Sierra Nevada 'Hop Bullet' Double IPA Spring Seasonal. 8% abv. 60 IBU. Pale straw color. Slightly hazy. Thin, white, bubbly head that quickly drops to a sustaining collar and scattered surface. Moderate retention, good lacing. Nose of ample herbal-floral hops, pine, bright spice. Aroma subsides significantly as the temp rises and the head recedes.

Front taste is cypress, cloves, bitter herbal hops, with a dry finish. Aftertaste is bitter herbal hop bundle, hop resin, faint flowers. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, round, carby, resiny.

This is a solid beer for fans of DIPAs that lean heavily toward hops over malt. The aroma is a hop head's dream, with a ton of spicy, bitter, herbal hops supported by floral tones. However, that wonderful nose falls greatly as the head dissipates, something that happens quickly with this beer. Within a few minutes, its tall, distinguishable aroma is nearly absent. Good news is that the lupulin-infused flavor profile is persistent throughout, as is the notes of pine an overall hop expression. 

This beer promises hops and it gives you hops aplenty. Just make sure you don't linger too long, as this beer is not designed for a leisurely stroll across the palate. Enjoy it within ten minutes for an optimum hop experience. Recommended.


From the brewery:

"Brewed with a double-barreled blast of Magnum hops and lupulin dust. Hops are the name of the game with a Double IPA, but we knew we had to take it one step further. With Hop Bullet, we’re using a new technique, hitting the beer with a double-barreled blast of Magnum hops and lupulin dust—pure, concentrated hop flavor—directly into the tank to emphasize the intense pine and citrus flavors of classic West Coast hops."
[source: sierranevada.com]

"Hop Bullet Double IPA features a new technique: we're hitting the beer with a double-barreled slug of Magnum hops and lupulin dust - the source of hop flavor  and aroma - right into the fermenter for a ballistic burst of aggressive hop character."
[source: bottle]

Sierra Nevada 'Oktoberfest' Lager 2015. 6% abv. 30 IBU. Amber color. Two fingers of foamy white head. Excellent retention and lace. Nose of sweet malt, cracker, faint earthy hop. Front taste of light roast malt, caramel, toasted bread. Aftertaste of sweet bread, roasted malt, herbal hops. Medium body. Mouthfeel is rich, sticky, bubbly.

This is an excellent Oktoberfest brew. It hits the notes of its category well, with a tall malt presence, sweet caramel, some toasty notes, and a slight herbal bite of hops in the aftertaste. It stands firmly beside other Oktoberfest beers. For me, a merely good Oktoberfest is still something to celebrate, and this new recipe for 2015 rises above. I'd surely have this again. Well recommended.

From the brewery:

"We partnered with one of Germany's oldest breweries - Brauhaus Riegele - to create a true festival beer unlike any other brewed in the USA. Using traditional techniques and ingredients, were bringing the style back to its authentic roots with a deep golden color, delicate hop note, and rich malt complexity."

[source: bottle]

"A German-American collaboration on the classic festival beer. We’re on a mission to explore the roots of Germany’s festival beers. Each year, we’ll partner with one of a handful of incredible German brewers to create a traditional take on the most famous beer style in history. This year we’re working hand in hand with Brauhaus Riegele of Augsburg. Together we created an authentic Oktoberfest beer, true to the roots of the festival, that’s deep golden in color and rich with complex malt flavor from the use of traditional German Steffi barley."
[source: sierranevada.com]

Sierra Nevada 'Torpedo' Extra IPA. 7.2% abv. 65 IBU. Amber color. Two fingers of bubbly tan head. Excellent retention and lace. Nose of ample herbal-floral hops, pine, faint citrus rind on the back. Front taste of bright bitter herbal hops, grassy grain, bittersweet malt. Aftertaste of bitter hop resin, citrus rind, herbal sustain. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, bubbly, thick on the end.

