30th Anniversary - Grand Cru - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

DoktorZee

Alberta (Canada)

4.15/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

25oz bottle poured into a schooner. No obvious best before date.

A - stunning deep red (slightly cloudy) with a massive fluffy head that leaves big chunky lacing. Looks chewy!

S - wet hops and caramel.

T - moderate hops attack with some bitterness up front shifting into a strong caramel malt profile. Not super-concentrated. Strong wood trailing at the end caramel along with some sweetness.

M - very lightly carbonated and slightly velvety. Coats the mouth but isn't overly heavy.

D - quite drinkable with only a hint of booziness; caramel and wood dominates in the long run but won't get in the way.

Very nice complex offering; reminds me a little of Luck Basartd but with it more sweet and caramel based.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2011 22:56:15 | More by DoktorZee

megamass

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

05-18-2013 05:45:43 | More by megamass

cadaugherty

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

05-09-2013 00:08:27 | More by cadaugherty

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

4.71/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 5

Winding down an awesome beer tasting night (corked bottles only) and thought I'd crack open another corker.

Appearance - cloudy, bubbly reddish amber. A finger of manila foam on top like melted ice cream. Nice lacing.

Aroma - sticky sweet orange and pineapple, bready malts creep in a bit after setup.

Taste - dark fruit and toasted bread open up the beer. Pineapple and mango at first, giving way to moderate bittering. A great toasty, coffee-like flavor flavor kicks in at the swallow and hangs around through the afterttaste. Oak on the aftertaste and into the finish, what a fun ride this beer is! Ends with dry lingering bitterness, oak, and toasted grain.

Mouthfeel - moderate carbonation and weight. Feels crisp without being too heavy for a strong ale.

Overall - wish I had bought a few more of these. Outstanding. Here's to the BCBT group, good beers tonight, guys.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 02:59:32 | More by brewdlyhooked13

Lare453

Florida

4/5  rDev -5.2%

04-26-2013 01:37:45 | More by Lare453

Kelp

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

04-15-2013 05:57:01 | More by Kelp

Atomicskis5

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

04-11-2013 02:50:50 | More by Atomicskis5

roblund

California

4/5  rDev -5.2%

04-10-2013 14:24:17 | More by roblund

ChiefHopHead

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

04-02-2013 02:32:56 | More by ChiefHopHead

fox227

California

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%

03-23-2013 05:00:32 | More by fox227

InfernoBoss

California

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%

03-17-2013 07:39:02 | More by InfernoBoss

DaPan

Ontario (Canada)

4.75/5  rDev +12.6%

03-11-2013 20:59:57 | More by DaPan

603BeerMe

New Hampshire

5/5  rDev +18.5%

03-11-2013 16:51:27 | More by 603BeerMe

superspak

Michigan

4.43/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle into snifter, bottled on 10/8/2010. Pours extremely hazy deep ruby red color with a nice 1-2 finger dense cream colored head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Nice soapy lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of big orange, grapefruit, orange rind, pear, apple, caramel, pine, toast, toffee, brown sugar, floral, oak, light bourbon, and floral earthiness. Fantastic aromas with big balance and complexity of hop, malt, and oak notes. Taste of big orange, grapefruit, orange rind, caramel, pine, toast, toffee, floral, oak, brown sugar, brown bread, light bourbon, and floral hop earthiness. Light pine and citrus bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of citrus, caramel, pine, toast, toffee, brown bread, floral, oak, brown sugar, and floral earthiness on the finish for a while. Fantastic balance and complexity of hop and malt flavors; with a great subtle oak presence and moderate bitterness balancing the malt sweetness; and zero cloying sweetness present on the finish. Medium carbonation and fairly full bodied; with a creamy, slick, and lightly sticky mouthfeel that is great. Alcohol is extremely well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish; very smooth to sip on. Overall this is an absolutely incredible American strong blended ale! Huge complexity and balance of hop and malt notes; and extremely smooth to sip on. An extremely awesome offering, top notch stuff as expected.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 04:32:13 | More by superspak

RobertColianni

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -17.1%

02-25-2013 08:45:01 | More by RobertColianni

BigLittleHokis

California

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

02-25-2013 03:58:44 | More by BigLittleHokis

rolltide8425

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

02-25-2013 02:49:51 | More by rolltide8425

MarkyMOD

Colorado

3.35/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Was completely oxidized, was really looking forward to popping this one, but it was the most disappointing beer I've had. Bought six months ago from a shop with all refrigeration, then cellared at 55 degrees. Almost feel bad about reviewing this after seeing reviewers who loved it two years later, but the rating I'm giving this beer is generous, saw many others pour this out after passing it around. This is my first full review, had been planning to start reviewing for awhile, but I think the disappoint drove me to finally do it, at least something good came from this beer.
P.S. Was told it was amazing fresh, but that same person thought it lost a lot two months later.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 04:55:17 | More by MarkyMOD

ROBSTARR

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

02-15-2013 15:08:19 | More by ROBSTARR

ste5venla

California

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

02-02-2013 21:12:52 | More by ste5venla

DmanGTR

New York

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

01-30-2013 13:36:48 | More by DmanGTR

rob133

California

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

01-29-2013 00:02:21 | More by rob133

popery

California

3.75/5  rDev -11.1%

01-28-2013 07:31:47 | More by popery

fivetime

Idaho

4.75/5  rDev +12.6%

01-28-2013 01:44:18 | More by fivetime

kaseydad

California

4.41/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Wasn't sure how this was gonna keep after a long rest in the cellar. Cellared since the release.

NIce pop goes the cork. Pours a MASSIVE frothy beige head that does not want to go away. Major lacing. Nice clear dark amber colored ale. Just geat!

Getting a lot of the essential Celebration and Bigfoot whiffs. Oak. Sweet candy scent. Hops. Pine. Honey. Brown sugar.

The taste is outta site. A hyrbrid Celebration and Bigfoot taste come through. Not getting much of the Pale Ale which is fine with me. Liking this combo. Hoppy taste with a refreshing bitter, mouthwatering finish. Everything is still here. Getting a big grapefruit rind taste on the aftertaste. Not picking up bourbon flavors though it says 22% aged in bourbon barrels. Could be just blended really well. The dry hop technique is nicely noted.

Mouthfeel is good. Still has great carbonation.

Overall I am happy to report this is doing amazing. If you want to wait and properly cellar it, continue. This is turning into something special. Sadly this is my last of this part of the series but it went out with a bang. This combo of beers worked brilliantly and kudos to the brewmaster. And even kudos to moi for letting this lie as long as I did.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 01:36:26 | More by kaseydad