This is one of the more requested beers for review. I've only ever done one Sierra Nevada review here, so maybe this is a good time for this one. This beer is in the style of an American Pale Ale, which is supposed to be slightly less hoppy than a European Pale Ale and significantly less hoppy than a IPA. That said, for an APA it was tasty.
Pour: Light orange color that's slightly hazy and a 2-fingered white head that dissipates somewhat slowly and clings to the glass.
Smell: Primarily spicy hops up front, with a combination of floral and citrus hop undertone and an underlying pale malt sweetness.
Taste: In an unusual turn of events, the hops are actually the first thing you taste. Up front you get the citrus and floral notes, not overbearing but present. The middle gives way to a combination of pale malty sweetness and yeasty/bready notes, followed in the back with a spicy hop finish. Tasty.
Mouthfeel: Light-to-medium bodied and smooth. Fair amount of carbonation going on. Very refreshing.
Drinkability: I could quaff these. They go down so easily, and you could easily have a few in a single sitting when out with friends or at a party.
Final Notes: More hops than I'd expected out of an American Pale Ale. Not as hoppy as an IPA, but somewhere in between an average APA and IPA in terms of the hops. A good introduction for those that want to work up to hoppy beers, though probably not an ideal choice for a first beer. Great summer brew. A solid "B" beer.
Comments (1)
You make me want to actually learn to appreciate beer.