Sierra Nevada Stout - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

oberon

North Carolina

4.22/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a deep black with a slight reddish hue in the bottem of the glass with a light almond colored head that leaves some decent lacing.Aroma is very roasted and nutty with hints of grassy hop.Taste is nice and nutty with a highly roasted malt flare the hop is very noticable as it gos very nicely in the mix with the nuttiness of this beer.A really balanced stout here not a one sided beer here.A real treat to drink.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2003 00:27:24 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Soft Cascades greet the nose as soon as the bottle is opened. It pours an opaque black body topped by a foamy light tan head that holds well and leaves nice lace throughout the glass. As it warms, the nose also reveals some chocolatey and roasty malt. The medium body is enhanced by a very fine carbonation from bottle conditioning that tingles the tongue! The flavor is quite intense; loaded with such deep, sharp roasted character (low pH), citrusy hop flavor, and yeasty fruitiness that it almost seems tart at the first sip. But it's decidedly bittersweet with more dark caramel, chocolate, and bold bitterness appearing as it warms. It's surprisingly complex with the Cascades remaining in the nose and making occasional appearances in the flavor. It finishes quite dry with a lingering chocolate/roast maltiness that fades to reveal rising bitterness and an eventual residual shadow of Cascade hop flavor. Well-balanced and complex. This is clearly an overlooked gem in the Sierra Nevada crown.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2003 19:10:28 | More by NeroFiddled

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

Sometimes simplicity looks so much better on a label than some sad excuse for a pun or some ridiculously long-winded and adjective-laden description. Sometimes. This stuff pours a dark sienna-brown topped by a finger of khaki foam. The nose comprises roasted malts, baking cocoa, light coffee, and a smattering of dark greens. The taste focuses on the roast and a milder version of the greens, with a dash of coffee in there for the sheer fun of it. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a fluid feel. Overall, though a touch on the thin side, this is a pretty nice stout, one that keeps things as simple as the label presentation.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 06:14:32 | More by TMoney2591

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: dark brown, nearly black color, with a thick, full tan head that bubbles a good deal, before crumbling down, leaving a touch of lace.
Aroma: fruit, and bitterness, right off, grapes and berries, and such, with more flavors unfolding, pepper, anise, espresso, a big helping of roast and bitterness.
Also, enough carbonation to remind me of cola, but not too much.
Warm and smooth on the palate, and continuing the flood of flavors found in the nose, with an undulating ripple of bitter hops. Great, chewy mouthfeel.
Solid malt, dark, tasty body.
A delightful dance takes hold in every sip: the bitter hops do a fancy tap, until lush, dark malt sweeps in and hogs the spotlight, before long the two begin to tango! A rousing and roasty stout, all around!

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2003 19:51:54 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

4.05/5  rDev -1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a very thick black color with a very thick tan head that lasts. The aroma is good. It is full of black barley and crystal malts; a dark one for sure. The taste is good. It has much of the same. A thick dark feel with lots of dark malts. It seems to be higher in alcohol content than most beers. The mouthfeel is good. It's a full bodied ale that's well carbonated and highly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2003 23:06:05 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

3.35/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served in a Delirium tulip as for some unknown god forsaken reason I do not own a Sierra Nevada snifter. God damn.

Beer is black with a decent tan head of small and medium bubbles, lots of lacing but low to moderate carbonation.

Aroma is mild, sweet mildly roast.

Medium to full in body, the roast / bitterness in the back just isn't there, I'm worried that this isn't teh stout at all but some black pale ale. Mildly sweet up front the body carries this mild sweetness throughout and then it ends....I'm bored, moving on. Again I'd have this again if I were in a really shitty bar.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2011 01:49:19 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a dark brown color with a tan head.

The aroma is heavy on the roasted malt without too much else. There is a little chocolate in there, but it is very faint.

The flavor is more diverse. I get a lot of roasted malt along with some chocolate, but there is a nice amount of pine from the hops as well. I think the pine compliments the other flavors quite well.

Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2010 04:57:13 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

4.2/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A - Poured out a dark, cola-brown color with a tan, bubbly/foamy, two-finger head. It left sticky rings of lace.

S - It smelled of roasted malt, coffee and some caramel notes.

T - It tasted of bitter hops at first sip. Great smooth roasted malt flavor with coffee hints.

M - It was crisp and sharp. A medium-bodied beer with a smooth finish.

D - This is a really good stout. One of the best mass produced stouts around.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2008 16:00:46 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer is jet black with a thin layer of mocha-colored bubbles covering the surface.
S: There's an aroma of dark roasted malts with some chocolate- or coffee-like notes in the background.
T: Like the smell, the flavors are dominated by dark malts.
M: There doesn't seem to be that much carbonation (granted it came from a cask) and it feels a bit thin on the palate, although it is still comes across as being relatively smooth.
D: It is relatively easy to drink.

