Sierra Nevada Glissade Golden Bock - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed on tap at the Tops Tasting Room. A full mouthfeel bock. Golden yellow with some lace. I can see carbonation bases. They said it had only been tapped recently, but it was not all that flavorful, though quenching.Very little hop apparent, rather disapointing for this brewery.

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2010 03:22:11 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Honey gold with light showers of swirling yeast and slowsteady carbonation. Almost half the glass is filled with high quality foam of a bleached bone hue. The suds melt in fine fashion and stick to the glass in respectable fashion.

This helles bock smells like helles bocks smell. In other words, it's golden malty with a solid smack of herbal-grassy Euro hoppiness. German (Magnum, Perle, Spalter) and Slovenian (Aurora, Styrian) varieties were used exclusively.

Glissade Golden Bock is a fine example of the style... if you like this sort of thing. Even two seasons past the release date, it's still pretty hoppy-bitter (but balanced). 42 IBUs when fresh is pretty impressive for a maibock.

The malts are mostly pale, with a background earthy nuttiness courtesy of Munich. That particular malt, which is probably my least favorite, is the biggest reason why I can take or leave bocks of all stripes. The hops provide the same flavors as aromas. Again, this is a solid seasonal.

The body/mouthfeel is typical for this brewery. It's easily big enough for the ABV and is properly bubbled to boot. The beer doesn't quite glide across the tongue, as the name suggests, but it isn't far off.

Sierra Nevada has an outstanding lineup that has something for everyone. Even though Glissade Golden Bock is well-brewed beer that does the style proud, I'll stick with Stout, Porter, Torpedo IPA, Celebration Ale, Bigfoot... and all the rest.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2010 11:25:41 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Wow another great beer from Sierra Nevada, go figure. I grabbed this one out of the fridge last night, served cold and poured into a pint glass, this one was consumed on 01/31/2010.

The pour was spendid. Rich golden in color with amazing clarity. Nice fine carbonation seemed to be leaking toward the surface throughout the session and really get a nice high head of white going from the very start. Aroma is full of bready grains, popcorn like aromas with hints of grasses and herbal hops. Well rounded, clean, concise. Just what you would expect from SN. As I take the first sip, clean, crisp flavor washes over the tongue. Rich notes of caramel, almost clove like spice and loads of grainy grasses wash over the tongue. Quick hitting as the flavor rolls on by a nice long, buttery like finish dries the palate and leaves you looking for another sip almost immediatly.

Overall this was as solid as it gets for a nice sessionable beer to enjoy with dinner, very well done.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2010 14:55:40 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

3.88/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The pour is a clear light golden color with plenty of small CO2 bubbles and a small white head.

S: The nose is somewhat bland with a touch of toasted malt and some grassy hops.

T: I was glad that the flavor offered a bit of improvement. The sweet and bready malts are the backbone of this beer with some earthy hops and a mild bitterness.

M: The body is on the light end of medium with a tingly carbonation and a crispness and refreshing quality.

D: Not my favorite offering from Sierra Nevada, but another easy going session beer from the kings of that category (in the US, anyway).

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2010 19:07:47 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.65/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes.

Pours a slightly-clouded grain color with a white head. The nose is fairly light both in oomph and complexity. There are some slight grain and bread notes along with faint fruits and hops. The taste adds in characteristic nutty characteristic with very light amounts of sugar. Nice body. An easy quaffer.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2010 22:23:48 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.73/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Served up a rather clear, golden-orange body with a thin layering of wispy white froth on top.

Smell: Spicy, peppery hop tones with some slight notes honey-coated, toasted grains and, upon warming, dried apple peelings.

Taste: Sweetish, lightly honeyed maltiness with a zip of delicately toasted grains and then a quick progression of zesty, spicy European hop flavor and attending light bitterness. Developing a hint of apple fruitiness as it warms. Finishes dry with a bright, lingering zestiness.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Medium-plus carbonation.

