40th Hoppy Anniversary Ale
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

40th Hoppy Anniversary Ale40th Hoppy Anniversary Ale
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From:
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
American IPA
ABV:
6%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.93 | pDev: 8.14%
Reviews:
264
Ratings:
666
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 13, 2024
Added:
Aug 28, 2019
Wants:
  10
Gots:
  69
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 dkoehler42:
Photo of dkoehler42
Reviewed by dkoehler42 from New York

4.34/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Sierra Nevada is celebrating their 40th birthday with a limited edition West coast IPA. It pours a color you would expect of a traditional IPA, has an off-white head, and the aroma of piney citrus mixed with some malt. The taste is just a clean pleasant IPA. There's a little aftertaste before the happiness returns and the sip is finished.

Sierra Nevada outdid themselves here.
Jul 24, 2020
More User Ratings:
Photo of CHickman
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
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
 
Rated: 3.07 by baklo from North Carolina

Jul 02, 2023
Photo of stevoj
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
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
Photo of MaddDoGG5150
Reviewed by MaddDoGG5150 from California

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, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by einman from Minnesota

Jan 29, 2023
 
Photo of lwillitz
Reviewed by lwillitz from Wisconsin

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, 2022
 
Rated: 3.5 by zbooks from Texas

Feb 26, 2022
 
Rated: 3.5 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Jan 17, 2022
 
Rated: 4.1 by DOCRW from Kentucky

Dec 08, 2021
 
Rated: 4.13 by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

Nov 27, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by DBosco from Massachusetts

Jul 20, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by NickMunford from Wyoming

Jul 16, 2021
 
Rated: 3.5 by McBraniel from Virginia

Jun 04, 2021
Photo of md3kcn
Reviewed by md3kcn from North Carolina

4.05/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Purchased as a single bottle from Kroger for $1.69. Poured into a nonic pint glass.

L - Light copper with a slight haze. Foamy cream-colored two-finger head.
S - Honey & pine tar. Slight stone fruit.
T - Pine, honey, grapefruit, and caramel. Starts sweet, but ends on a fairly bitter note. Finishes with a spicy, bready note.
F - Incredibly smooth. Lightly carbonated. Medium-bodied, yet easy to drink. Slick.
O - A dangerously easy IPA. Like a beefier version of their Pale Ale. Definitely worth a try, but not really worth trying again.
May 30, 2021
 
Rated: 3.85 by Chipwells from Georgia

May 24, 2021
 
Rated: 3.7 by SargeC from California

May 23, 2021
Photo of Jaasoares
Reviewed by Jaasoares from Virginia

3.52/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a clear dark amber color with minimal white head which ends up being a lacing with a few islands. Hoppy nose with pine. Mild fruit too. Taste is hoppy with resin, pine and grapefruit with a very mild caramel sweetness. Drinkable but not life changing.
May 16, 2021
 
Rated: 3.85 by Fitzy01 from Maine

May 12, 2021
40th Hoppy Anniversary Ale from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 666 ratings