Sierra Nevada Cold Torpedo Cold IPA

 Sierra Nevada Cold Torpedo Cold IPA.

7% ABV, 45 IBU. Sierra Nevada Brewing, CA & NC.

From the Hoppy Sampler 12-pack.

Clear, pale golden hue, small white head.

In the nose: soft & citric. Lemon, grapefruit, orange. Increasing in hop presence. 

In the mouth: bitterness starts mild and begins to build. Citrus and pine aplenty, and awfully easy drinking. Minor sweetness gets me wondering if SNBC used adjuncts, too, like so many recipes call for. Doesn’t seem their style. 

I’m still not a huge fan of this style. It’s not made for me. Too light and bitter enough. But this one ain’t bad. No thanks too shabby at all.

Cold Torpedo plunges into frigid fermentation and delivers the fruit-forward hop rush you’re after, yet this cold twist on our classic IPA finishes ultra-crisp and clean for peak drinkability.

Sierra Nevada Powder Day IPA

Sierra Nevada Powder Day IPA. Double Dry-hopped. 

7.7 % ABV, 45 IBU. Sierra Nevada Brewing, Chico, CA & elsewhere. 

Not long ago (gosh, a few hours ago, really),  I mentioned here my new-found love of the 12-pack of cans, not merely variety packs but 12, count 'em 12, of the same damned beer. You see, it just makes sense, financially. I'm so used to the 4 & 6-packs, cause I like to keep trying new things. But sometimes you need a lot of something that you can just grab and drink whenever and not worry about. Most people know this and act accordingly. And when you're me, you're all wrapped up in getting that new stuff and writing those reviews, but you need to take a break from that, don't you? Sure, you do. 

So, on the day that this one arrived at the store, I took home a 12-pack, due the economical advantage. A co-worker acted surprised. "You're that sure you're going to like it?" It's Sierra Nevada, how could I not like it? Maybe it won't be my favorite, but how often does that happen? Only a few get to be your favorite. Most are just beers you can drink and you kind of like. Also, I had been kicking myself for not buying Celebration in a 12-pack. 

Well, we're down to can 12, so it's note-taking time. Notes, ahoy!

Clear, bright golden color, snow-white head. 

In the nose: Fresh, vibrant, floral & fruity aromatics. Delivers the delightful hop aromas to satisfaction. 

In the mouth: Citrus hop flavors grace the palate first, some orange and grapefruit, with a dose of pine. Juicy, at first. Loads of hops at play, but the bitterness is a bit muted. As is the style. Just enough flavor and hop bitterness to keep me happy, but not enough to thrill me. And that's okay. Other people need their beers, too. 

I often have to talk people through beer jargon that is at times confusing. "I don't like beers that are too hoppy. This one says it's double dry-hopped. Will I hate it?" No, sir, you will not. Double dry-hopped means they left in twice the not-bitterness. Or something like that. 

Anyway, I liked this one. But, I think my next beer will have to be a little hoppier. Or, bitterer. 

Powder Day Double Dry-Hopped IPA. We started dry-hopping, and it snowballed into a full-on powder day. Notes of citrus, stone fruit, and melon pile high in a blizzard of lupulin powder.

Sierra Nevada Atomic Torpedo Juicy West Coast IPA

Sierra Nevada Atomic Torpedo Juicy West Coast IPA.

8.2 %ABV, 50 IBU. Sierra Nevada Brewing, Chico, CA & Mills River, NC. 

From the Hoppy 12-pack of bottles, I got through 3 Pale Ales, 3 Dankfuls, and 3 Torpedo, plus 2 of these, to get to this final bottle of this new beer. 

Sierra Nevada can't screw up a West Coast IPA, we all know that. But, why is it "juicy"? Can a West Coast IPA be "juicy"? Let's find out. 

To the eye: Clear, bright golden/amber, slim white head. 

In the nose: Bold citrus notes, and oncoming tropical tones, too. Sweetness increases. Now, it smells like fruit punch. Huh. 

In the mouth: Bitterness comes first, bold and brash, crisp and dry. The promised "juicy" aspect is minor, at best. If you're looking for it, maybe you can find it. And then, the alcohol comes along. Hop bitterness continues to please the palate, titillate the tongue, etc., etc. But it lacks the bitter and dry that I want from a West Coast IPA, replacing it with the juicy. And that's good for some people. I'll take it, too, I guess. 

Atomic Torpedo is our East Coast–West Coast hop collision, unleashing the joint power of two styles: juicy East Coast IPAs and dank West Coast IPAs. Fused in this Double IPA, their hop favors span lush fruit, sticky pine, and floral tones. It’s our classic IPA transformed—soft yet assertive, approachable yet atomic.

Sierra Nevada Big Little Thing Imperial IPA

 

Sierra Nevada Big Little Thing Imperial IPA.

9 % ABV, 45 IBU, Sierra Nevada Brewing, Chico, CA (and elsewhere). 