This is an excellent beer. The hop profile is bright and fresh with a bitter-over-sweet taste running underneath. There's a nice botanical flavor from the first sip that feels like a fresh bouquet of hop cones. Very good, particularly if you are a lover of hoppy IPA's. A modern classic. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Whole hops, the whole time.  Sierra Nevada and hops go hand in hand. What began as a crazy idea scribbled in a pub eventually became our newest year-round hop bomb, Torpedo Extra IPA. The first beer to feature our 'Hop Torpedo'—a revolutionary dry-hopping device that controls how much hop aroma is imparted into beer without adding additional bitterness. Torpedo Extra IPA is an aggressive yet balanced beer with massive hop aromas of citrus, pine, and tropical fruit."

[source: sierranevada.com]

Sierra Nevada 'Summerfest' Lager. 5% abv. 28 IBU. Pale yellow color. Over a finger of bubbly white head. Excellent retention with moderate lace. Nose of faint sweet light malt, herbal hops on the back. Front taste of grain, corn, floral bitter hops. Aftertaste is spiced hop bite, bitter grassy grain on the sustain. Thin body. Mouthfeel is crisp, effervescent, slight carb.

This is a good easy-drinking summer brew. The thin almost watery body and mouthfeel lend to outdoor sessions, but with just enough hop bite to bring you back. The flavors range from herbal to floral, always with a fresh bitter sting in the background. A worthy lawnmower beer, by design. Good stuff. Recommended.

From the brewery:

"Since their invention in the 1840s, Pilsener-style beers have become the world’s most popular style. With a nod toward the original Czech tradition, Summerfest is brewed to feature the best of Bohemian nature. Crisp, golden, dry and incredibly drinkable, Summerfest has a delicate and complex malt flavor and spicy and floral hop character—the perfect warm weather beer."

[source: sierranevada.com]

"There's something about a warm summer day that calls out for a cold glass of great beer, and this classic Czech-style lager is sure to for the bill. Crisp, golden and refreshing, Summerfest is the perfect choice for soaking up the sunshine."

[source: bottle]

Sierra Nevada 'Bigfoot Ale' 2015. Barleywine Style Ale. 9.6% abv. Amber-ruby color. Two fingers of thick, creamy tan head. Outstanding retention and superb lacing. Nose of rich malt, caramel, herbal hops, woodsy. Front taste of tall malt, toffee, bittersweet dark fruit, botanicals. Aftertaste is abundant bitter-herbal hops, dark chocolate, raisins. Full body. Mouthfeel is warm-hot, creamy, astringent.

This is wonderful big beer, one of the original barleywine-style brews of the microbrew age. Over the years, there have been variations of it, most notably the barrel-aged treasure, but this standard Bigfoot is my favorite, a go-to big beer that I look forward to every holiday season. Lots of dark, creamy, fruity, and spicy flavors in each sip that makes for a nicely complex taste overall. A classic and standard in its category, great fresh out of the bottle or you can age it another year for a more mellow, richer taste. Either way, I love this beer. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Our cult-classic beast of a barleywine. Bigfoot is a beast of a beer, brimming with bold flavors of bittersweet malt and heaps of aggressive whole-cone Pacific Northwest hops. First introduced in the winter of 1983, Bigfoot is a cult-classic beer brewed in the barleywine style, meaning a strong, robust, bruiser of a beer with the refined intensity of a wine. Bigfoot is prized by beer collectors for its supreme cellarability. Under the proper conditions, it can age like a fine wine, developing new flavors and character as it matures in the bottle. Each new release or 'expedition' is vintage dated. Collect your own and see the flavors develop and progress."
[source: sierranevada.com]

Sierra Nevada 'Nooner' Pilsner. 5.2% abv. 38 IBU. Yellow-gold color. Thick white head with good retention and scattered lace. Nose of light malt, herbal hops, faint grassy. Front taste of floral bitter hops, grain. Aftertaste of bitter hop, slightly buttery, crackers. Light body. Mouthfeel is cool, spiced, dry, brisk.

This is a good pils that offers easy drinking and less hop bitter harshness than many others in its category. The hop profile is flowery, fresh, and ample without dropping off the cliff. A nice sessionable brew. Recommended.

From the brewery:

"A crisp, hoppy take on the original session beer. Gather your friends, pack the gear, and head out to wherever the day may take you. A midday go-to, Nooner is our take on the classic German-style pilsner—one of the original session beers. Nooner is easy drinking yet packed with the big flavor of spicy and floral whole-cone hops. Its brilliant golden color begs you to take a sip and sink your taste buds into an extremely welcoming beer, full of flavor and balanced by a crisp, dry finish."

