Celebration Ale (2008)

2011 Celebration Ale This beer pours a medium amber color with a hint of copper and a robust white fluff head. Good retention on the head with lots of lacing. Aroma is a bit on the weak side for my liking, but I am getting a nice malt aroma with pine hop and a little bit of grapefruit hiding in the back. The weak aroma had me worried that the taste would be weak also, but the first sip proved that wrong. A nice big blast of citrus and pine hops blends with a nice sweet malty character. The citrus flavors remind me of grapefruit and creates a nice contrast to the pine hop. This beer finishes up with a hint of spice on the backend, followed by a dry slight bitterness. I am getting a bit of heat from the alcohol on the finish. A step up from having a light body with medium carbonation. The grapefruit flavors have a nice lasting quality in the aftertaste. A nice offering from Sierra Nevada. A well rounded IPA with a nice hop character that is well balanced with the sweet malt. Get this one fresh or you won't be tasting it at its best. Happy Holidays!

Another out of place winter beer during the middle of summer. They were sitting down there in the fridge and I have been putting them off; it was time. Poured slightly cloudy with a huge, white, thick yet fluffy foam. Really good retention and lacing. Aroma is sweet caramel malt and a mellowed pine hops. Still a good scent, I am sure six months ago the pine would even be more intense. Pine hops is subdued as is the over all taste. Some sweet malt to begin, with a light pine hop at the end, and slight bitterness in the after taste. Low carbonation and slightly higher than low body. I sensed a slight funk to the beer. It might have caught some light rays. I would really like to try one of these this November and give this another chance. I think it could be an outstanding IPA. Enjoy!

High hop (IPA). Typical high hop flavor of S.N., they just balance it well.