2014 Celebration Ale

I agree with every word of this post. I had Trillium's Galaxy Dry-Hopped Fort Point Pale Ale, and their Congress Street IPA along with Celebration this weekend. While Trillium's blew Celebration away in terms of hoppiness, there's something about Celebration that is incredibly enjoyable. "High drinkability" is a great way to put it, it's bitter, but Sierra Nevada has a way with two-row pale and caramel malts.

Did anyone else get NOTHING but caramel malt into the nose, followed by a bitter but maltier taste? Made for a less hoppy experience, but a more drinkable one. And I'm definitely not one of those, "this beer sucks, it's way less hoppy than last year's."

 

I've seen 12 packs in western MA so they should be out across the state.

 

I picked up a 6 pack at Kappy's in Medford Friday night for like $9.99, I didn't see and 12pks, then Saturday I was up in New Hampshire and they had 12pks for $10.99 at Market Basket.

 

How does bottling/availability of Celebration last? I would rather pick up fresh(er) 6 packs periodically than get a case or two now.

 

I think the fact that the bottle has the year printed on it makes people think they should be cellaring it. No point. Drink it fresh and enjoy it.

 

Got a 12 pack over the weekend. Fantastic as usual. Love this beer.

 

Just wanted to let the people know who were wondering if it was palate fatigue making them think Celebration tasted more malty and less hoppy. NO, it's not your palate! This years Celebration is definitely less hoppy and more malty! It tastes more like a pale ale that leans on the bitter side. I was disappointed.

 

I tapped my keg of it over the weekend and I'm happy to report is drinking as well as ever. All the flavors are just as I remember them being and the bitterness is spot on from what I can recall. I'll have to pick up a 12 pack to compare.

 

I'm going to have to agree with this. I've had Celebration every year since 1994 and this year the hops were definitely less noticeable in the smell and the taste. And just for the record, last year I posted it was hoppier than it had been in years past. I'm sure the recipe is still the same, but the hops can vary depending on the harvest. Does anyone know if this was a good growing season for the hops used in Celebration?

 

Here's what sierranevadabill wrote about 2013's Celebration Ale production:

That, of course, may be different this year, given the new Mill River, NC brewery.

As for availability, that's going to vary from market to market, but, in general, I've found it disappears quicker these days than it did 10 - 20 years ago. I no longer think "Oh, I'll pick up more SNCA next month..." when I'm shopping in late November or December. When I see it, I buy enough to last me.

 

See the post above quoting sierranevadabill. Since this is made with the first hops of the season sometimes it takes that a few batches to get the recipe totally dialed in. For the past 3-4 years now I don't jump on the first case I see anymore, but wait to get it later in the season.

 

Or for the consumer... So retails don't put last year's stock on the shelf just prior to the on sale date...

All the their seasonals have the year... I don't think it's for aging Summerfest.

 

Michael, over the years have you tasted an October brewed Celebration vs. a Nov./Dec. brewed Celebration? If so, have you noticed a 'trend' that you can share with us wrt flavor profile?

Cheers!

 

How did you buy it? 6-pack, case, on draught?
Skunkiness is usually the result of exposure to UV light, but draught should never be skunked unless your pint glass was sitting in a sunny spot before it was served to you. It takes less than 30 seconds to skunk a beer in direct sunlight.

-Bill

 

Or the mistaken perception of someone who is identifying the character erroneously.

 

Picked up a six-pack last week during my wet/fresh hop spree. I thought it was very good. I didn't like it quite as much as the SN Northern Hemisphere Harvest and Wet Equinox, but it is more available and affordable.

Really planning on picking up some more with some Pale Ale, Boomerang and Torpedo to have a SN comparison night with a couple friends.

 

A question for SierraNevadaBill...

Will Costco be selling 24pks of Celebration Ale this year? Or just the Winter Sampler that recently landed?

 

It's kind of hard to track it each year when you are buying a case at a time . I also usually held off until Thanksgiving anyway, but there was a time about 3-4 years ago when I got an early sixer that seemed a bit 'off'. Some talk here on BA led me to give it another shot later that year, and I did like it better. So that's what I've done since then.

 

Well I just picked up the 10-8 batch of Celebration and I'm happy to say there is definitely a stronger hop profile than the 9-30 batch. I just had two 9-30's last night so it's not a memory issue. I'm on my second 10-8 tonight. It's still not quite as good as last year, but IMO last year was one of the best years I can remember. Regardless of all that, at 11.99 a 12 pack it's easily the best deal in craft beer right now.

 

Yes, 16 ounce four packs like Torpedo would be great!