Drinkability: Not a bad little beer, Sierra Nevada. It's decently balanced, amply carbonated, and goes down easy.

Serving type: on-tap

01-17-2010 01:53:54 | More by ChainGangGuy

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle: Poured a light golden color ale with a medium foamy head with OK retention. Aroma consists of semi-sweet malt base with not much else. Taste is nice enough malt centric ale with nice semi-sweet malt notes with limited complexity. Body is about average with good carbonation. A bit disappointing with limited complexity but good drinkability factor

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2011 02:25:13 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.63/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A beautiful little beer that probably won't get the credit that it deserves.

Glissade begins with a glowing light gold color, brilliant clarity and a study but short statured head. Lots of lacing all around the glass. An elegant looking beer.

Floral aromas leap out of the glass just a hair before the bready malts. A boquet of aromas give a honey-like aroma with perfumes and roses.

Clean malts lead the way in flavor. Sweet breads and honey taste set the base for the beer while the floral, herbal hops give a honey-suckle flavor. Hop bitterness increases as the subtle malt and hop flavors fall. The bitterness may hang up in the throat for a bit too long; keeping the beer frome becomming as clean as I like.

Very pilsner-like in the body but with the emphasis on malt roundness. Creamy and rich up front but the part-malt, part-grain balance is aided by the hop dryness in the end.

A nice little beer that belongs in the mix with Spaten Maibock.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2010 03:22:50 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

3.68/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I always like to see more pale bocks out there,its great to see Sierra Nevada widely distribute one.Poured a clear lighter to medium golden with a nice one finger white head atop,shotty broken lace was left as it settled pretty quickly.Aromas are toasty with big German malt notes,iron,and bread mainly,a passing herbal hop passes by.Toasty and grainy on the palate,subtle caramel sweetness with that passing herbal hop in the finish.Its not bad but misses some of the traits I like in a fuller pale bock,still not to bad.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2010 22:00:25 | More by oberon

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.3/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in an Ayinger Celebrator doppelbock glass.

Is it "gliss-aid" or "gliss-odd"? How fancy d'ya wanna be? Regardless, it pours a clear golden straw topped by over a finger of white foam. The nose comprises wheat, sweet rice cakes, caramel, a touch of that really light maple syrup you always kinda make fun of when you see it at the store, and a kiss of lemon zest. The taste has all of these elements, but they're all toned down in the mixture. In addition, a strong, blunt hoppy bitterness pervades, taking away from the once-sweeter notes, which find themselves in absolute obscurity now. Like the Titans in Tartaros. The body is a light medium, with a light carbonation and very lightl sticky feel. Overall, not a bad offering, but not one I'm gonna revisit any time soon.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2010 16:53:32 | More by TMoney2591

metter98

New York

3.65/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is clear golden yellow in color and has a moderate amount of carbonation. It poured with a finger high white head that settled down but consistently left a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface.
S: The nose has light aromas of spicy hops.
T: The overall taste is quite malty and has a slight amount of bitterness. There are notes of biscuity and grainy malts as well as spices in the flavors.
M: It feels medium-bodied and crisp on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. There are some hints of alcohol warming in the finish.
D: The alcohol content and large amount of maltiness makes this a beer that can't be downed quickly but it's perfectly suited for drinking outside on a mild spring day.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2011 01:29:52 | More by metter98

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.45/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Sierra Nevada Glissade

Clear and golden hued, nice white head crumbles quickly.

Clean, even-handed aroma, lightly malty sweet, nothing outstanding.

