Friday Beer O'clock Selections

Sierra Nevada 2010 Celebration Fresh Hop Ale - Friday Beer O'clock Selection 12-03-2010

Let me start this week's Beer O'Clock Selection by saying "Wow, what an amazing week", and I mean that. In addition to scoring two more bottles of the epic Stone 10 10 10 Vertical Epic, something I had lost hope for finding more of, this week's selection is another winner.

This week I picked up some of Sierra Nevada's 2010 Celebration Fresh Hop Ale. I was looking for a nice winter seasonal and the label on this is all about the season with snow covered log cabin and pine trees decorated with a frame of Poinsettias.

From the label, this brew is described as:

...A special ale for the holidays. Featuring the first hops of the growing season, this pioneering IPA is full of complex flavors and aromas from the generous use of whole cone american hops.

ABV: 6.8%

Appearance:

Poured with a warm slightly hazy copper color, forming a mountainous 3 finger thick foamy cream colored head that has incredible retention. Lacing is also impressive coating the sides of the glass and holding on for dear life.

Aroma:

Aroma is loaded with pine and citrus (grapefruit) with undertones of bready hop and bits of floral sweetness.

Taste:

Tastes as good as it smells. Right up front is a nice mellow sweetness with caramel malts that quickly gives way to citrus and pine in the middle with plenty of bitter hops in the back. The finish lingers with dominant bitter citrus and strong pine flavor balanced with the slight caramel malt flavors.

Feel:

Even with the moderate carbonated bite, it still "feels" pretty smooth, clean. Lighter side with clean, crisp quality.

Drinkability:

As far as IPAs go, this one ranks way up on the drinkability charts in my opinion (and I'm net a big fan of IPA). I would pop another top on this again (and considering I bought a six, I guess I have no choice).

So there you have it. Like I said, I am not a big fan of IPAs, but this one is excellent.

That's my opinion, but what do you think?

Sierra Nevada Tumbler - Friday Beer O'Clock Selection 10-22-2010

This week's selection is Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

From the Bottle:

As the nights grow cool, the leaves on the valley oaks begin to turn and fall. In honor of this yearly dance, we bring you Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale and invite you to enjoy the show.

We use malt within days of roasting at the peak of its flavor to give Tumbler a gracefully smooth malt character. So pour a glass, and grab a window seat to watch as the leaves come tumbling down.

ABV: 5.5%

Appearance:

Poured with dark brown color forming a one finger light brown foamy head. Low turbidity with good carbonated action.

Smell

Roasted, toasty malts and sweet smokiness dominate the nose with hints of nuttiness.

Taste:

As expected, nice toasty semi-sweet malts on the front giving way slight coffee and modest bitter hop flavors in the back and finishing with a lingering bitter smokey hop flavor.

Feel:

Good carbonation with some tooth. Body is on the light to medium side with a dry finish.

Drinkability:

Very drinkable brew here. Good trade between the semi-sweet and modest hop flavors - neither is outdone or over bearing. ABV is not off the charts meaning a couple (or more) won't cripple you. Really comes across well as a seasonal Autumn Ale. 

Conclusion:

Pick a cool fall evening, start a fire in the pit, pull up a chair, crack a couple of these with some friends and enjoy. Now THAT's living.

Do you have your own thought on this one? Leave a comment, we'd love to hear it.

Sierra Nevada Estate 2009 - Friday Beer O'Clock Selection 2-26-10

Today's Beer O'Clock Selection was Sierra Nevada's 2009 Estate Brewers Harvest Ale - 1st Release.

From the bottle:
This is one of the only estate-made ales available in the world today. Produced with hops and barley grown on the premises of our brewery in Chico, this ale reflects the flavors of our surroundings in California's fertile Central alley. By Growing our own natural ingrediaents, we ensure the finest two-row barley and the freshest hops on earth, from the field and into the brew kettle.

First impression:

This brew has sweet, flowery,herbal aroma. Actually very nice. It has a nice amber color and poured out producing a thick head with long retention and lacing.

Flavors are rich and pretty well balanced, but the finish is dry and leaves a little too much bitterness at the back of the mouth for my taste.

Over all it's it's not too bad. If not for the finish, I would have liked this much more.

24 oz bottle
6.7% AVB
$8 and change at Kappy's Liquors (US)