A taste of… Sierra Nevada Kellerweis

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
1075 East 20th Street
Chico, CA 95928-6722
(530) 893-3520

Preface: This 12 oz. bottle of Sierra Nevada Kellerweis was purchased for $3.04(USD) at Gristede’s Supermarket in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NY. There is a date code on the neck of the bottle: “9233 C2 1030”.

The following notes are made after a mouth wash with room temperature sparkling water. These notes have not been influenced by reading promotional material or any other review of this brew.

I am including this preface to inform the reader of any and all circumstances that might be conceived of as creating a biased review or a conflict of interest regarding the choice of words used in the following review. I could go on and on with semi-legal jargon but I guess you will just have to trust me eh?

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: This traditional looking cloudy lemon gold yellow brew is very effervescent and sports a dense white head of sparkling tiny and small bubbles. The Belgian lace is sparse but there.

Aroma: The first aromas are of bitter orange and some sharp citric notes. The second “nose” revealed notes of eucalyptus. The third nosedive had the olfactory receptors ready and they found a smoother under note of floral greens.

Flavor: After the first refreshing sensation I actually found some bubblegum flavors in an American wheat beer! The second sip brought out a “chardonnay” sensation followed by an almost tannic dryness. The third sip featured a return of the bubblegum through the curtain of citric sting.

Mouth feel: This is a creamy brew with a firm but not flabby body.

Finish: A quick exit is made by all but the slightest metallic kiss at the end.

Comments: This is the first American brewed hefeweizen (with the exception of High Point wheat brews) to resemble the Bavarian brew. However, this is not an imitation. It is rather a take on a style and ends up individual.

Food & Beer: With the spikes of wheat and citric I would be tempted to enjoy this with a salad of early spring garden dressed with a touch of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon.

The Brewery: http://www.sierranevada.com/

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/140/48434

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/sierra-nevada-kellerweis-hefeweizen/100383/

A taste of… Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Ale 2010

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
1075 East 20th Street
Chico, CA 95928-6722
(530) 893-3520

Preface: This 12 oz. bottle of Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale 2009 was purchased for $3.00(USD) at Peas & Pickles Grocery in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NY. There is a date code on the neck of the bottle: “93511114:09”.

The following notes are made after a mouth wash with room temperature sparkling water. These notes have not been influenced by reading promotional material or any other review of this brew.

I am including this preface to inform the reader of any and all circumstances that might be conceived of a creating a biased review or a conflict of interest regarding the choice of words used in the following review. I could go on and on with semi-legal jargon but I guess you will just have to trust me eh?

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: The remarkably small bubbles of carbonation give the deep, almost red, copper colored crystal clear brew a sparkle. The head is a full and rocky light parchment colored lightly constructed head of medium and large bubbles.

Aroma: The first nose-dive brought the lightest version of a pine forest to mind, for a moment or two. The second visit revealed a slight grapefruit scent that also fell away very quickly. The third venture sensed an almost rose like aroma but the citric returned and were more noticeable.

Flavor: The first impression is of caramel, Crème brûlée singed sugar followed by a warm sensation that can settle quite quickly on a empty stomach. The second sip brings a metallic tang to the tongue and the warmth of the first sip blitzes the sinuses. The third sip has bitter orange and grapefruit announcing themselves and making themselves at home.

Mouth feel: There is a very full, creamy feel to this brew.

Finish: The finish on the pallet is sooner sensed than the warmth in the belly.

Comments: Sip this one from a snifter, like they tell you to do.

Food & Beer: Firm, slightly crumbly sharp cheddar-style cheeses made by a local dairy farmer and cheese-maker would be the perfect way to make the best of the richness of this brew and the lactic tang of the cheese.


The Brewery: http://www.sierranevada.com/

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/140/2671

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/sierra-nevada-bigfoot/371/
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A taste of… Sierra Nevada Glissade Golden Bock

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
1075 East 20th Street
Chico, CA 95928-6722
(530) 893-3520

Preface: This 12 oz. bottle of Sierra Nevada Glissade Golden Bock was purchased for $2.25(USD) at Key Foods Grocery in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NY. There is a date code on the neck of the bottle: “0008109:35”.

The following notes are made after a mouth wash with room temperature sparkling water. These notes have not been influenced by reading promotional material or any other review of this brew.

I am including this preface to inform the reader of any and all circumstances that might be conceived of a creating a biased review or a conflict of interest regarding the choice of words used in the following review. I could go on and on with semi-legal jargon but I guess you will just have to trust me eh?

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: A light burnished gold brew is crowned with a generous head of small to tiny sparkling bubbles. The rocky head fall slowly leaving a light Belgian lace to ease down the glass.

