Sierra Nevada 40th Hoppy Anniversary Ale: Thoughts?

Got the bottles in town, $8.78 a 6pack plus tax.

 

"Smooth" is exactly what I was thinking with SNPA too, but I feel like I'm the only one not thinking of resin with the 40th.

 

I thought it had a resinous maybe hop oily character to it. Shrugs.

 

It's not huge, like so many others can be, but it's bigger enough than the Pale to be distinctive.

 

Since the reviews are mixed on this I grabbed only one bottle to try. Pleasantly surprised! It drinks like an updated SNPA which is a welcomed change from my fav pale ale. The hops in the 40th are more citrusy, malt is more restrained and vibrant compared to SNPA but it is still there in a more elegant way. All flavors are very cohesive, so the balance is great. At the end I got more refreshing and drinkable, very well crafted WCIPA. Gonna get a six pack!

 

5 year old Bigfoot used to be my preference, but over the years I’ve come to really appreciate fresh Bigfoot. That’s probably my favorite now.

I also found it interesting that Ken Grossman prefers it fresh since this beer is so notorious for being aged.

Glad I could motivate both of you to do a blind tasting, it’s really interesting hearing both of your thoughts. @steveh and I were talking about adding Bigfoot to the line up, I’m glad you did.

Do you have a good relationship with any of your local stores? Mine will order it for me if I ask.

I definitely got a smoother mouthfeel out of the Pale Ale. I distinctly remember that.

 

I like the 40th anniversary but prefer PA, Torpedo or Celebration. I get a thin Hop Hunter vibe from this beer and that's not my favorite.

 

I drank the last of mine Friday night. My overall opinion is that the beer was decent but nothing over the top. It was a little resin forward with a slight oily hit but and as a whole good. I did hope for a little more from a 40th but again it was good so I cannot fault the beer. Would I seek out more, sadly no since I enjoy other SN offerings more. Price was great and freshness also.
Cheers

 

I never see the Hop Hunter in my area, so I wish the 40th could stay in the regular rotation as a superb middle ground between SNPA and Torpedo. The gap is big enough to squeeze in a more than solid 6% IPA that is brighter that its rather malty "darker" cousins.

 

What's the final sale price? I am always curious about what other states are like in comparison to mine. Here the avg. final sale going rate for this beer is $10.49.

I disagree and think that once any newness wore off sales would quickly tank, as SN is way too IPA heavy as it is and another would just make things worse for them.

 

Add 5% sales tax. I'm too lazy right now to figure that out.

 

$9.22 Good price!

 

Wow- lots of Thread pages on this beer. I will be honest, I didn't read many of them, but I am 40 this year as well; so cheers to me and Sierra Nevada! 1980 was a great year. I am drinking the 40 anny beer now and it takes me back to my craft beer roots of drinking SNAP while learning how to home brew beer with my dad for my 21st birthday.

 

to me @TongoRad hit the nail on the head about five pages ago (and now I'll probably misquote him) when he said 'SNPA's big brother' (or words to that effect.)

 

There are no real independent ones that I'd have order it, but there are plenty of spots it will turn up -- sooner or later.

 

Sorry (@TongoRad ), but that was my quote.

 

Bottles are just as good as on draught. December 20th bottling. On this beer, I will be a glutton!

 

From the marketing point of view? You're probably right. But I was talking about a very good beer that is different than the others SN offerings.

 

Was about to comment myself, but yeah I don't recall saying that part. Good take, though!

FWIW, I just had a few more tonight and that hint of Earl Grey I was getting a few weeks ago with my first glass has now become a defining aspect of this beer for me. Funny how that happens sometimes...

 

Sorry! I knew it was somebody knowledgeable whose palate I often find myself agreeing with, just got the wrong guy.