Taste: a bit grainy, good balance, light hops, subtle flavors...actually, quite tasty. Hey, it says, I'm a beer and you can drink me.
It's no criticism to state this, and it increasingly becomes the most cogent commentary.
Yep, 'tis a good beer, and one you can drink.
Doesn't trip my particular trigger, but might trip yours, your neighbor's, or your Aunt Frieda's.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2010 02:37:14 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

3.63/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The beer pours a beautiful gold color with a thick frothy white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It has a dry pilsner malt scent with a bitter European hop aroma. It's lighter that most Maibocks I've had. Apparently, there isn't any Munich malt used in this one. The taste is decent as well. It has a light, bitter flavor that boasts primarily of pilsner malts and Saaz hops. The hop character is outstanding. However, the malt bill is lacking. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a low bodied beer with adequate/good carbonation. This is a good drinking beer, but it's more of a pilsner than a Maibock. I'd love to see more malt complexity and body.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2010 19:34:03 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

3.3/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Beer is yellow and clear. Forms a big head that falls away quickly leaving a lot of lacing on the glass. Carbonation overall is moderate.

The aroma is a little sulfury, that doesn't excite me, and slightly grainy.

Beer is forwardly sweet with a pilsner malt tint followed by a big grain aftertaste. That's unfortunate. The carbonation is there in the mouth but there isn't anything going on in the midpalate of this beer. It seems too forward and the aftertaste is too distracting. I love you Sierra Nevada but this maibock is a definite miss.

Serving type: on-tap

04-08-2010 19:19:22 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a very clear medium yellow color with a large white head. The aroma is bready malt with something almost corn-like. The flavor is sweet bready malt, but not much else. No real hop character. Medium mouthfeel and low carbonation. Nice, very clean, crisp beer. Very drinkable, just not too interesting.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2010 02:26:44 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

3.9/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out a very clear, very bubbly, golden-yellow color with a two-finger, cream colored head of bubbly foam. It left minimal lacing.

S - It smelled of grains, caramel and subtle floral notes.

T - It tasted of toasty malts, sweet caramel and toffee. There were mild bittering hops present. Nice overall character.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A light bodied bock that is easy drinking.

D - This is a pretty good maibock. Worth trying and nice on a warm spring day.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2010 22:28:58 | More by zeff80

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.7/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2011 release poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a light gold color, with a thin white head that fades slowly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains lager yeast, light caramelized malts, honey, some fruit and some hops.

T: The taste starts out sweet with flavors of honey and fruit up front. Then some bready flavors of lager yeast and a thin malt character come in. The hops presence is decent for the style and brings some balance. The after-taste is slightly bready and slightly sweet.

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

D: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, decent kick, good representation of style, it's a solid beer to drink for a while but there are better choices within the style.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2011 22:35:17 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.03/5  rDev -17%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Glissade to me was a little bit of a disappointment. The beer pours out as a golden color with a decent looking head. The lacing doesn't really do much. The smell of the beer has a bunch of malt aromas with some faint hops in the back end. The taste is on the sweet side. Very malt based taste, not overly complex in any way. The mouthfeel is light with a decent carbonation. Overall this beer in no shape or form out does the ESB that it replaced last year. Hopefully Sierra Nevada will come to terms with that fact and bring back the ESB one day.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2011 20:38:25 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.05/5  rDev +11%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Happy to finally get to try this!

Pours an effervescent honey color with a pinky of cream colored head. Average head retention & lacing

S: Bready, grassy & lemony hop notes as well

T: Bready, grainy & with lemony & grassy hops, plus a kiss of honey. Grainyness & honey malt dominate as this warms, plus some herbal hops as well. Finishes sweet & bready with grassy grainy notes

MF: Medium bodied with fairly light carbonation, pretty good balance

An easy drinker, but was hoping this to be closer to the Spring Bock, but true to the style. Will buy a couple sixers every Spring I'm sure

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2010 03:28:53 | More by russpowell

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.6/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A solid pour into my 25cl tulip glass produces a three finger thick, pale tan / cream colored head. The beer is a light gold color that shows a brilliantly clear, bright yellow-gold hue when held up to the light. The aroma smells of sweet grain, grassy crushed malt, rustic wheat crackers and a finish of sweet, honey-leaning malt. There is a light, herbal hop character here that accentuates some of the grassiness in this brew.

