Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

Brewed by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Chico, California USA

Poured hazy lighter amber with dense rocky head. Big pine and citrus hop aroma. Hops are right up front in this brew both in bitterness and flavor. They are nearly mouth puckering but the body/malt is big and creamy and keeps the hop bite from being overwhelming although it does finish dry. I’ve been drinking this for years and one I always look forward to each winter. Another great beer from a great American brewery.

330ml bottle (Kaisla?)
Cantaloupe melon, peach, and perhaps some mandarine aroma according to Anna. Fairly standard hoppy American beer, some dish-soap. Unbalanced hops become annoying after about 50ml. Fairly chemical. Caramel starts OK, but the whole things just too damn sugary.

2008 bottle at Old Bank. Hazy copper, pale head with some tight lacing. Caramel malty, sweetish nose, citric fruity hops, faint liquorice. Strong grapefruity hops in the flavor along with some resin, caramel malts and a hint of yeast. Quite intense bitterness. Medium bodied, smooth palate similar to SN pale ale. Sessionable, but not that exciting, I prefer a bit more diverse hops.

Classic Sierra Nevada hop smell on top. Looks beautiful as an IPA. Great complex flavor. Not overwhelming hops. Stays on my tounge for a long time. It’s nice.

2008 bottling. Poured a hazy orange-amber with a tan head. Floral, citrusy hop aroma. Slightly thick on the palate, with a slight astringency on the tongue. Flavor was mostly of hops, with some lingering spice notes. Good overall.

Bottle. This is what you expect from an american IPA but nothing more. Not very visionary brew for the holidays...

Bottle. Redorange with white head. Smells grapefruit hoppy. Bitter hoppy taste with some citrus flavors.

Dark amber in color with a decent off-white head. Aroma is of caramel, hops, and lots of spices. Taste is of hops and malt.