Life & Limb - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

UnderPressure

South Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This review is for the 2011 Life and Limb

Nice, fluffy two finger head poured into a goblet at the recommended 55 degrees. Very dark brown (almost black). Hints of red if you hold it up to the light.

Wine-like hot alcohol aroma. I don't really like that. I can pick up malt as the beer warms.

Really nice, bold roasted malt flavor. Not very complex, but it still tastes really good. I can't really distinguish the maple or birch syrup that the bottle describes. I don't pick up any distinct hop character, but hop bitterness is definately there. Bitterness lingers on the tongue like (in my opinion) it should. Surprisingly, no wine taste. For me, that's a good thing. Also, there's not a whole lot of alcohol in the flavor. I can detect some. But not what you'd expect from a brew that is 10%+.

Nice, smooth, thick, heavy bodied mouthfeel. Rightfully so. This is a huge beer. Not overwhelmingly dry in the finish. But, there is a little bit of bitter dry feeling after swallowing.

Apparently, this is a special beer. I'm really happy I had the opportunity to buy two bottles. One to drink now (this review). And one to age. I'm hoping the aging will pick up some complexity. As, this beer was really good. But, not as exciting as I was hoping for.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2011 21:34:31 | More by UnderPressure

Spaz7

California

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

05-24-2013 20:59:38 | More by Spaz7

beernads

Florida

3/5  rDev -25.4%

05-24-2013 07:17:49 | More by beernads

stanowsf

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

05-19-2013 20:30:25 | More by stanowsf

megamass

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -0.5%

05-18-2013 05:54:21 | More by megamass

FUwolfpacker

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

05-18-2013 03:11:03 | More by FUwolfpacker

jkane101

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -6.7%

05-18-2013 00:39:14 | More by jkane101

SmellsofMahagony

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -19.2%

05-16-2013 02:14:01 | More by SmellsofMahagony

Rob315

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -6.7%

05-15-2013 12:32:47 | More by Rob315

rderedin

Maine

3.25/5  rDev -19.2%

05-15-2013 00:55:05 | More by rderedin

vitese

California

3.75/5  rDev -6.7%

05-12-2013 18:13:00 | More by vitese

Kelp

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev -0.5%

05-12-2013 04:47:41 | More by Kelp

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -6.7%

05-10-2013 17:37:02 | More by twenty5

paulromeroii

California

3.5/5  rDev -12.9%

05-10-2013 06:34:48 | More by paulromeroii

caslansis

Colorado

4.75/5  rDev +18.2%

05-10-2013 02:45:52 | More by caslansis

tommyguz

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -6.7%

05-09-2013 23:52:33 | More by tommyguz

cadaugherty

Illinois

4/5  rDev -0.5%

05-09-2013 00:07:09 | More by cadaugherty

HopAttack3

Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +18.2%

05-08-2013 10:35:47 | More by HopAttack3

Prost76

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev -0.5%

05-05-2013 11:09:50 | More by Prost76

strongaf

Washington

4/5  rDev -0.5%

04-25-2013 06:18:10 | More by strongaf

superspak

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, bottled 6/29/2011. Pours fairly clear extremely dark reddish brown color with a 1-2 finger dense khaki head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice soapy lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of raisin, toffee, molasses, toast, biscuit, wood, chocolate, maple, clove, light vanilla, and roasted earthiness. Very nice aromas with great balance and complexity of malt notes with well balanced wood notes. Taste of raisin, toast, toffee, chocolate, dark bread, wood, maple, molasses, light clove, roasted malt, slight char, and roasted earthiness. Slight earthy bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of toffee, toast, raisin, chocolate, maple, molasses, dark bread, roasted malt, light clove, slight char, and earthiness on the finish for a while. Damn nice complexity and balance of malt flavors with wood notes; with light hop balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a creamy and fairly slick mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is an excellent strong ale! Great balance and complexity of malt flavor and wood aging; and very smooth to sip on. Really enjoyed this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 03:55:48 | More by superspak

drgonzo2k2

California

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

04-21-2013 18:05:37 | More by drgonzo2k2

Chisfinest84

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +11.9%

04-20-2013 22:42:34 | More by Chisfinest84

tvv375ia

Iowa

4/5  rDev -0.5%

04-19-2013 01:54:14 | More by tvv375ia

facundoCNB

New Jersey

4.06/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a beautiful dark brown pour with 3 fingers of beige head, excellent lacing, great head retention. smells of licorice, caramel, maple, honey, vanilla, slight hint of bourbon, chocolate. an earthy bitterness up front followed by a sweet brown sugar/bourbon flavor.. notes of vanilla, chocolate, very sugary sweet.

medium body, a bit thin for the abv.. low carbonation.. a nice burn on the gums, warmth in the chest.

overall, a really nice offering. way different than the ipa they came out with this year. but still really nice.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 00:51:38 | More by facundoCNB