Sierra Nevada Vienna Style Lager - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

SurlyDuff

Oregon

4.03/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this on-tap in Chico at the brewery. Just did a halfpint. Pours a clear golden color, with lots of carbonation but a weak head.

Aroma is sweet grainy cereal, wheat and powerdy yeast. Some light noble hop twang in here.

It's a light spicy taste with a some grainy barley and wheat. Hops are slightly metallic, but otherwise add a nice crispness. Sweet and grassy. This brew was true to style, and on the scorchingly hot day, when there was a wait for table yet the entire patio was empty, this brew really hit the spot as my favorite of the sampler and I ended up with a half pint of it. Very good lager!

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2009 22:20:30 | More by SurlyDuff

michaeljasinski

California

1.5/5  rDev -56.4%

01-16-2013 03:22:07 | More by michaeljasinski

tbone1384

Wyoming

3.5/5  rDev +1.7%

11-03-2012 03:04:55 | More by tbone1384

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.4/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the source in beautiful Chico, CA, circa summer 2011. Crystal clarity, nice mild orange sunset like appearance, perfect 1" of head on it, above standard retention and lacing. Mild fall like aroma of toffee and miniscule grassy hop aroma.

Mild heft and sweetness to the malt, it does taste like the empending doom of fall. Lots of carbonation, gives the hops and citrus a little more gusto, but doesn't take the beer too far astray from style guidelines. Everything is "light" but far from flavorless with the beer. A nice twinge of caramel, toffee, noble hops, and the smell of leaves falling.

In terms of the malt forward Octoberfest styles, this one is better than average. Right amount of sweetness and smoothness, but far from being insubstantial in any regard.

Serving type: on-tap

10-08-2012 17:28:09 | More by Beerandraiderfan

TrickkyGangsta

Florida

4/5  rDev +16.3%

12-05-2011 21:41:08 | More by TrickkyGangsta

charlzm

California

3.55/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Consumed on September 9th, 2011 at The Four Points Sheraton Sierra Nevada event.

The beer presents as a clear, light copper hue with minimal head.

The aroma is sweet caramel malt.

Flavor is more of the same; somewhat sweet caramel malts with a satisfying bitterness on the finish to wrap things up. I didn't pick up any other flavor accents.

Mouthfeel is smooth and a little thick.

I would pass by a Sam Adams Boston Lager to drink this example of a Vienna Lager in a heartbeat.

Serving type: on-tap

09-21-2011 15:49:07 | More by charlzm

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

First had: on tap at Blind Tiger, NYC, NY

Not bad. Poured a clear golden yellow with a finger of foamy white head that receded to a thin layer of bubbles. Grainy aroma with notes of caramel malts. Same with the taste: grainy, lightly toasted caramel malts, grassy, but a little bit of a stale aftertaste. Light-medium body and pretty non-threatening and drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

06-18-2011 01:39:29 | More by Rifugium

plaid75

New York

4.22/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On draft at the Blind Tiger, NYC.

Poured a medium copper hue with a one finger frothy white head. There was good retention and lacing.

The smell featured a light caramel with a wave of grainy malts.

The taste was well balanced with a pleasant herbal hop. Good round malts.

The mouthfeel was typical of the style.

Overall a tasty lager. Clean and nicely hopped.

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2010 17:53:04 | More by plaid75

ThreeWiseMen

California

3.43/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Ordered this one at the SN Brewery tonight.

Served in a 20oz. Guinness-style pint glass (still don't know the real name for it - BM me if you do).

Appearance: The body of this beer is clear and pale orange in color. The head is white, sticky, fizzy, and initially about a half inch in height. There's a lot of turbulence within the body, and the head sparkles with activity. While the head quickly recedes to roughly 1/4 inch, it maintains that height for the rest of the session thanks to the high carbonation. Lots of sticky, web-like lacing with this one. While the body color is a bit dull, everything else about this beer's appearance is pretty nice.

Smell: Lager malt, spices, and grassy hops. Not much to this one in the nose, though it does smell pleasant.

Taste: Following the smell, I get lager malt, mixed spices, and grassy hops. Orange zest and earthy flavors also show up. Again pleasant, but nothing too special.

Mouthfeel: Spicy and highly carbonated; crisp. Malt proportion is pretty high, and produces some creaminess. Medium-bodied.

Drinkability: I'm not a big fan of this style, and this one wasn't anything special. For me, the high carbonation causes to much mouth-numbing and bloating (is that a word?). On top of that, the flavor is light and kinda boring. A decent beer for the style, but I'd rather go for something else (especially at the brewery).

Serving type: on-tap

07-02-2009 22:43:37 | More by ThreeWiseMen