Pale Ale
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Pale AlePale Ale
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From:
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
American Pale Ale
Ranked #205
ABV:
5.6%
Score:
90
Ranked #9,071
Avg:
4.03 | pDev: 11.66%
Reviews:
3,289
Ratings:
12,279
Status:
Active
Rated:
Wednesday at 08:36 AM
Added:
Jul 05, 2001
Wants:
  377
Gots:
  3,615
Our most popular beer, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is a delightful interpretation of a classic style. It has a deep amber color and an exceptionally full-bodied, complex character. Generous quantities of premium Cascade hops give the Pale Ale its fragrant bouquet and spicy flavor.

38 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BarryMFBurton:
Photo of BarryMFBurton
Reviewed by BarryMFBurton from Indiana

3.95/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
The two Sierra Nevada creations I’ve had so far (Torpedo and Bigfoot Barleywine) were damn good. And this one, their ever-so-popular Pale Ale, has quite the reputation. So, before I even begin, I guess I have to admit that I have some pretty high standards for this particular brew. In any case, I’ll try to be as objective as possible. And, even if I end up disappointed, I’m sure I’ll be glad it was hyped up – that way, I got to explore this beer with a discerning eye.

A: Wow, a lot darker than I expected. Sure, it shines, but the body is more of a tree-sap amber than the typical PA light gold. Looks fuller-bodied than most – I like it a lot. Its foamy white head appears and then thins out almost immediately after the pour, leaving a classic, sudsy ring near the top.

S: A mild nose with a lot of complex hop aromas. The main component is a bright leafiness, but you can tell there are a few different hop varieties imbedded within: there’s bits of citrus, flowers, and spice here and there. Some yeast mellows everything out with a nice bready undertone. Great stuff.

T: The hops are elaborate and flavorful. An excellent blend, showcasing freshness, spiced bitters, and a rich dryness. The yeast is velvety smooth and provides some welcome breads to the mix. It’s a good and mellow experience. The only thing I can perceive as a negative is a bit of an unnatural feel in the wheat. It’s carried out with a slightly artificial undertone, like a BMC. It’s odd, because the other Sierra Nevada offering’s I’ve had were not at all like that. Now that I think about it, I also paid more for those. Anyway, it’s not excessively noticeable, and doesn’t impede the drinkability a whole lot. Overall, a very sessionable beer (technically, it’s 5.6%; but who’s counting?)

M: Good; nice upfront carb permits greater drinkability. Some watery notes here and there, but that’s only a very small percentage of the time.

O: I can’t believe this beer only cost me ~$16 for a 12-pack. You can hardly find Buds for that cheap! Certainly a great deal. Like I mentioned before, though, I did have high standards for this beer. Now, I’m not going to say I was disappointed (because I wasn’t). In fact, after having this beer, I find myself wishing we had more breweries like Sierra Nevada! All in all, this is a clear example of SN’s willingness to create the best beer from whatever ingredients they have, and then putting it in the same price range as many highly-commercial counterparts. I can certainly respect a brand like that. In the future, though, I’ll pay the extra couple bucks and get their Torpedo Extra India Pale Ale if I’m looking for a PA with a great price tag.
May 09, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of TooManyGlasses
Reviewed by TooManyGlasses from Canada (AB)

4.37/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Years since I had one - never rated….
Pours a clear deep copper to amber colour with three fingers of tawny off white head.
Aroma malty with caramel, a touch of bread but with distinct piney and spicy hop notes, citrus, like its cousin Celebration quite floral on the nose.
Taste follows with the caramel malt sweetness giving way to a piney and citrus hop punch - moderate bitterness with some grapefruit peel.
Smooth medium mouthfeel with moderate carbonation and a crisp slightly dry finish.
Is it Celebration? No but this is very nice.
Wednesday at 01:35 AM
Photo of ChrisMoo
Rated by ChrisMoo

4.5/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
The OG! Very impressive to the taste and smell. Please Sierra Nevada keep it going forever..
Sunday at 11:19 PM
 
Rated: 4 by shadowslink7 from Illinois

Feb 17, 2024
Photo of mooseheadchris
Rated by mooseheadchris

4.55/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Perfectly hopped, bright, and endlessly drinkable. A gold standard.
Feb 15, 2024
 
Rated: 4.13 by Aitor from Spain

Feb 11, 2024
 
Rated: 4.25 by MEnoMoney

Feb 10, 2024
 
Rated: 4.4 by waudozer from Canada (BC)

Feb 01, 2024
 
Rated: 4.15 by gongfu from Connecticut

Jan 31, 2024
 
Rated: 2.3 by notaveragejoe from Georgia

Jan 20, 2024
 
Rated: 3.5 by Dethark from England

Jan 16, 2024
 
Rated: 4.58 by SpencerCaubarreaux from Louisiana

Jan 11, 2024
 
Rated: 4.63 by SeanP99 from North Carolina

Jan 11, 2024
Photo of LanceBiggums
Reviewed by LanceBiggums from Canada (AB)

4.47/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Light amber or dark honey colour. Huge aroma, with bready and caramel malt, rather English in character, and piney, earthy, and spicy hops. The taste follows exactly, with some extra citrus elements. There is a good amount of bitterness from the American hops, but it's well balanced by a stiff-upper-lip English style malty backbone. Goes down a treat as well, perfect amount of carbonation, solidly medium mouthfeel. Overall an excellent beer, the best American ale I've ever had, and well deserving of its reputation.
Dec 21, 2023
Photo of Pomcq
Reviewed by Pomcq

4.86/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
Deserves a higher rating here—never came across a beer produced on as widely a scale, as available, as consistently delicious and as drinkable as this. It’s the go to!
Dec 03, 2023
 
Rated: 4.99 by KeithGreatNorth from Canada (BC)

Dec 03, 2023
 
Rated: 4.36 by Cole3515 from Tennessee

Nov 29, 2023
Pale Ale from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 12279 ratings