Pronto IPA
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Bottle from Trader Joe's. Deep amber, some orange hue as well, one finger frothy head. Mild fruity aroma, caramel malts. Taste is a nice blend of the caramel and tropical fruits, neither dominating, both accentuating each other. I was expecting to not like this, not a fan of mango, but this is done really well.

 

 

From the 500 ml. bottle. No date that I saw. Sampled on December 31, 2017.

A bronze-amber color defines the pour with a modest, lasting off-white head that laces as it fades.

The aroma brings out a nice array of tropical fruit, mango, and tea leaves. Maybe some toffee notes offsetting the soft white bread.

The body is about medium but there is an acidity to it.

The flavors are also tropical and fruity with an added, interesting pepper sensation toward the end. Mild to moderate bitterness to end.

 

 

Clear pink and orange tinged amber with plenty of foam in the snifter. Very lively on the tongue with a malty body. The aroma is on the peculiar side, not like mango at all but more of a passionfruit and funky squash note.

This is malty with a distinct sweetness, but quite well balanced with the fruity tart edge. The hop mix does not provide much bitterness. There is more of a woody taste to go along with the fruit. Sudsy and tangy, with some seeds and stems astringency in the finish. From the 24 oz bottle purchased at Trader Joes.

 

2017-11-06
24oz bottle served in a pint glass. 080717 is printed on the shoulder...barely within my three month limit of confidence. I retain hope, because I think Sierra Nevada beer often lasts better than most.

Pours a deep amber with a slight reddish huge, a big coarse head, and medium carbonation. Retention seems good. Smell is ripe mango/guava notes. I don't know what hibiscus smells like.

Taste is more of the same, with a moderately strong citrus streak through it, coming off somewhere in between lemon and orange. Tropical characteristics seem to build on each sip.

Mouthfeel is thick and filmy. Overall, not bad.

 

PKGD 08/07/17, this pours copper/brownish color with a 2 finger foamy beige colored head that was packed with bubbles of all sizes, fading slowly and leaving good foamy lacing rings as it went down. I love that this bomber is the same shape as the regular size Sierra Nevada bottles.

Smells of mango and tropical fruit up front, followed by flowers and hibiscus, then caramel, honey and citrus notes. No real malt backbone or biscuit in the nose, it's mostly sweet and fruity, with lemon zest, light grapefruit, floral notes and then some earthy aspects. Hard to discern the floral aromas so I assume that the hibiscus and C hops listed on the bottle (calypso, comet and centennial hops) are driving this to a floral nose.

Tastes starts off very floral with flowers, fresh cut grass, rose pedals and hibiscus, but thankfully shifts to citrus flavors with orange peel, light grapefruit and tangerine before the honey, tea leaf and herbal notes kick in. It seems sweet, but it's not as the floral accents release mild peppery spices and a faint citrus bitterness. It's strange, but somehow it works.

Mouthfeel was smooth and on the thin side with mild carbonation, an average body, a slight bitterness and a sweetness that's part citrus, part flowery and then herbal. It fades like with a taste like rose pedals so the hibiscus must be a bigger influence than expected.

Overall it was a good beer considering they took a base IPA and experimented with mango and hibiscus. The star ingredients may have muted the hops a bit, but for a Trader Joe's "exclusive" 24 ounce bottle that costs $4.99, how could I pass this up. An earthy IPA to match the people who shop at Trader Joe's.

Told this was unique to Trader Joe's. Packaged on Aug 7, rated on Oct 17th. Dark amber, hazy with frothy and durable head. Truth in labeling: the fruit comes right at you from across the table. Floral scents, sweet. That carries through to the taste, friuts and edgy hops on the tongue and not much else except a lingering sweetness. Overall, not too bad but dnot our favorite. Being fron SN, you know it's well crafted.

 

 

 

Brief impression from a bottle:

B- / WORTHY

 

24 ounce bottle - $4.99 at Trader Joe's in Roswell, Georgia.

Appearance: Pours a lightly hazed, reddish, rust-tinted body with a fluffed, near white head. Active carbonation. Head steadily collapses, settling to a lasting, fifth-of-an-inch-high layer.

Smell: Toast, grains and some dry caramel. A small-sized spoonful of orange marmalade with hibiscus flowers, mango juice and a bit of grapefruit rind with some background spice and earthiness.

Taste: Toasted breadcrust with a thin glaze of caramel with a brief, light sweetness. Floral, citrusy hops with a bit of earthiness, a little herb. Subtle hibiscus and mango fruitiness, though it's there. Continued bitterness and earthiness, now with a touch of alcohol. Flavors recede into the drying finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Overall: It's not worthy of a ticker tape parade but it's fairly well-made and solid, particularly for the price.

Smells of strong hibiscus. I don't get alot of fruit in the aroma. Tastes better then the smell leads on. Mild bitterness with a sweet mango presence. Everything is done so preciously with this brew. Very tight and works well together.

Large bottle, from Trader Joe's, a decent value at $4 and change per.

Packaged 08/07/17

Pours with a medium haze, medium amber, fluffy khaki cap, leaves nice looking scattered fine bits and some bars of lacing.

Fruity sniff, with mango, tea and some herbal qualities coming through.

Pleasantly fruited up, tropical, with some more herbal tea like notes...mango, papaya yes, along with ample sweet vanilla/honey maltyness. I like it and will by it again, upon my next TJs visit.