02. SIERRA NEVADA PALE ALE

Brand: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company

Line: Pale Ale

IBUs: 38

ABV: 5.6%

Origin: Chico, California

Pre-Taste Thoughts

So for me, this isn't the first time I've tried Sierra Nevada, but it's been long enough that my memory of the subtleties in the flavor of the beer have been lost, but if my memory serves me right I like this beer a lot. Without tasting it, one of the things I like about this beer is the branding. I like the green and the mountains as well as the warm, ambery color of the beer.

First Sip Thoughts

Oh boy, I knew I liked this beer. This beer has such a nice, crisp and moderately hoppy taste that with an aftertaste that isn't sour. I get some citrus notes in this beer, something less fragrant than an orange, maybe grapefruit or tangelo? (kidding, it's definitely not tangelo). This beer has just a hint of some spice to it, not enough to make me think it's Christmas time, but enough that it's detectable and brings and extra layer of depth to a pale ale.

Finals Thoughts

Overall, this is an enjoyable beer. Since this beer only has 38 IBUs and since I've been on a hearty IPA kick, I was worried a little that this beer wouldn't have as much kick as I like, and would taste watery (reminiscent of the Elysian Space Dust IPA in review 01). Based on price, taste, and branding, this beer may be my first go-to beer (other than Rolling Rock while I was in college of course). This is the kind of beer I want to drink on a nice spring or summer evening with friends; not only with the label look great on my instagram, the taste leaves me feeling happy, (and that's not the 5.6% talking).