Celebration
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

CelebrationCelebration
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From:
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
American IPA
Ranked #205
ABV:
6.8%
Score:
92
Ranked #4,281
Avg:
4.15 | pDev: 11.33%
Reviews:
3,715
Ratings:
10,934
Status:
Active
Rated:
Monday at 04:16 AM
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.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of Rodya-CA
Reviewed by Rodya-CA from California

3.99/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
- Six can pack

- hoppier than I tend to enjoy but good for the style

- crisp, pine, fresh hops

- great brown color, plenty of carbonation, lots of head, retention, and lacing

- assertive hops
Monday at 04:16 AM
Photo of mcginnipig
Reviewed by mcginnipig from California

4.33/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Always anticipate my first Celebration each year. I wasn’t disappointed. Nice hint of caramel and just the right amount of hops. Now it feels like the holidays.
Monday at 12:55 AM
 
Rated: 4.71 by KeithGreatNorth from Canada (BC)

Saturday at 11:55 PM
Photo of Gus_Woltmann
Reviewed by Gus_Woltmann

4.27/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
A generous two fingers of off-white foam crowns this brew, showcasing outstanding cap retention, medium-heavy lacing, and a lingering ring. Its deep amber hue exhibits excellent clarity. The aroma is citrusy with a lemony and piney essence. Supported by a sturdy malt base, the taste delivers a pleasant bitterness with notes of lemon and orange zest. With a medium-light body, moderate carbonation, and a clean feel, it achieves a well-balanced harmony between malt and hops. The experience concludes with a delightful, enduring bitter aftertaste.
Saturday at 07:27 AM
Photo of 1961
Rated by 1961 from Wisconsin

3.95/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Classic American West Coast IPA (Hoppy Bitterness) .
Saturday at 02:52 AM
Photo of mcgiants
Reviewed by mcgiants from New Jersey

4.52/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
12 ounce can poured into a tulip pint glass.

Look forward to this beer every (though I do try and hold out until at least Thanksgiving as have been seeing this available in October more & more... too soon!). One of my all time favorites and as this is my first rating, it seems like a good place to start and for which to judge what comes after.

Definitely on the darker end of the IPA color scale. Good lacing. No mistaking the West Coast characteristics. Old school, hoppy, bitter. Definitely some malt to compliment the hop punch. Love it.
Thursday at 08:43 PM
 
Rated: 4.07 by Beerfinder1967 from Pennsylvania

Thursday at 04:41 PM
Photo of Danimal522
Reviewed by Danimal522

3.97/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
More dark orange than amber with a thick light tan creamy head that lingers and leaves some nice lacing. This a beautiful beer to hold. The bouquet is more floral than I expected and also carries the pine scent of the description. Additionally a light lemon citrus scent can be found. While hop forward in taste there is an underlying malty balance that makes for a fantastic beer. A second taste brings in some of the citrus and pine flavors found on the nose and a lingering bitterness first established by the hops. Easy to drink with a light but complex mouthfeel this beer is a standard barer that can be enjoyed by all.
Nov 29, 2023
Photo of DoctorZombies
Reviewed by DoctorZombies from Florida

4.32/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Two fingers of off white foam; excellent cap retention; medium heavy lacing and ring; deep amber color with excellent clarity. Lemony nose; pine. Firm malt base; bitter citrus - lemon and orange zest. Medium light body; moderate minus carbonation; clean feel. Overall well balanced between malt and hops; lovely long bitter linger.
Nov 28, 2023
Photo of NCC-1701-D
Reviewed by NCC-1701-D from Alabama

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 :)
Nov 26, 2023
 
Rated: 4.02 by jiggidy from Michigan

Nov 26, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by Nyoder

Nov 26, 2023
 
Rated: 4.55 by BLVBBERGIXLL from Arizona

Nov 25, 2023
Photo of MattS63
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
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.
Nov 25, 2023
Photo of Burrocreek
Reviewed by Burrocreek from Arizona

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.
Nov 24, 2023
Photo of Danmooney40
Rated by Danmooney40 from Virginia

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.
Nov 24, 2023
Photo of BJB13
Reviewed 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
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.
Nov 22, 2023
 
Rated: 4.35 by Bitburger from Vermont

Nov 22, 2023
 
Rated: 3.39 by Keith27614 from North Carolina

Nov 19, 2023
Celebration from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 10934 ratings