India Pale Ale
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

India Pale AleIndia Pale Ale
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From:
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
English IPA
ABV:
6.8%
Score:
83
Avg:
3.67 | pDev: 13.62%
Reviews:
333
Ratings:
382
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Apr 13, 2020
Added:
Sep 25, 2001
Wants:
  7
Gots:
  4
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by neonbrown82:
Photo of neonbrown82
Reviewed by neonbrown82 from Nebraska

4.1/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
This is a good IPA. Not a whole lot different from SNPA. Arguably it is not all that much bitter either, though it is higher in alcohol and thus probably more highly hopped to balance it out. Furthermore, I was told that this was more English inspired than your typical IPA, and I can see where those people were coming from, but it still tastes distinctly American to my tastebuds.

The beer pours to a nice pale copper color. Huge white head with a good retention, supported by a decent carbonation. Lacing is alright, though fairly washy. It appears as though it is bottle conditioned since it has a hint of yeast in suspension.

The smell is good. Nice and bitter. Smells like magnum, cascade, or chinook... most likely a blend of those and possibly others. A sharp piney grapefruit aroma backed by some nice caramel and biscuity malt. Quite good. Not all that much different than SNPA, though perhaps a bit more bready malt and resinous hops.

The taste is just as I suspected from the smell. Sweet caramel malt up front with a bit of a bready, biscuity English malt profile. The hops are plentiful, though as I said before, not much more intensely hopped than SNPA. Floral, grapefruity, and pine resin.

The body is fairly light with a crisp carbonation. The bitterness is sharp but very clean. There is a hint of alcohol, unlike SNPA, but it is still very drinkable. I enjoyed it very much, but I doubt I will miss it when it is out of season since it is not all that different from the Pale.
Feb 13, 2007
More User Ratings:
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.65/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Hopefully its obvious this is an old review. Still have the shirt and the pint glass. Wanna say this came out in like '99 maybe? Could have been 2000.

Anyhoo, poured similar to a lot of their ipas/pale ales, darker than average. 3/4" white head, great retention for an ipa. The aroma was hoppier than about any other English ipa I've ever had. Lots of woodiness, pine and grapefruit to it. Think of Ichy IPA but with more hops. EKG hops might be here, has that earthy mild tree and citrus thing.

Taste was fine. A lot of C hops make me think this is borderline on the English ipa categorization, but I get it compared to today's proprietary hopped juice bombs. Malt had its share of heavier stuff, but nothing that should be foreign to a Sierra Nevada hoppy beer fan. This one tasted similar to pale ale, but seemingly with less crystal malt, and yet, more toffee notes. Burton yeast? I dunno. Around 50ibu with heartier than most malt bill and perhaps a mix of old world and old new world hops.
Apr 13, 2020
 
Rated: 3.82 by pkalix from California

Aug 13, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by jpuetz from South Dakota

Aug 11, 2015
 
Rated: 3.97 by connecticutpoet from Connecticut

Aug 09, 2015
 
Rated: 3.8 by grahamboudreaux from Tennessee

Mar 26, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by Robyn from South Carolina

Jul 28, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by Howlader from Canada (AB)

Jul 20, 2014
Photo of phartman133
Reviewed by phartman133 from Michigan

2.13/5  rDev -42%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 2.25
A nice copper big with a big head. It has pine and oaky smells. You can't smell the hops in the aroma, but you can once you taste it. Great IPA for someone who isn't into IPA's and who doesn't enjoy that hoppy taste. Goes down smooth, with a pleasant aftertaste.
Apr 22, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Noelito76 from New York

Apr 12, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by harpus from Alabama

Apr 09, 2014
Photo of chum_husk
Reviewed by chum_husk from Minnesota

3/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12oz stubby bottle, review is from notes.

Ah, the old school sierra nevada ipa. Before I knew what an English IPA was I used to savage this beer to my friends, but eventually had an epiphany - it's not that bad. and I actually grew to really like it right as it was discontinued. Still, it was nothing super special: just an average EIPA in a style where almost all of them are just average
Mar 09, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by buzzy from Pennsylvania

Mar 04, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by wc94wc from California

Feb 23, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by chet4 from Massachusetts

Feb 21, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by BillRoth from Maryland

Dec 22, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by XmnwildX12 from Minnesota

Dec 13, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by GNH3 from Virginia

Nov 20, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by rye_so_serious from Georgia

Nov 18, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by WolfAlynn from Ohio

Oct 16, 2013
India Pale Ale from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 382 ratings