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 #204
ABV:
5.6%
Score:
90
Ranked #9,084
Avg:
4.03 | pDev: 11.66%
Reviews:
3,288
Ratings:
12,276
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 23, 2024
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 Jim67:
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Rated by Jim67 from Michigan

4.16/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dec 27, 2017
More User Ratings:
 
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
 
Rated: 4.17 by emwilke from Nevada

Nov 23, 2023
Photo of dano213
Reviewed by dano213 from Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
12oz bottle purchased from the fridge as a single for $2.49. PKGD 09/12/23, so this beer is just over two months old.

Look: It has a very nice copper color. Essentially clear but there is a slight haze. There is a steady stream of tiny bubbles rising up the glass. There was a frothy, eggshell-colored head of about two fingers that eventually reduced to a thinner layer.

Smell: It has the trademark Cascade hop nose that Sierra Nevada has become known for. Lots of citrus notes, pine, some floral and honey notes, and earthy goodness. It has a bit of caramel malt character also. The nose is also a bit peppery. More specific notes of orange peel, pine tar, and resin. The aromas are so nice, this could be a nice perfume or cologne.

Taste: Ah, so refreshing and so tasty. It is very flavorful and also very easy to drink. The flavors on the palate very much mimic the nose. It's the prototypical West Coast Pale Ale: it's a hop-driven American Pale Ale that also has a substantive malty backbone with nice caramelly, biscuity flavors. It has a very nice orange peel flavor that is not overly bitter or sweet. There's a more subtle grapefruit pith and lemon peel character. The finish is moderately to highly bitter.

Feel: It's light to medium-bodied. Nicely carbonated; it has a slightly soft mouthfeel. It's very drinkable. Super clean and very crisp, especially for an APA.

Overall: This is an excellent beer. I can't believe that it took me so long to review this. I think that part of the problem and my only criticism of this beer is that I find it very hard to obtain fresh. I'm not sure why that is since SN has such good distribution (especially with the NC facility) and this is their flagship beer. I think that what sets this beer apart from most other American Pale Ales is its more bitter, drier finish. I think that it really adds to its refreshing-ness.

ALCOHOL BY VOLUME
5.6%

BITTERNESS UNITS
38

CARBS (GRAMS)
14.3G

CALORIES
175

PROTEIN
1.9G

MALTS
Caramelized, Two-row Pale

HOPS
Cascade

YEAST
Ale
Nov 21, 2023
 
Rated: 3.72 by sbradley41 from Pennsylvania

Nov 10, 2023
Pale Ale from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 12276 ratings