Sierra Nevada Pale Ale (Draft)

Brewed by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Style: American Pale Ale
Chico, California USA

Had this on tap before I even realized it was different. Not quite as good, but very similar.

Draft in 2009. In every manner less of a beer than the Pale Ale. Alright on special, but a very average craft brew in this day and age.

Not much different from their regular PA. Hoppy and caramel malt on the nose. A bit grainy. Flavor is light and hoppy with some decent malt backbone. Good.

On tap. Pours cleatr copper with white head. Aroma is hops, toffee and caramel malt. Flavor is initially hoppy with hops, caramel malt, and some toffee. Finishes watery with a bit of a metallic note. Really like the bottled version much better. Better than SA BL or some other macro though.

On tap at the Maple Tree Inn, Blue Island, IL: This was a tasty but somewhat muted version of the bottled brew that I’ve always enjoyed. Looking much the same but with a creamier head, it had a quiet aroma of PNW hops over soft sweet toffee. It also held less of a bitter bite to it although the familiar pine and grapefruit were still present. Nice prolonged, light bitterness to the finish. Pretty decent.

Subtle hop nose, when compared to the much more pronounced bottled version. Pine and grapefruit is there but in lesser quantities as well. Very refreshing bitter finish, balancing the substantial sweet caramel and toffee maltiness. A favorite.

On draft at Bar Louie. Color is clear amber with small beige head. Aroma of biscuity wheat and malt, with a bit of citrus hops. Taste is floral hops, malt and wheat. Crisp medium mouthfeel. Pretty good.

Nose pretty subdued, much less hop character than the bottled version. Flavor is a really nice toffee malt leading to a citric hop bitter that lingers nicely on the finish. Good, nearing very good, but seems just a slightly dumbed down version of "the real thing"