Sierra Nevada Pilsner

Brewed by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Style: Pilsener
Chico, California USA

Date: 09/05/1997
Source: Brewpub

clear yellow, whispy head, nice floral hop aroma, light body, light crisp hop flavor, no bitterness clean finish

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.8/5.0
Score: *4
-------- /> The score was calculated based upon the notes and an old scoring system.

Draught half-pint at American Flatbread in Burlington in the company of 30 or so Montrealites. Very clear pale golden with a light well-retained head....nose is at first strangely vinegary -- problems with dishwashing? -- but this fades and is largely overtaken by lots of earthy, grassy, very dry hops and subtle malty sweetness....the body is hugely malty and full, very fresh and grassy with light touches of honey, and mineralic tingly bitterness throughout....very clean, simple but effective, quaffable pils.

Draught at 2006 Craft Lager Festival. Pours golden yellow with a white edgy head. Aroma is perfumey hops, corn malt (grain), yeast (sweat, grass) and flowers. Moderately bitter, medium acidity, malt and sweaty yeast flavor, sour and dry finish. Light bodied and dry palate.

Draft at Collins Bar. Not much of a head and a light aroma of grain and corn. Starts a bit lighter and as it warms it becomes a bit sweeter and the corn is a little more apparent. All in all the nice pale malts are delicious and this isn’t that bad at all.

Had on tap at the Restaurant/Taproom while waiting for the tour to start. Dark straw appearance, light white, tight head. Fresh, lake water aroma Slight honey sweetness in the flavor. Crisp, refreshing, very clean. Clean mouthfeel. Not as pronounced flavorwise as thier other offerings, still solid though.

Draft. Pale golden-straw color with a whitish head. Great noble hop aroma and flavor. Light malt, good spice. Lots of hops to keep it interesting, yet still be light and drinkable.

Draft at brewery: Clear and light gold. Light, but wholesome, malts have a light sweet-caramel base. Hops have notes of delicate flowers; gentle but aromatic; nice level of bitterness. Very clean.

(Draft: Pizza Port in Solana Beach, CA) Very surprised to see this as a guest beer down here, but I enthusiastically make this my first beer of the afternoon. Pale gold color body is topped by a nearly white head, but the head is very short-lived as it fades away to nothing. It’s a very dry pilsener, with not even a hint of sweetness. As expected from Sierra Nevada, it features a moderately bitter hops from start to finish, plus a fairly strong grassiness. In contrast, the nose is a bit grainy and lightly sweet. Clean and very crisp on the palate. Honestly, this is a very well made beer, but I just don’t like really dry pilseners. Since I rate based on what I like, not based on the evaluated quality of the beer, I just can’t give this high marks. I will throw in a couple extra ticks to my overall rating to acknowledge the brewing quality.