Black Hop Rising
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On tap at Max's for Baltimore Beer Week.

The beer pours a fairly dark brown color with good head retention and lacing. On the nose, I get considerable licorice and roasty malt, with a hint of dry citrus. The flavor profile replicates the nose, except there is less licorice and more roasty malt flavor. Plenty of flavor in this beer, but the brewer had a deft hand in the making of it, and so nothing is over done or out of proportion. There's some light citrus in the finish which helps to buoy the malt and licorice in this beer (something I appreciate). Mouthfeel is medium bodied and the beer finishes well, with the alcohol well integrated into the flavor profile.

Not my cup of tea stylistically, but this is still an impressive, easy to appreciate beer from SN.

Simply great. It is a lager, not an ale. I would describe it as a dry hopped black pilsner really. Not quite a schwarzbier because the munich malt was not there in large proportions. The body was on the thinner side. A touch of roast, a generous amount of dry hops, an incredibly sessionable beer. In fact, I had quite a few of these at the Denver Summer Beerfest. Will attempt to replicate it !

I sampled this beer late in the day on an empty stomach, so that might affect my impression of it's taste and strength...but this immediately struck me and a friend with a positive impression.

pouring deep opaque brown into the glass, it had a minimal tan head which quickly disipated.

minimal, not unpleasant smell, mildly hoppy.

hops definitely present, crisp pungent, but not overpowering, just enough to balance the malts. no citrus, mildly herbal and peppery, clean, strong well-balanced. no real overtones of coffee, nor sweetness, nor creaminess, but strongly flavorful and refreshing.

even my friend who doesn't like beer, liked it!