[source: sierranevada.com]

Sierra Nevada 'Estate Ale' Homegrown Wet Hop IPA. 6.7% abv. 67 IBU. Red-copper color. Finger of white head that sticks around. Excellent retention and outstanding lace. Nose of sweet malt, herbal, earthy. Front taste of toasted malt, toffee, sweet bread, warm sugar backing. Aftertaste of fresh bitter hops, flowery, caramel. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, round, small bead carb.

This is an outstanding beer. A perfect balance of sweet malt and bitter hop bite, with fresh herbal flavors throughout. Excellent taste. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Our handmade Estate Ale highlights the flavors of home. From the sun-drenched fields of California’s North Valley comes our Estate Ale. It’s rich with the flavors of the valley—hops with earthy, grapefruit-like flavors and layered spicy aromas, and barley with mild sweetness and smooth, toasted flavors. Enjoy this remarkable homegrown ale, made with organic wet hops and barley grown at our brewery in Chico, and one of the few estate-made ales produced anywhere in the world. Together, these crops grow alongside the brewery to make a truly unique brew."

[source: sierranevada.com]

Enjoying the wonderful Estate Ale at Peeve's Public House with Mario Gutierrez of Sierra Nevada. Thanks for the good company and great beer Mario!

Sierra Nevada 'Beer Camp 2015' Hoppy Lager. 7% abv. 55 IBU. Orange-honey color. Thick bubbly white head. Excellent retention and lace. Nose of citrus, bread, light malt. Front taste of ample bright hops, light malt, slightly sweet. Aftertaste of bitter floral hops, fresh herbal, smooth back end. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, carby, hop bite.

This is an excellent beer, with its fresh hoppy profile and light fruit notes. The hop bitter taste pops, yet is smooth, easy drinking, on through the aftertaste sustain. Grab one of these limited-release brews while you can. Recommended.

From the brewery:

"This hop-heavy beer combines intense citrus and floral hop flavors with the clean, classic malt body of a hearty blonde lager for a crisp but aggressive take on the India Style Pale Lager... Last summer we teamed up with San Diego's Ballast Point for a hop-head twist on a crisp lager. We remixed this encore which is loaded with whole-cone hops in the brew kettle and in our Hop Torpedo to deliver a bold aroma backed by smooth malt flavor... Beer Camp is the ultimate brewing experience. We bring beer fans into our brewery nearly every week to create their own beer with us—the more daring the better—and each spring we’ll highlight one of the small-batch standouts. Last year, Beer Camp worked overtime. Along with our fan brews, we made 12 additional beers with 12 exceptional breweries. Choosing one for an encore wasn’t easy. Ever drawn to hops, we decided to reimagine our hoppy lager collaboration with Ballast Point."

[source: sierranevada.com]

Sierra Nevada 'Hop Hunter' IPA. 6.2% abv. 60 IBU. Golden color. Bubbly white head with good retention and outstanding lace. Nose sweet light malt, floral hop bouquet. Front taste of bittersweet hops, biscuit, flowers, malt. Aftertaste of smooth bitter hops, light fruit notes. Medium body. Mouthfeel is slightly thick, small carb, warm at the back.

This is an excellent IPA, with abundant bright hop flavor, a balanced bitter taste that is surprisingly easy to drink, and sweet notes that do not detract from the features hop oils. Highly recommended if you enjoy a well made IPA.

From the brewery:

"Intense wet hop flavor year round. Hop Hunter IPA harnesses the complex flavors of just-picked hops through an all-new method of steam distilling wet hops before they even leave the fields. This revolutionary technique captures and intensifies the natural flavors, creating a unique and intensely aromatic beer. Our custom process gathers pure hop oil which, when combined with traditional whole-cone hops in the brew kettle and in our Hop Torpedo, makes for an incredible IPA experience."

I was fortunate to enjoy this beer from a firkin at Peeve's Public House. A good beer made even better.

