30th Anniversary - Grand Cru
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

30th Anniversary - Grand Cru30th Anniversary - Grand Cru
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From:
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
American Strong Ale
ABV:
9.2%
Score:
94
Avg:
4.21 | pDev: 9.5%
Reviews:
465
Ratings:
810
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 17, 2022
Added:
Nov 04, 2010
Wants:
  35
Gots:
  187
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by coachdonovan:
Photo of coachdonovan
Reviewed by coachdonovan from Rhode Island

3.41/5  rDev -19%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Honestly I thought Grand Cru was usually a Belgian style, but I'm psyched to see this as a combination of three all-timers: PA was one of my first craft loves, Celebration is an annual classic, and Bigfoot has recently helped turn me on to barleywines. No date on the bottle but this should be about five months old based on the release date.

Big pop of the cork with gunsmoke drifting out of the bottle, this pours a ever-so-slightly-hazy reddish amber with off-white lace that sticks around forever. Aroma has hints of Celebration but that takes a back seat to some strong medicinal alcohols. I'm surprised that the hops aren't as prominent, but then again I'm not having this fresh.

Mouthfeel is smooth and silky as I'd expect from this style and abv. The fresh hops of Celebration and Pale Ale lead the way, but again the alcohol isn't quite hidden enough. I hardly get any of the dark fruit and/or caramel sweetness from the barleywine side of things. Drinkability takes a hit as the booze burns.

Maybe my timing was off with this one- not fresh enough to get all the hops, but not aged long enough to let it cool off. Oh well. For me, it certainly comes well behind the 30th anniversary stout and barleywine. The oak certainly adds a twist, but it's not for the better.
Mar 30, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 2.48 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Jan 17, 2022
 
Rated: 4.06 by MDDMD from Pennsylvania

Nov 22, 2019
 
Rated: 4.24 by emerge077 from Illinois

Jun 14, 2019
 
Rated: 4.11 by MutuelsMark from Kentucky

Feb 10, 2019
 
Rated: 4.25 by brittanylicious from Indiana

Jan 05, 2019
 
Rated: 4.25 by heysuz from Indiana

Jan 05, 2019
 
Rated: 4.24 by Beer21 from Florida

Jun 13, 2018
 
Rated: 4.21 by JamieDuncan from Maryland

Feb 28, 2018
 
Rated: 4.5 by Dodt from Pennsylvania

Jan 09, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by csfcmitchell from Texas

Jun 29, 2017
 
Rated: 4.34 by liquorpig from Massachusetts

Feb 13, 2017
 
Rated: 4.18 by artoolemomo from Oregon

Nov 04, 2016
 
Rated: 4.04 by Thirstygoat from Illinois

Sep 17, 2016
Photo of loubrew
Reviewed by loubrew from Wisconsin

3.98/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Haven't had this previously. Just popped it and looking great (deep copper), faint smell from the barrel, and taste has that faint barrel flavor. Has a great Old Ale taste. Doing very well after all these years.
Aug 19, 2016
 
Rated: 4.23 by pagesofphotographs from Colorado

Aug 14, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by calcnerd from Pennsylvania

Jun 03, 2016
 
Rated: 4.12 by REVZEB from Illinois

May 09, 2016
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

4.24/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Dark orange and amber color, good 5/6" white head on it. Impressive appearance even for Sierra Nevada. Aroma was lots of that thick crystal malt and C hops giving citrus smells. Some woodsiness to that as well.

Taste had a good amount of grapefruit and caramel. As it warmed the citrus went into tropical territory with mild notes of pineapple. Its a good blend of three all time classics. Kind of surprised you almost get proprietary hop feels out of such traditional hop varieties used in this one.

It was a neat beer, and I'm gonna pop one of the bottles here this summer now that it is a 5 year old beer.
Apr 17, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by fosters9 from New York

Mar 22, 2016
30th Anniversary - Grand Cru from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 94 out of 100 with 810 ratings