40th Hoppy Anniversary Ale
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- From:
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- American IPA
- ABV:
- 6%
- Score:
- 88
- Avg:
- 3.93 | pDev: 8.14%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 267
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Feb 28, 2026
- Added:
- Aug 28, 2019
- Wants:
- 10
- Gots:
- 69
SCORE
88
Very Good
88
Very Good
Hop-forward beers weren’t popular when we started brewing in 1980. But we loved them, and we knew that if we were going to open a brewery, we’d better make something distinctive. It’s been 40 years since then, and we’re still brewing what we love. This beer showcases the bold flavors and aromas of a classic West Coast IPA: intense pine and citrus with a deep gold color and slight caramel sweetness. Here’s to following your passion, and to the next 40 years.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Wasatch:
Reviewed by Wasatch from Colorado
4.24/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
12 oz. Bottle
PKGD: 12/03/19
Poured into a Tree House glass a pretty nice clean/clear dark golden orange color, pretty nice carbonation, with a pretty nice one-finger plus thick/creamy off-white head, with some pretty nice sticky lacing left behind. The nose is hoppy, malty, with a nice little citrus complex (orange, tangerine, grapefruit, lemon, apricot), pretty nice piney. The taste is hoppy, malty, with a nice little citrus complex (orange, tangerine, grapefruit, lemon, apricot), pretty nice piney, nice little sweetness. Medium body, ABV hidden nicely, with a nice little dry/bitter finish. Overall, a pretty tasty brew.
Jan 13, 2020PKGD: 12/03/19
Poured into a Tree House glass a pretty nice clean/clear dark golden orange color, pretty nice carbonation, with a pretty nice one-finger plus thick/creamy off-white head, with some pretty nice sticky lacing left behind. The nose is hoppy, malty, with a nice little citrus complex (orange, tangerine, grapefruit, lemon, apricot), pretty nice piney. The taste is hoppy, malty, with a nice little citrus complex (orange, tangerine, grapefruit, lemon, apricot), pretty nice piney, nice little sweetness. Medium body, ABV hidden nicely, with a nice little dry/bitter finish. Overall, a pretty tasty brew.
More User Ratings:
Rated by ttoadee from Texas
4.1/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
RB transfer
Feb 28, 2026
Reviewed by Sinfull from New York
4/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Clear, amber color. Big, white head. Pine, malt, and light citrus notes in the aroma. Hoppy, bitter taste with a malty backbone.. Classic pale ale from a classic brewery.
Jun 06, 2025
Reviewed by DraftMonger from Denmark
3.53/5 rDev -10.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.75
3.53/5 rDev -10.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.75
Copenhagen 30/10 2020. 35,5 cl bottle from Meny, Østerfælled Torv, Kbh. Ø. A big orange “40” on black background to signify the anniversary.
Pours hazy, golden yellow with a medium-sized white head. Settles as thin, patchy layer of foam unable to cover the surface of the beer. No lacing to speak of.
Aroma is medium intense with a sweet, fruity odor mingling with a tart citric scent. Mango and peach. Grape fruit and citrus. A bit juicy.
Medium strong carbonation. Thin, watery, lively and tingling texture.
Flavor is medium intense with a light sweetness followed by a strong, citric bitterness. Aftertaste is bitter. Finish is dry.
Nice enough and pleasantly dry. But I would go for a Torpedo if I had the choice.
Apr 20, 2025Pours hazy, golden yellow with a medium-sized white head. Settles as thin, patchy layer of foam unable to cover the surface of the beer. No lacing to speak of.
Aroma is medium intense with a sweet, fruity odor mingling with a tart citric scent. Mango and peach. Grape fruit and citrus. A bit juicy.
Medium strong carbonation. Thin, watery, lively and tingling texture.
Flavor is medium intense with a light sweetness followed by a strong, citric bitterness. Aftertaste is bitter. Finish is dry.
Nice enough and pleasantly dry. But I would go for a Torpedo if I had the choice.
Reviewed by CoasterRider from Washington
4.08/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
This beer pours a light golden color with a nice medium head. It has a bready caramel malt taste and a robust hop flavor. For their 40th anniversary beer I was expecting something better. It is better than decent but not by much. Rated 4/20/2020.
65 IBUs
Jan 21, 202565 IBUs
Reviewed by CHickman from New York
3.83/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours cloudy brown orange color with a lot of sediment floating around in it; the head was 1 finger thick and faded in average time, leaving decent lacing. Smells really sweet like honey drenched malt, caramel, butterscotch, some floral notes and piney hops. Taste is also quite sweet with sweet malt, caramel, orange peel, butterscotch, yeast, peppery spices, piney hops and floral notes. This was an old bottle, so I’m sure it was much better fresh.
Jan 13, 2024
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho
3.5/5 rDev -10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle from Boise Co-op. Deep golden body, thick fluffy head. Aroma recalls classic IPA, piney, woody earthy. Taste brings caramel malts along with more of the classic hops. Drying, light bitterness.
Jun 03, 2023
Reviewed by MaddDoGG5150 from California
4.13/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.13/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Appearances: Pours a very slightly translucent golden amber color with tiny bit of sediment. Has bright white foam head that retains nicely. Leaves behind some sticky lacing.
Aroma: Dark fruit, sweet malts like a mild molasses, and some earthy tones.
Taste: Malty upfront, an earthy, hoppy, bready balance in the mid. A tiny bit grainy in the background, not enough to be extremely noticeable, but just enough to give off an old school vibe. Finishes with a pleasant bitterness.
Overall: I am surprised with this brew. It is very well balanced, and has a little bit of complexity to it. I would absolutely buy it again.
Feb 07, 2023Aroma: Dark fruit, sweet malts like a mild molasses, and some earthy tones.
Taste: Malty upfront, an earthy, hoppy, bready balance in the mid. A tiny bit grainy in the background, not enough to be extremely noticeable, but just enough to give off an old school vibe. Finishes with a pleasant bitterness.
Overall: I am surprised with this brew. It is very well balanced, and has a little bit of complexity to it. I would absolutely buy it again.
Reviewed by lwillitz from Wisconsin
3.75/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12-oz bottle into Samuel Smith pint glass
A - 3 fingers off-white foam over a cloudy body of deep golden amber; some sediment and high visible carbonation
S - citrus and pine; pretty weak on the nose
T - pine, citrus, honey sweetness, wheat bread
M - slick medium body, medium carbonation
O - a fairly simple west coast IPA
Apr 02, 2022A - 3 fingers off-white foam over a cloudy body of deep golden amber; some sediment and high visible carbonation
S - citrus and pine; pretty weak on the nose
T - pine, citrus, honey sweetness, wheat bread
M - slick medium body, medium carbonation
O - a fairly simple west coast IPA
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