Serving type: cask

04-16-2010 17:01:30 | More by metter98

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.53/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Sampled January 2010
A decent pour into my New Belgium Globe glass produces a three-finger thick, lightly brown colored head. The beer is a rich, dark, concentrated, chocolate brown colored beer. The aroma smells quite toasted, with lots of whole grain aromatics to it; it smells like a richly toasted, whole grain bread crust. Underneath the toasted malt there is a soft, lightly sweet, rich chocolate note. As the beer warms more of the roasted notes start to come out; it is a bit like a city roast coffee. The aroma is more savory than sweet or roasted, which wasn't what I was expecting.

Lightly sweet tasting, but not rich feeling, in fact it seems like it is a bit light bodied. The beer finishes with a bit of roast acidity, bitter burnt malt, and some astringency. Some dark chocolate flavors (which comes out more as the beer warms) subtly cut the edge of the roasted malt that dominates the flavor profile. This has quite a bit of hop bitterness to it as well. Up front there is a nice, richly toasted, whole grain character, but this quickly gets drowned out by the sharp finish (that is even a bit acrid at times).

I remember this being a bit of a let down the last time I reviewed this beer, but I was hoping that was just an off night. Unfortunately, this is one offering from Sierra Nevada that I can live without. It is just a bit too acrid, bitter and sharp in the flavor.

Sampled March 2005
4.15 Total
4/4/4.5/3.5/4
This beer pours a full black color and is topped by a frothy three-finger thick, brown colored head. The aroma is dry and roasty. I gets notes of coffee and smoke, as well as a certain woodiness that I can't quite place. In fact the aroma almost has a certain saltiness to it, but the dry roasted/ burnt grain notes certainly dominate.

This beer is definitely chewy with a full bodied character that coats my tongue. It is quite dry, despite the fullness, because of the roasted character of this brew. There is a certain fresh hop character here that peeks above the roasted notes, I get hints of pine and a certain herbal character. Flavors of coffee and burnt toffee dominate the flavor throughout, and this finishes quite dry with a solid bitterness that begs you to take another sip. The salty character is in the flavor as well, it is quite intriguing and adds a certain extra fullness to this beer.

This beer is most definitely a classic, when I first had it back in the early 90s I could not believe how much flavor was packed into this beer. The only complaint may be that this beer is a little too heavy on the roast malts, or at least the American ones, as it is a bit astringent in the finish. This is a minor complaint though, and it just makes you want to take another sip of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2005 03:22:28 | More by Gueuzedude

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.85/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep dark brown color, with a short foamy off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of roasted malts, dark chocolate and coffee with a touch of hops.

T: The taste is malty with sweet flavors of dark chocolate & roasted coffee and a little fruit up front. There's a mild hops presence that provides a good balance for a stout. This one doesn't overdo the chocolate and maltiness like some other stouts do. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down easy, not too filling, decent kick, good representation of style, this is a good beer to drink if you want a regular stout that isn't going to try to knock you over.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2008 04:36:40 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This stout pours out almost solid black with just a hint of light that shines through. The head is pretty decent with a light lacing. The smell of the beer has a good roasted malt aroma going on with some light hops in the back end. The taste of the beer is pretty good also, it's well roasted and has just a touch of burnt toast flavors in it. The mouthfeel is medium and leaves a dry aftertaste in your mouth. Overall it's a good stout, not really my favorite but I'd totally drink it if it were available.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2011 19:07:42 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.38/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a thick chunky tan head. Head sticks around and throws down one of most intense lacing patterns I've ever seen. Body is Mahagony passing midnight blackness, some light does pass through.

Taste: choclate malt, slight hops bitterness on the tounge, hints of nutiness, molsses and licorice (very faint)

MF: Doesnt quite match up with the taste, close to being a little thin, but smooth and good carbonation

Time-tested, multi-dimesional stout that showcases itself well.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2005 00:58:37 | More by russpowell

Halcyondays

California

4.2/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Hollingshead's in Orange, CA,

A: Pours a dark brown, with a firm tan head, good retentin, mild lacing there as well.

S: Roasted malts, chocolate, coffee.

T: Roasted malt, toast, though not entirely burnt, there is a good balance. Nice caramel malt notes as well, with a biting hop bitterness.

M: Smooth, and crisp, full-bodied for an American stout, dry.

T: Very good, I've had this beer before out of the bottle, and it is sort of ho-hum, but on-tap it really shines, very tasty stuff, easily drinkable, I want another one, but I've got to drive home on the 22, and I haven't any money.

Serving type: on-tap

01-31-2008 03:09:27 | More by Halcyondays

Gavage

New Jersey

3.98/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The stout is deep brown, almost black in color, with a nice head that reminded me of a light colored chocolate mousse. The aroma was a decent balance of roated malt and chocolate. The flavor is big, roasted malts with a coffee and chocolate aftertaste that lingers on the tongue. Bitterness is extremely evident compared to other stouts. Very smooth and has great body. Extremely drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2003 23:45:25 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours ptich black with a very thin head that immediately becomes thin spotted patchiness. Color on target, could use better head retention.

Very nice aroma - Robust, roasted coffee, hints of dark fruits, hints of chocolate - subtle, underlying smokiness. This is one complex and inviting aroma.

