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Celebration
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.


- From:
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- American IPA
Ranked #205 - ABV:
- 6.8%
- Score:
- 92
Ranked #4,267 - Avg:
- 4.15 | pDev: 11.33%
- Reviews:
- 3,709
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Sunday at 08:18 PM
- Added:
- Nov 02, 2001
- Wants:
- 416
- Gots:
- 2,219
Fresh Hop Ale; no spices.
We first brewed Celebration IPA in the winter of 1981. Each year, we use only the first fresh hops of the growing season to create this complex and robust ale. Layered pine and citrus hop aromas balance delicately against rich, malt sweetness to shape this bold wintertime classic.
We first brewed Celebration IPA in the winter of 1981. Each year, we use only the first fresh hops of the growing season to create this complex and robust ale. Layered pine and citrus hop aromas balance delicately against rich, malt sweetness to shape this bold wintertime classic.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by NCC-1701-D from Alabama
4.1/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
LOOK: Reddish-amber, slightly opaque, excellent lacey head retention. Clean and inviting look.
AROMA: malty and bready, but with a tang of piney hops. American IPA vibes.
TASTE: amazingly well-balanced and fresh hoppy profile with just the right amount of malt backbone to round it out. Tiniest note of far-away sweetness in the aftertaste.
MOUTHFEEL: foamy head gives way to moderate body and carbonation.
OVERALL: been a major fan of this seasonal for years, and 2023 doesn’t disappoint. Maybe a little bit less complex overall than last year’s, but still amazing and well worth the traditional 12 pack over Thanksgiving weekend :)
Sunday at 08:18 PMAROMA: malty and bready, but with a tang of piney hops. American IPA vibes.
TASTE: amazingly well-balanced and fresh hoppy profile with just the right amount of malt backbone to round it out. Tiniest note of far-away sweetness in the aftertaste.
MOUTHFEEL: foamy head gives way to moderate body and carbonation.
OVERALL: been a major fan of this seasonal for years, and 2023 doesn’t disappoint. Maybe a little bit less complex overall than last year’s, but still amazing and well worth the traditional 12 pack over Thanksgiving weekend :)
Reviewed by MattS63 from Georgia
4.36/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.36/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Love this beer and look forward to it every year.
The fresh, hoppy bitterness up front is wonderful (missing in some “new” IPAs). Dry, malty bitter finish. Great balance for a hop-forward beer.
Saturday at 07:03 PMThe fresh, hoppy bitterness up front is wonderful (missing in some “new” IPAs). Dry, malty bitter finish. Great balance for a hop-forward beer.
Reviewed by Burrocreek from Arizona
4/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This is an excellent, ultra classic American IPA in the tradition of Bell’s Two Hearted Ale. Cascade hops and caramel malt. Not a hazy modern IPA at all. Solidly bitter with great mouthfeel. Excellent.
Friday at 10:44 PMRated by Danmooney40 from Virginia
4.09/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.09/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A favorite hoppy IPA of mine. It's annual release near me in late October is much watched and waited for by me.
Friday at 03:29 AMReviewed by BJB13 from Maryland
4.33/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.33/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
12 ounce can poured into a nonic style pint glass.
Nice clear amber pour with a big fluffy manila head leaving clumps of sticky lace. Robust green and piney hop aroma. Hop forward with a decent malt backbone. Piney and green hop bitterness is aggressive, there is a bit of citrus peel at the finish. Medium-weight body is soft, a touch creamy and a little crisp around the edges with a clean finish. Well done and greater than the sum of it's parts. Classic.
Wednesday at 09:12 PMNice clear amber pour with a big fluffy manila head leaving clumps of sticky lace. Robust green and piney hop aroma. Hop forward with a decent malt backbone. Piney and green hop bitterness is aggressive, there is a bit of citrus peel at the finish. Medium-weight body is soft, a touch creamy and a little crisp around the edges with a clean finish. Well done and greater than the sum of it's parts. Classic.
Rated by Davethophead from New Jersey
4.46/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.46/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Always happy to revisit this beer every year.
Nov 19, 2023Reviewed by IkelovesDeb from Pennsylvania
4.4/5 rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.4/5 rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Look forward to the release of this beer every year for over 2 decades now. A definite classic. True hop flavor without over doing it. Highly recommended
Nov 18, 2023Reviewed by Deaconmark from Illinois
4.93/5 rDev +18.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
4.93/5 rDev +18.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
What can I say? Pours a bit cloudy but dense tanish head 3 fingers. Smell of fruity presence and pine. It hits hops and malt at once. Carmel and a bit of brown sugar with a touch a toasty bread. I have been drinking it since the 1991 version I believe. A classic to judge all winter IPA brews an American classic don’t pass it by.
Nov 18, 2023Reviewed by AlCaponeJunior from Texas
4.33/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.33/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Every year I look forward to this one coming out, and it never disappoints.
Celebration is about Excellence in choice and addition of hops to maximize flavor, without going completely over the top. The floral complexities are lovely. The malt backbone is ideal.
This beer is what happens when you brew an IPA but you almost get a winter warmer instead. Highly recommend.
Nov 13, 2023Celebration is about Excellence in choice and addition of hops to maximize flavor, without going completely over the top. The floral complexities are lovely. The malt backbone is ideal.
This beer is what happens when you brew an IPA but you almost get a winter warmer instead. Highly recommend.
Rated by wanmei_xiatian from Washington
4/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Reddish color, malty and citrus smell, lingering bitterness in aftertaste but quite drinkable. Overall, an classic IPA but nothing really memorable.
Nov 11, 2023Reviewed by Saunders from New York
4.48/5 rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
4.48/5 rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
The 2023 vintage strikes me first as a little less complex than earlier vintages. It’s a fabulous west coast IPA this year, as every year in the past that I can remember. There appears to be one dominant fresh hop that’s on the bitter side, and especially thirst quenching. There’s a nice malt backbone to the beer.
From a 12 ounce bottle dated October 11, 2023. It drinks fast with an appealing creamy mouthfeel. I loo forward to this beer every year and it never disappoints.
Nov 09, 2023From a 12 ounce bottle dated October 11, 2023. It drinks fast with an appealing creamy mouthfeel. I loo forward to this beer every year and it never disappoints.
Celebration from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
92 out of
100 with
10924 ratings
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