Juniper Black Ale (JBA) - Beer Camp #16 (Best Of Beer Camp) - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

HeightsEats

Ohio

4.2/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From the Beer Camp Sampler. Pours jet black, with an aroma somewhere between a porter and a stout with subtle hints of juniper. Flavor and mouthfeel are both similar to a black lager (schwartzbier or Xingu) but with a bit more complexity from the spice with an excellent balance of dark roasted malt, mild sweetness and hops. I'm not sure why this is called a "winter warmer"--it's 75 degrees right now and this is really refreshing. My favorite from the sampler and strangely easy to drink for an 8% ABV dark ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2011 02:02:27 | More by HeightsEats

megamass

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

05-18-2013 05:47:49 | More by megamass

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

05-15-2013 18:33:27 | More by twenty5

cadaugherty

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

05-09-2013 00:10:25 | More by cadaugherty

blknikon

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

05-07-2013 23:47:45 | More by blknikon

DMc8ride

Maryland

4/5  rDev +1.8%

03-28-2013 22:19:28 | More by DMc8ride

UCLABrewN84

California

3.65/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Toronado in San Diego, CA.

Pours an almost opaque super dark brown with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, citrus zest, and slight juniper berry. Taste is much the same with a cocoa flavor on the finish. There is a medium amount of roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that is interesting but isn't as juniper forward as I was expecting.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2013 23:26:38 | More by UCLABrewN84

leprakhan

California

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

02-27-2013 09:37:28 | More by leprakhan

popery

California

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

01-28-2013 07:32:28 | More by popery

t0rin0

California

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

01-20-2013 02:06:38 | More by t0rin0

Lukass

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +14.5%

01-06-2013 14:18:23 | More by Lukass

sendbeer

Georgia

4.5/5  rDev +14.5%

12-15-2012 06:00:33 | More by sendbeer

CA_Infidel2o9

4/5  rDev +1.8%

12-11-2012 06:38:25 | More by CA_Infidel2o9

stabbingcontest

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1.8%

12-04-2012 01:35:02 | More by stabbingcontest

jucifer1818

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%

11-30-2012 06:31:06 | More by jucifer1818

sarajayne

3.73/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This dark ale is great after a long day of checking people off of your shopping list. At 8.0% ABV, please do not take this beer lightly. This malty brew has lots flavor. The Juniper Black Ale has a mix of citrus and pine hops with a chocolate malt taste. This brew is great for those who love darker ales and want some spice to compliment their drink. An above average taste for a darker ale and this brew doesn’t leave a bitter after taste. Overall definitely worth a shot for any beer lover.

Collage girls drink GOOD beer:
www.brewreviewboston.blogspot.com

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 18:37:06 | More by sarajayne

nimrod979

Maryland

3.93/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

!2 oz bottle from 2011 poured into a standard pint glass.

Appearance: This beer pretty much pours black, opaque, An average one finger creamy tan head with some pretty good retention. Fades to a simple crown. Some lacing going on here and there.

Aroma: Nice blend of piney and citrus hops balanced with some chocolatey roasted malt. The juniper is also there, perhaps leading to that resinous aroma I'm picking up.

Taste: The roasted chocolatey malt hits up front. A mixture of piney and citrusy malts adds some bitterness and dry finish. The juniper can be tasted along with a minor touch of alcohol on the backend. Not overly complex but a decent depth of flavor.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with about an average carbonation. Dry and bitter finish with touches of that juniper spiciness. Nothing that blows you away but a solidly constructed ale that was I enjoyed.

This is one of my favorite styles and this one did not disappoint.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 00:13:25 | More by nimrod979

bzach

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%

10-21-2012 06:19:14 | More by bzach

Littlesteam12

California

3.28/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

This was the better of the 4 styles in this pack. A very thick beer with minimal after taste(personally not a fan of setiment after tastes) . Very flavor filled, it was a good thing there aren't 12 packs of this beer this beer is very strong and should not be ingested lightly!

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 19:10:52 | More by Littlesteam12

hopspiller

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev +1.8%

10-04-2012 18:20:29 | More by hopspiller

GrindFatherBob

New York

4/5  rDev +1.8%

09-28-2012 17:38:46 | More by GrindFatherBob

mrebeka

Michigan

4/5  rDev +1.8%

09-23-2012 20:26:04 | More by mrebeka

BigPlay1824

New York

4.05/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed in a pint glass

A: Pours a nice deep impenetrable black with a thick head of foam that is very light and airy with fine bubbles, lingers nicely and kind of makes it look like a root beer float, leaves a ton of lacing on the glass
S: really great hop character which is a little surprising to see lasting this well after a year, also has a great chocolate malt back bone
T: the malt really hits up front the best, quite solid and deep with notes of coffee chocolate and tobacco, intense bitterness comes in at the end with just the slightest juniper note, much more well rounded than i remember it being fresh, juniper has definitely mellowed out solidly over the past year
M: medium carbonation tingle, nice bitterness and dryness lingers on the palate long long afterwards along with a slightly cool note
O: im really pleased with how well this has aged, really evened out phenomenally mellowing out the juniper notes and adding depth to the malt, quite wonderful

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 01:26:06 | More by BigPlay1824

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from tasting notes.

Poured out a black opaque color with a nice two finger tan colored head which leaves some decent lacing behind on the glass. Body is on the heavier side of medium thickness, but the carbonation level is adequately high enough to compensate for this.

Smells of black charred malt, juniper, grassy herbals, and pine resin. Tastes of roasted malt, bitter dark chocolate, and has light amounts of citric peel around the edges of the juniper /pine resinous center. Overall, this brew plays out like a Schwarzbier crossed with a Sahti, which I sense is exactly what they were aiming for. The hops are restrained enough to play a supporting role for the juniper and roasted / charred malt....Well done! Straight 4s across the board.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2012 22:44:56 | More by WastingFreetime

netshark

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

09-01-2012 21:23:35 | More by netshark