can

02-08-2013 23:37:48 | More by Kromes

baddogrudy

Indiana

1.6/5  rDev -60.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

An extremely obnoxious brew. way overpowered on flavor and alcohol content. The alcohol content alone will give this brew many tall reviews, but if your looking for drinkability this is not your beer. This is definitely an aquired taste. Hair on the chest types? haha

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 00:51:25 | More by baddogrudy

SportsandJorts

Michigan

2.86/5  rDev -29.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Type: on-tap
Glass: pint
From: Casey's Tavern in Ann Arbor
Price: $4.50

Appearance: a slightly dark orangish-red. clear with a small foamy head the faded slowly and left a lacing on the sides

Smell: Spicy hops, florals maybe a touch of citrus.

Taste: a mixture of spicy hops with some floral and citrus undertones. but i definitely get the ever so slight taste of dirty socks

Mouthfeel: pretty light and overly bitter to me

Overall: i am not a huge pale ale guy but i do enjoy them from time to time. this one was just not doing it for me when i wanted a nice refreshing beer. i will most likely revisit this one as it is not hard to come by but until then these are my thoughts on it

Serving type: on-tap

02-03-2013 16:32:17 | More by SportsandJorts

Greywulfken

New York

4/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: poured from the bottle into a pint glass at the Cheesecake Factory - medium amber beer with a finger+ of tan head

S: herbal and earthy hop and malt aromas

T: fresh chewy malts, hints of caramel and butterscotch sweetness deep beneath the bitter hops - some pine and resin, perhaps a suggestion of citrus

M medium to light body, crisp carbonation, slightly tingly

O: a really good beer, right on par with most of SN's offerings

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 21:36:34 | More by Greywulfken

PaleZombie

Arizona

4.03/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass.

A- Amber like appearance with a mild amount of cloudiness to the look, lots of carbonation bubbles. Farly aggressive pour resulting in between 2-3 finger head which was fairly long lasting.

S- Hops, floral, grass, with a mild citrus cent. Good amount of aroma. Love the smells going on in here.

T- Citrus, grass, undertone of hops followed by a fairly bitter aftertaste.

M- Medium body with a decent amount of carbonation.

O- This was a pretty good beer. For me the bitterness in the aftertaste was a little strong but it was not overpowering. I would recommend this, its fairly drinkable and would be a good every day beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 06:57:45 | More by PaleZombie

Jacurdy60

Alabama

4.04/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I'm not usually a pale ale fan, but this was sone of the better pale ales I've ever had. Very floral aroma and light, citrusy appearance. The smell was floral and citrusy. There was a strong lemon flavor at first, but the finish is earthy and reminiscent of a freshly laid bed of pine straw. It has a very crisp mouthfeel and goes down smooth. I'd like to try it again sometime with some spicy Indian food.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 04:19:14 | More by Jacurdy60

Jetulio

Spain

4.16/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

350 ml bottle poured into a Pint glass
Appearance... amber/yellow beer with head colour white of almost 2 fingers
Aroma... grass, floral, hops. Fresh and not too strong smell with a little touch of malty aroma
Taste... citrus and herbal, bitterness appears soon lasting all the time,
Mouthfeel... medium body and medium/soft carbonation
Overall... a very nice ale, bitterness is present in a light style, refreshing beer too.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 21:14:50 | More by Jetulio

mmva321

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

A: A pale amber body is clear and very carbonated. There some foamy but quickly dissipating head that leaves little lacing. A clean and active look.

S: Quite a crisp aroma. The overall effect is very floral. Hops, yeast and citrus notes all pop with great clarity. Well balanced but bold.

T: While many of the characteristics are carried over from the smell, the taste doesn't achieve the same balance. The hops and more grassy notes dominate, but it comes across as a bit dull. Bold but flat. Some citrus finds its way through.

M: The beer has a dryer feel thanks to the grassiness of the taste. While it does have enough carbonation and doesn't feel too heavy, the feel is flat.

O: This is a very worthwhile beer. An everyday kind of brew that isn't that way because it's easy to drink. Some big and bold flavors are here, it just doesn't have the best balance.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 00:59:39 | More by mmva321

dcall384

Indiana

5/5  rDev +22.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is my go to beer. One of my favorite pale ales. Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Had about two fingers worth on head on it. Has a great hop and floral smell to it. Pours a nice amber color with nice lacing. Taste of hops, citrus, and floral notes. Has a nice dry finish to it. All in all just a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 19:16:20 | More by dcall384

elNopalero

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Ah, this is the classic pale ale. What can I add to what’s already been written?

This pours a tan golden color with light foam. Aroma has orange and orange zest in waves atop of it. The flavor is lightly piney and citrusy, and finishes dry. An easy drinker and a delicious one at that.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 07:34:47 | More by elNopalero

denver10

Colorado

3.36/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Pours a golden honey with a white head. Aroma is nice and bready paired with some nice citric and just a touch of some floral. Flavor followed suit, with a moderate bitterness in the finish. A medium body, active. Overall, a solid brew. Not ever a beer I seek, but a beer that is perfectly enjoyable when I do drink.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 16:54:26 | More by denver10

Zach136

Georgia

4.03/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4

12 oz can poured into New Belgium globe

A - Light straw body, pale white one finger head that leaves little lacing, moderate carbonation. Some can conditioning remnants at the bottom

S - Mostly floral hops with some orange zest. Not particularly strong.

T - Citrus fruit hop bite, light pine and barley aftertaste.

M - Dry and crisp. Great compliment to most meals.

O - A classic example of an American Pale Ale and my go to "every day drinker" when a 12 pack cost $13. Nothing over the top, but a great beer non the less.

Serving type: can

01-14-2013 01:14:58 | More by Zach136

zachloveshisbeer

4.56/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Hot damn, now that's an American pale ale! Thanks to my buddy Colin for presenting this awesome beer on a craft beer tasting night at his house. Normally, we cannot get this beer in Alberta, but due to the fact that Vancouver hosted the Olympics in 2010 and Sierra Nevada was a sponsor of their alpine ski team, he was able to pick up a bottle from a liquor store in BC. It poured a nice ruby with immediate hop aroma, but underlying and very pleasant caramel malt. The lacing could not have been better and it just tasted awesome! I immediately understood why Sierra Nevada is considered one of the world's best beer producers and at the forefront of the craft beer movement. If beers like this could catch on to the mainstream, we would never see Budweiser in another bar, unless it was the original Czech pilsner!

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 16:13:32 | More by zachloveshisbeer

spoony

Colorado

4.05/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From a 12 oz bottle into a globe.

A-A mildly aggressive pour produced a healthy, two-finger tall head. The foam was slightly yellow-hued, off-white. Funky colored foam...Anyway, the brew was clear and light copper in color.

S-The smell is floral hops up front with a backing of grass, pepper, and hay. I get a little bit more citrus as the brew gets near room temperature.

T-Taste tracks the smell pretty closely with slightly bitter hop flavors (grass, pepper, orange citrus) balancing nicely off a light, bready, malty note. The hops are just pungent enough to keep your palate interested. The hops linger a bit on the finish.

M-Feel is lightly creamy to start out and a touch oily on the back end. I could have used a touch more bight from the carbonation.

O-This is a good bear no matter how many times I try it. The hops are aggressive, but balanced enough to keep this from becoming one-dimensional. In terms of taste per availability unit (if there is such a thing) or taste per dollar, there are not many beers out there that top this one. Faults are minor and include a slightly off appearance and underwhelming mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 04:54:11 | More by spoony