Aroma: First impressions are a bit confusing in that there are few identifiable aromatics in the grassy first meeting. The second visit finds more of the traditional floral greenery from hops. The third nosedive revealed traces of grain.

Flavor: This is a full bodied brew and the first flavors are rushed in on that full mouth feeling. After the creamy refreshing sensation the metallic tangs of hop oils rush forward closely followed by a bitter-sweet sensation. The second visit finds light citric flavors and a slight chalk dry sensation. The third sip showed the smoother path where the flavors of sharp citric and bitter-sweet find a détente.

Mouth feel: There is a lush feel to this brew.

Finish: A slightly chalky last cleansing of the pallet leaves a drier than sweet coda.

Comments: The hop experiments continue across the board and some are more interesting than others.

Food & Beer: This brew, with a bag of bar nuts, just before an afternoon spent trying to get an old Ford pickup truck’s engine to turn over.


The Brewery: http://www.sierranevada.com/

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/140/55243

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/sierra-nevada-glissade-golden-bock/113317/

A taste of… Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale 2009

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
1075 East 20th Street
Chico, CA 95928-6722
(530) 893-3520

Preface: This 12 oz. bottle of Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale 2009 was purchased for $1.75(USD) at Peas & Pickles Grocery in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NY. There is a date code on the neck of the bottle: “9328110:48”.

The following notes are made after a mouth wash with room temperature sparkling water. These notes have not been influenced by reading promotional material or any other review of this brew.

I am including this preface to inform the reader of any and all circumstances that might be conceived of a creating a biased review or a conflict of interest regarding the choice of words used in the following review. I could go on and on with semi-legal jargon but I guess you will just have to trust me eh?

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: A bit of a haze filters the copper colored brew, letting the tiny bubbles of carbonation craft a sparkling light tan head of large bubbles that leave enough Belgian lace to properly cover an Islamic bride.

Aroma: The first visit finds almost Dior-perfume aromatics. A second visit reveals the organic (not the certification type of “organic”) roots of the first impression. The third nose-dive gathers a grain aroma that is timid but not left out.

Flavor: The spikes of hop oils and flavors are escorted by a grainy sweetness that makes Prince Philip look patient. The second sip brought more of the citric grapefruit flavors into play and they are very playful. The third sip finally has the flavor receptors out of first-aid and recognizing the flavors as quite complementary rather than competitive.

Mouth feel: There is a slim, trim sensation to this brew.

Finish: A particular citric tang lingers for quite a while, either encouraging another sip or hinting it would like to be fed.

Comments: As noted above, this seems to be an ideal aperitif.

Food & Beer: Toasted corn chips and fresh tomato salsa would be all you would need to complement the flavors of this brew.

The Brewery: http://www.sierranevada.com/

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/140/1904

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/sierra-nevada-celebration-ale/370/

A taste of… Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
1075 East 20th Street
Chico, CA 95928-6722
(530) 893-3520

Preface: This 12 oz. bottle of Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA was purchased for $2.75(USD) at Peas & Pickles Grocery in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NY. There is a date code on the neck of the bottle: “0012219:10”.

The following notes are made after a mouth wash with room temperature sparkling water. These notes have not been influenced by reading promotional material or any other review of this brew.

I am including this preface to inform the reader of any and all circumstances that might be conceived of a creating a biased review or a conflict of interest regarding the choice of words used in the following review. I could go on and on with semi-legal jargon but I guess you will just have to trust me eh?

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: This crystal clear reddish copper brew has a carbonation of fine beads of bubbles that form a rocky parchment colored head of medium and tiny bubbles that tat a fine Belgian lace.

Aroma: As soon as this bottle was opened there was a presence of grapefruit that quickly faded. The first nose-dive reveals floral accents of honey suckle. A second visit brings out more of the floral aromas with a edge of citric aromas. The third visit had the aroma receptors accustomed to the assorted floral aromas and weaving them together too tightly to deconstruct.

Flavor: The first impression is a creamy frothy sensation that introduces a spike of almost metallic tang. The second sip reveals grapefruit flavors to give the early flavor sensations a name. A third sip finds some sweet crystal sugar candy accents that, on the slightly singed edge reflect the tangy flavors.

Mouth feel: There is a full frothy first feel that only recedes slightly.

Finish: Creamy and full bodied but not obese.

Comments: The label tells me that this beverage is 7.2% alcohol by volume. There is also mention of the use of whole-cone American hop flowers. I am still left to wonder the meaning of “Torpedo”.

Food & Beer: The floral accents to this brew would feel right at home with a field green salad with bits of apple and walnuts in a light dressing of olive oil and lemon juice.


The Brewery: http://www.sierranevada.com/

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/140/30420

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/sierra-nevada-torpedo-extra-ipa/59261/