Light and crisp up front, but the beer picks up some heft as it rolls across the tongue. Ultimately it lingers on the palate with a texture and body from the residual malt character. A touch of clean bitterness also lingers in the finish and is joined with a slight menthol hop notes. Sweet malt notes provide notes of honey and sweet pale malt wort. This picks up some cracker like grain notes towards the finish, which help, along with the bitterness, to balance out the more dominant sweetness. As appropriate for a Helles Bock, this beer has more hop character than a standard Dunkles Bock, in fact at times it seems quite balanced between the malt and hop character.

A clean, easy drinking, well made Helles Bock. Having said that it isn't the most interesting beer in the world and I certainly wouldn't be adverse to a more interesting hop bill, but then that would be an entirely different beer than Sierra Nevada wanted to make. Stylistically it is spot on, just a bit boring.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2010 15:58:36 | More by Gueuzedude

Halcyondays

California

3.3/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Beachwood BBQ,

A: Pours a pale yellow, with a soft white head, really looks like a macro lager.

S: Strong malt, bready, sourdough.

T: Grainy barley malt flavour and light honey. Has a bit of "malt liquor" strong lager taste to me. The ethanol does come out a bit. Sweet overall.

M: Nice and creamy mouthfeel. Smooth.

D: Not a bad beer from Sierra Nevada, really reminds me of the Pale Bock I had from them in '07. Maybe it's the same beer. Worth a try.

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2010 03:41:22 | More by Halcyondays

Gavage

New Jersey

4.2/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Appearance: pours a clear yellowish orange color with a 1" head that lasts a while.

Smell: grass, moderate hop bitterness, and some malt sweetness are easy to detect.

Taste: nice malt base, some biscuit tones, grass, green grapes, a hint of honey, and a nice hop bitterness.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Lightly crisp from start to finish. Short aftertaste as the flavors leave the mouth quickly.

Drinkability: this was very easy to drink and several can be had in a session. A nice refreshing beer here.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2010 13:28:49 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

3.78/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours bright, clear golden with a white head that descends to a thin wisp. Some trailing lace sticks.

The smell is of sweet grain, some grass/hay with a subtle touch of Euro lager lime/sulfur.

The taste is of sweet honey and grain. A subtle touch of Euro lager lime/sulfur and hint of hay come through in the finish to balance the sweetness. Alcohol adds a fruity sweetness.

It is velvety smooth in a light-to-medium body.

A well-made, strong maibock.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2010 23:17:22 | More by jwc215

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Ordered a bottle for $3.50 at Liberty St. Tavern and poured it into a pint glass. I read SierraNevadaBill's description of Glissade and it makes more sense when he calls it a "strong lager," because it really does remind of the European (and Russian) strong lagers I've had - but better. There's cool bready malts up front and in the nose. The barley is followed by a lot dry herbal hop character. The hops, frankly, are a bit thin and border on astringently bitter. Still, this brew is worth a try.

UPDATE 2/14/2011: Just tried the new batch and it's very similar, but seems a touch drier, thinner and more drinkable. There's a little more dry, clean malt, and for what it's worth I'm a fan and would now be happy to drink a few of these.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2010 22:01:56 | More by tempest

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A bright golden body almost honey tone with a large white head very appealing look to it. Lacing is fine and even as it fades down the sides of my Sam Adams glassware. Aromatics have faint citrus lemon/lime notes with herbal fresh cut grass sensations. Ample sweetness comes through as soft biscuit malts. Flavor has a good amount of hop bitterness especially for the style. More lemon rind zest with herbal hops and a hard mineral water malt complexity going on, the malts have a bit of corn and cooked veggies going on with a touch of green apple thrown around but really lays heavy with a biscuit or cracker flavor. Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with a dry leafy herbal bitterness finishing off the flavor as well as a slight metallic astringency. Drinkability overall is quite solid especially for a bock bier from Cali, Sierra Nevada really hasn't screwed up much which would explain their long and bountiful career in the brewing industry thus far.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2010 23:27:28 | More by WVbeergeek