Sierra Nevada appreciation...

SNPA was my gateway beer and still a favorite. Always keep some Bigfoot on hand too.

 

I have a ton of respect for Sierra Nevada. Was just at the brewery and the wife and I were both impressed with how friendly, inviting, down to earth, and community oriented they were - especially considering how successful they are.

Their beer isn't my favorite, but it's always good enough. My favorite things they've done is probably the Barrel Aged Bigfoot. Regular Bigfoot, Ruthless Rye, Hoptimum, Whiskey Barrel Aged Ovila Quad, Kellerweis and Tumbler are nice, Celebration, and their Stout are probably my other preferred releases. I haven't managed to have either of the Hemisphere releases, though. I probably drink more of their beers than I realize. :-)

 

I've only had the pale ale and I don't rate it at all. I find it has a cloying blue cheese flavour, very much like that of Stilton, which totally negates the refreshing hop character. While everyone tastes things differently the cheese in SN Pale Ale really punches through for me.

 

That particular beer is far from my favorite, even though it is their flagship...

I'd be curious to compare what you're tasting in the UK to what it tastes like in the US... Or in California... Or at the brewery. Also, the keg recipe is different than the bottle recipe. The bottle recipe is much, much better IMO.

Next time I have a SNPA I will look for the cheese, but I really wonder if your experience has something to do with the freshness of the beer by the time it reaches you, and also the keg vs bottle issue. (I'm assuming, of course, that you had the beer in the UK)

 

i really dont like hops at all...wich ill probly get cruisified for..but i love their porter and stout, kellerweiss is ok and i like their summerfest...narwhal sounds very intruging as well as the hemesphere beers

 

I hereby crucify you for the fact that you don't like hops AND your spelling skills!

 

forgive me...for im an uneducated redneck....i can skin a buck and run a trot line...but cant spell a lick

 

that's OK- a country boy can survive

 

Torpedo, Celebration, and Ruthless Rye are great. Super happy to find Ruthless Rye 6-packs on sale for $4.99 and Torpedo for $6.99. Prices couldn't be better.

And lest we forget, BIGFOOT is amazing.

 

the liquor store where i work torpedo is 12.99$ a sixpk plus tax

 

Hence the word "sale," but I feel ya. Obviously that's an extreme example. Even at $12.99 I think it's a good value, considering comparable beers come in 4-packs.

 

well im at a little mom n pop shop in south jersey...our prices are insane...dfh palo san maron was 21.35$+tax a 4pk

 

don't eat the cookie!

 

yea...i think the most expensive beer we had since i worked there was gulden draak....27.49$+tax....
the women running the stores logic "buisness is slow? raise beer prices! we'll make more moeny selling less beer!"....morons

 

I had a handful of bottles last summer in the UK from two different sources and they both had the unusual taste. I eat a lot of Stilton cheese which is probably why I notice it. It's is a very nutty sort of blue cheese.

 

I don't drink all of their beers but when I do I prefer Narwhal stay drunky my friends

 

Hoptimum, Estate, Northern, and Southern Hemisphere. I also have a soft spot for Tumbler which is one of the beers I look forward to every Fall.

 

Well the porter is very good. Damn good enough to be at least worthy of a try. Like many of their brews, its a bit on the dry side. Its not very sweeeeeet for a porter. I could see it being some beer fans favorite porter. Not mine. But some.

 

Love Tumbler. Thought this year it improved a good deal. Not sure if it really did or if I just liked it more this year