Sierra Nevada Pale Ale - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

aracauna

Georgia

3.38/5  rDev -17%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

It's a beer. Typical smell, bitter hop flavor. Not bad for the style. Unfortunately, I'm just not a big fan of the style.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2002 11:55:42 | More by aracauna

mmthompson33

Kansas

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

This beer has established itself as a 'staple beer' of those in America who take their beers at least a little bit seriously. It's right up there with Anchor Steam, although they taste quite different. Definitely a bitter hoppy beer. When I started moving past Bud Light, this was the beer that tempted me away.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2002 21:43:18 | More by mmthompson33

budgood1

Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

cloudy orange/golden color with little yeasties floating around. pours a thin head which sticks to the glass the whole way down. smells of those cascade hops....citrusy and moderately pungent. mouthfeel is fuller than expected and tastes wonderful. bitter hops and slightly bready with a bitter aftertaste. more depth than i was expecting too. very tasty!

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2002 20:48:36 | More by budgood1

bmills1608

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Very light copper with hints of gold.

Hop citrus nose up front. Taste is lemon/grapefruit; slight floral spice. Malt dryness kicks in at the finish.

This is a super-solid beer, plenty of complexity, easy to drink. Doesn't make the mistake that too many American Pales do by relying way too much on hops and hops only.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2002 10:38:00 | More by bmills1608

WilliamPhilaPa

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The color is a pale gold with a frothy white head that diminishes rather quickly. Very hoppy ( not as much as Hopdevil which I also had ) , citrus, light sweetness, yeasty aroma. Flavor is citrus up front as well as bitterness, very hoppy, and moderately acidic.Finishes dry and bitter. Not as smooth as I would have liked but still a great brew!

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2002 19:48:04 | More by WilliamPhilaPa

pbrian

Connecticut

4.43/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Revolutionary. Second to Sam Adams in availablity, second to none in quality. The definition of fall-back beer. Went perfectly with the slice of pizza I just had for lunch.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2002 13:35:40 | More by pbrian

ThreePistols

Florida

3.13/5  rDev -23.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pale golden color, frothy white head that diminishes fairly quick. Hoppy, citrus, slightly sweet, some floral tones, yeasty, aroma. Flavor is citrus, bitter, hoppy, slightly yeasty and moderately acidic. Finish is bitter and slightly dry. Could have been balanced better. I would have like to have experienced more malt. Overall this is a good beer however it is not my style of beer. Too hoppy for my taste but I enjoyed it all the same.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2002 13:25:14 | More by ThreePistols

hooligan

Florida

3.63/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

golden beer that foams to a thin lacy white head, no chill haze. Smells like citrus with a leaning towards grapefruit and faint elements of yeast. Clean crisp malt character and an aggressive floral hop taste upfront, with the malt dying down and the hops prevailing on the palate afterward. Slightly lacking in malt character in my opinion, which makes this beer slightly unbalanced with the hop bitterness and strong hop aroma.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2002 23:59:12 | More by hooligan

ADR

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

To my tastes, over rated...amber color, nice floral scent and a floral hop finish...an expiration date would be nice, since I'm never sure how much yeast I should expect in the bottle and unless you really know the demographics of your liquor store, you don't know how fast it sells...OK, Sierra Nevada Pale is good and complete (doesn't lack in taste or complex mouthfeel) and many people's idea of a Pale, I just like ones that ends on a chewy, fruity note...

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2002 12:01:30 | More by ADR

Bierman9

New Hampshire

3.53/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Considering what I had heard/read about SNPA, I was a bit dissapointed by my glass of SNPA (on tap). Clear, medium copper color, with a small fine head. Bitter hoppy nose. Medium-rough on the tongue, with medium body, at best. I tasted lotsa hops, but more on the bitter side....not smooth enough for me. Was it even a bit citrusy, or sour? I could drink a few, but not as good as expected.... may have to try the bottle-version of this and re-review....we'll see...

overall: 3.6
appearance: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | mouthfeel: 3.5 | drinkability: 3.5

42

Serving type: on-tap

02-09-2002 19:38:18 | More by Bierman9

mophie

Delaware

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

Like many others, I'm sure, this was the first Sierra Nevada I ever had, so there will always be a special place in my heart (and my fridge) for this fine brew. A great intro for those who are just getting into micros.

And by the way, this is one beer I recommend in a bottle rather than on tap.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2002 22:35:54 | More by mophie

jermar

Massachusetts

4.83/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

My steady bitter companion. Very consistent and reasonably priced for such a classic. I love the yeast sediment and floral hoppiness!

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2002 20:33:09 | More by jermar

proc

Michigan

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

The gold standard for widely available American brews. This is the beer, after Sam Adams, that get many people to explore "better beers" and to educate the beer drinker as to what a hop is acutally supposed to be used for. Pours out to a nice, amber color in the glass with a decent head. Aroma is that of slight spice, malt and light hops. The malt to hop balance is incredible for a beer of this style and makes for a very tasty beer that isn't overhopped as many of the style are. Starts somewhat malty and finishes with a wondeful taste of hops. Sierra Nevada is an excellent brewer. The Pale Ale is a champ and a staple of my 'fridge.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2001 15:02:24 | More by proc

geckointhebox

United States

4.8/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

What is to say?!? The more I write the more I want to run to fridge to get another (just to make sure I am reviewing it properly). If you like ales, this is a fine one.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2001 17:34:45 | More by geckointhebox

Jordan

California

4.7/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Mildly sweet at start strong hops bitterness finish, enough malt keeps it creamy. Grapefruit-like aftertaste lingers, does not turn me off. Smells like the outdoors. I love seeing the sediment floating around in my glass.
Excellent brew.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2001 19:23:44 | More by Jordan

AaronRed

New York

4.8/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

One of my favorite beers. I don't think it has lost anything years ago.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2001 21:09:14 | More by AaronRed

BKotch

Texas

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

This is the beer that I keep on hand for those who aren't in to the more exotic. Clean, consistent and flavorful, with a significant hop bite to boot. And $12 per 12-pack won't break the bank.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2001 18:43:09 | More by BKotch

John

New York

3.9/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

An American classic. Good fall back beer, or one to enjoy when a less complex brew is desired.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2001 13:12:32 | More by John

Brent

Kentucky

4.45/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Great hops in the "API" style.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2001 18:13:34 | More by Brent

bk3nj

New Jersey

4.35/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Maybe the best beer I've ever had out of a keg. no slouch from a bottle either, though. very nice.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2001 19:59:43 | More by bk3nj