Posted By Kevin on Jun 2, 2010 | 1 comment

I’ve been in a bit of a funk lately (and no, it has absolutely no connection to last night’s episode of Glee) and I was really in the mood for a top-notch beer. So, tonight I grabbed the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale which I had been waiting to drink. The bottle says “Sierra Nevada pale ale is a completely natural ale. There are no additives, only the finest malted barley, whole hops, brewer’s yeast, and crystal clear water. The fine layer of yeast in each bottle is a result of the traditional bottle conditioning process that produces carbonation naturally.” Additionally, it says that it is 5.6% ABV.

When I poured it from the bottle I tried to pour it carefully to try and keep as much yeast sediment as possible out of the glass. It’s color was a nice deep orange and it had a decent head initially. The bubbles fell a bit into a soapy foam across the top of the beer. The aroma was wonderful, it had a nice citrusy and grassy hop smell with a hint of malt in the finish of the nose.

The body was light but the mouthfeel was nice and creamy. It was a nice balance of both malt and hops, with the hops definitely having a bit of dominance. The maltiness was light and the hops made it very crisp and refreshing. The taste of hops lingered in my mouth for a half minute or so after taking a drink – a great hop flavor.

Overall, it is a light, crisp, and refreshing beer with a creaminess that makes it feel like your getting something more from it. I’d pair this beer with a great burger or nice food right off the grill. If you’re planning a cookout and want to make your guests happy with a good beer, I highly recommend this one (just warn them about the yeast at the bottom of the bottle and reassure them it’s good for them). It’s what I (and I’m sure many others) consider to be a hallmark of it’s style of beer. Even before I make it to 1000 beers, I’m certain I’ll circle back to this one again.