Sierra Nevada 'Narwhal' Imperial Stout 2014. 10.2% abv. 60 IBU. Black in color with two fingers of rich beige head, almost like whipped cream. Outstanding retention and lacing. Complex nose of roasted grain, ground coffee, cocoa powder, raisins. Front taste is aggressive with its deep flavors of roasted - almost burnt - malt, dark chocolate, black coffee. Aftertaste is just as big with smoked grain, bitter fruit, and a long sustain of bittersweet chocolate and strong coffee, and an enveloping alcohol taste. Full, big body. Mouthfeel is sticky, creamy, thick.

This is an incredible, world-class beer, one of the best imperial stouts I can recall. The rich, complex flavor profile is there from the aroma, to the first sip, down to the bottom of the glass. The grain roast is aggressive yet balanced, and the aftertaste is long and strong. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"A malt-forward monster, highlighting the depths of malt flavor. Narwhal Imperial Stout is inspired by the mysterious creature that thrives in the deepest fathoms of the frigid Arctic Ocean. Featuring incredible depth of malt flavor, rich with notes of espresso, baker’s cocoa, roasted grain and a light hint of smoke, Narwhal is a massive malt-forward monster. Aggressive but refined with a velvety smooth body and decadent finish, Narwhal will age in the bottle for years to come."

[source: sierranevada.com]

Sierra Nevada 'Celebration' Ale 2014. 6.8% abv. 65 IBU. Fresh hop IPA. Copper-orange color with two fingers of ivory bubbly head that falls to a thick sustaining line. Good retention and nice lacing throughout. Aroma of floral hops, mild sweet bread, faint citrus and pine notes. Front taste of bright hops, biscuits, citrus rind. Aftertaste is ample hop bitter that lingers, lightly sweet malt, evergreen notes. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, somewhat creamy, herbal.

This is a great winter brew that uses abundant fresh hops in place of spices. The aftertaste is bitter, bright, balanced. Well recommended.

From the brewery:

"Festive fresh hop holiday fun. The start of Celebration season is a festive event. We can’t start brewing until the first fresh hops have arrived, but once they have the season is officially under way! First brewed in 1981, Celebration Ale is one of the earliest examples of an American-style IPA and one of the few hop-forward holiday beers. Famous for its intense citrus and pine aromas, Celebration is bold and intense, featuring Cascade, Centennial and Chinook hops—honoring everything we have at Sierra Nevada."

Off the pour, the head was thick and bubbly with large bubbles throughout.

The thick head fell to a half-finger collar that remained to the end.

Firestone Walker 'Double Barrel' Ale. 5.0% abv. 30 IBU. Pours a red-copper color, nice and clear. Two fingers of head gradually drops to a thin bubbly surface with decent lace. Good retention. Nose has herbal hops, malt, bready notes. Front taste is somewhat malty with some caramel, floral hops, some mild berry notes like faint plum or grape. Aftertaste is faint fruit and hops. Medium body. Rich, semi-sticky mouthfeel.

This is a solid go-to beer. I've always enjoyed Firestone's flagship brew, and this session is no exception. Malty, with notes of dark fruit and a perfect balance of hops. A reliable, good beer. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Our flagship brew highlights barrel-fermented batches from our patented Firestone Union blended with beer fermented in stainless steel. It opens with a biscuity toasted malt aroma and a hint of oak and vanilla. Pale malts create a smooth malty middle with ribbons of caramel, English toffee and toasted oak. A tribute to English pales traditionally fermented in cask."

Sierra Nevada 'Flipside' Red IPA. 6.2% abv. 60 IBU. An alternative summer beer. Red-amber color with off-white head. Low retention. Nose of herbs and citrus peel. First taste is hops and bitter fruit, like grapefruit. Balanced hop aftertaste. Thin-medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, small-bead carb.

This is a good beer that tries to strike a middle ground between different styles. It’s got the easy drinkability and citrus notes of a summer beer, but with the slightly malty back of an amber. It’s not as good as many IPAs, but better than most red ales. I could certainly have a couple of these in one sitting. That being said, it is far from the best that Sierra Nevada has to offer.

From the brewery:

"A hop-forward fix for the first days of fall. Just when it feels like the dog days will never end, suddenly, the switch is flipped, the air gets cooler and it’s clear that autumn is on the way. Featuring a ruby-red hue and abundant tropical fruit and citrus hop flavors, Flipside Red IPA is the perfect beer for the final flash of summer."