The taste of roasted coffee beans gives it a mild smokiness. Sweet dark grains balanced by bitter, roasted character. Nice balance of sweet and bitter. Hints of dark fruits and a suggestion of chocolate round it out in the long finish.

The feel is smooth, full, creamy and rich (without being overly thick). Nice texture, coating.

Alcohol is well-hidden. Easy to drink with a rich, complex body. An American stout with influence from a traditional English stout. This is a wonderful brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2007 18:29:00 | More by jwc215

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4.33/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz, bottle, props to the wicked selection at Belmont Station in residential Portland, OR.

This beer pours a clear, very dark reddish brown hue, with two fingers of thin foamy tan head, which settles at an agreeable pace, leaving some limestone swaths of lace around the glass in the process. It smells of powdered chocolate, some lesser day-old coffee, the actual grainy malt barely perceptible, and some leafy, piney hops. The taste is more malty in flavour, the lightly toasted character coming through, before the undeniable chocolate essence re-asserts itself, amongst a mild lactic tanginess, and fruity, forest-like, leafy hops. The carbonation is on the down low, the body medium weight, smooth without question, and with slight creamy tendencies. It finishes still moderately sweet, the chocolate grain still quite reminiscent of childhood breakfast indulgences.

For its quality, style, and general availability, one could barely ask for more. The answer to all that ails the American, nay, global, perception of good, standard beer. One caveat though - one must like robust stouts...

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2011 01:16:34 | More by biboergosum

tempest

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a really clean stout. Sierra Nevada really let's the grains shine here and they do. If you love black barley and chocolate grains, this beer is for you. It's a bit like coffee with a little cocoa, but then there's a lot of flavors that can only be attributed to beer. Overall, I can't think of better clean American stout.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2007 04:28:34 | More by tempest

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.22/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Wow cracked open this baby and I was greeted with a barrage of cascades, gotta love the hopped up stouts. She pours almost completely opaque, but it does let some ruby amber shades in around the edges when held up to the light. A moccha colored head full and fluffy, already starting to form a collar of lace down the glass. The cascades come through in the flavor very pronounced with citrus tones, but underneath there somewhere are the cofffe roasts, and full slightly burnt roughness balances perfectly somehow. A smooth creaminess lines my tongue, then out of nowhere my palate is bumrushed with bitterness I love hops that go this well with something they aren't traditionally meant to. Some consider this off balanced, but I consider it an art form that is cutting edge. I find it a complete enjoyment, and the mouthfeel is heavy to medium in body but the creamy sensation makes each sip worthwhile. A great stout that I plan to sample on tap to compare the difference very drinkable if this is what your'e into and believe me I am.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2003 22:17:28 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours very dark brown that lets light through and it has a massive head off a firm pour. Flavor is smooth and malty with no real unusual characteristics. Just nice and consistent and fairly robust to match. Nice liquid feel and the carbonation is a bit low, but good still. Overall a good drink. Smooth and easy and nothing wild or crazy at all. Won't be the most exciting stout you have ever had.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2008 05:11:36 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.83/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours brown but appears black in the glass. Bountiful foam above the black body. Caramel and black malt aroma, providing caramel, cocoa and coffee hints, along with a huge burst of aromatic cascadeFlavor, though roasty and coffee laden, is suprisingly hop accented, with a citrusy and extremely bitter blend. I prefer decadent malt in stouts, not hop madness.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2008 21:24:12 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Great off white head that leaves ring lace after every sip. Nearly black in color.

Perhaps my only complaint would come from the surprisingly mild aroma. The classic smells are there but faint.

Lots of black patent malt flavors. Burnt coffee and bitter chocolate complete the profile. The only distraction is the body which is far thinner than most stouts.

One of the more falvorful stouts; I'd love to try this against its Irish brethren.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2008 02:48:16 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - I did an aggresive pour which resulted in a real nice white head, dark brown/black color, some carbonation, tons of lacing for awhile.

S - Scents of malts, sweet chocolate.

T - The taste was of malty sweet chocolate, with a nice bitter clean aftertaste.

M - Medium body.

D - Very drinkable.

I believe this is the first time I've had this beer since about the late 90s. Not much of a stout guy, but this is a very nice brew. I like this way better than the Guiness I had last year. Would recommend.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2006 00:17:04 | More by Wasatch

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.63/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Smooth, creamy and full-bodied - not a summer beer but good anyway. Very dark (not black) with a roasted flavor. Good head that stays and good carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2002 15:40:31 | More by jdhilt

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.43/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

(Served in an American pint glass)

A- This beer pours an opaque black with a deep tan thick creamy head.

S- This beer smells pretty clean with hints of chocolate and deep roasted malt.

T- This beer has nice roasted barley notes and a gentle bitter hop finish. The hops are a nice pine note with some earthiness perhaps from the malt and a bit of sourness in the finish.

M-medium body but a bit water. No astringency or alcohol warmth.

D-This has a nice hop flavor but doesn’t really have the stout characters under it. It is missing a good malt profile or sweetness that I would expect from a good stout.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2005 00:17:29 | More by rhoadsrage