Hey, let's review from a 19.2 ounce can, even though I still have a 12 ouncer in the fridge. Why not? It made no sense to buy this, but sense can go take a flying leap sometimes, I say. It is called BIG Little Thing. (Although, shouldn't I have a bigger glass to go with this? Probably. Wish I could bring my broken Sierra Nevada IPA glass back to life. Alas.)

Completely clear (it's so nice to see that once in a while), deep golden. almost apricottish hue, slimmish white head. 

In the nose: Citrus and stone fruit, a little tropical. Touch of pine. 

In the mouth: Starts out big and bitter, not to mention juicy. Bitterness grabs the palate and won't let go. A melange of flavors convene in the mouth, some citrus, a bit of mango, pine needles and peach. Big alcohol starts to loom, enriching the flavors on the palate and stirring the brain a bit. Earthy malt feels under the blazing hoppification. Pretty damned delicious, pretty damn strong. I'm digging it, big time. 

Make way for the Big Little Thing, an Imperial IPA flexing a full malt body, restrained sweetness, and tropical hop flavors of mango, grapefruit, and tangerine.

MALTS: Pale malt, Wheat malt, Munich malt

HOPS: Magnum, Crystal, Chinook, Idaho 7, Columbus, Cascade, Mosaic

YEAST: Ale Yeast

Sierra Nevada Dankful IPA

Sierra Nevada Dankful IPA,...generously hoppy.

7.4 % ABV, 55 IBU. Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, CA.

Clear, amber-hued, slim white head. 

In the nose: Citrus and pine aplenty, with a slight dose of tropical sweetness. Lemon and orange abound.

In the mouth: Pow! Big blast of bitterness from the start, spreading citrus-y goodness and a healthy shot of dry, brittle piney flavor. Medium/light body, exquisitely drinkable. Long, bitter finish. A jolt of the juicy comes along to compliement the bitter hoppiness that rides through the whole affair. 

I am so happy that Sierra Nevada keeps making great IPAs like this. Good ol' reliable Sierra Nevada. Keep 'em coming, guys. 

(Once more, I take notes on the last can from the 6-pack. Wish I had more.)

We celebrate #IPADay every year, but this is no ordinary year. Today, we're proud to announce Dankful IPA, a hop-forward West Coast IPA that supports nonprofits working in our communities. The beer has a resinous kick with notes of pine and tropical fruit. Through our Dankful program, we've committed at least $1 million in donations this year, and are kicking things off with a $250,000 donation to @wckitchen. World Central Kitchen has served more than 25 million meals to families facing food insecurity during the COVID crisis through its #ChefsForAmerica program, while also providing jobs for restaurant workers. We're Dankful for that.

Malts:Two-row Pale, Caramelized malts & Rye. Hops:Columbus, Chinook, Mosaic, Ekuanot, Nelson Sauvin, Zappa, Idaho 7.

Sierra Nevada 3 Weight Session IPA

Sierra Nevada 3 Weight Session IPA.
4% ABV. 38 IBU.
Sierra Nevada, Chico, CA.

Clear, bright golden, slim white head.

In the nose: Bold, citrus-y hop notes. Lemon, grapefruit, orange. Pinch of pine.

In the mouth: Fiercely expressive hop bitterness on the palate, assertive and beautiful. Light-bodied, clean and lean. Easy peasy, lemon squeezey. Nice and drinkable.

Heading into the backcountry, it’s helpful to have a few things on hand. A solid fishing rod (of course), a sturdy pack, and some great beer help the day run smoothly. This session ale is the perfect choice for a day away from it all—golden, easy drinking, and full of citrusy and piney hop flavor.

Malts: Pilsner, CaraRed, Perla Negra, Wheat
Hops: Cascade, Citra, Magnum, Simcoe, Mosaic, Loral
Yeast: Ale Yeast

Sierra Nevada 40th Anniversary Hoppy Ale

Sierra Nevada 40th Hoppy Anniversary Ale.
6 % ABV, 65 IBU.
Sierra Nevada Brewing, Chico, CA.

Mostly clear, bright golden hue, large and lasting pure white head.

In the nose: Beautiful, bold citrusy and floral aromatics. Fresh and lively.

In the mouth: Nice hoppy buzz hits the palate, and spreads a brief blitz of bitter joy. Lemon and pine, orange rind and grapefruit galore. Just the right blend going on. Malt is light, a tight cracker-y snap, with a little bit of juice. Lean, clean, and deliciously hoppy. Ends on a tidy dry note. Tasty and exceptionally drinkable.

Rather than celebrate this landmark anniversary with something large, strange, or ponderous, Sierra Nevada chose to go with a variation on the sort of pale ales and IPAs that have made them popular lo these past four decades. And there's nothing wrong with that. Good IPA and you surly can drink it.

Hop-forward beers weren’t popular when we started brewing in 1980. But we loved them, and knew that if we were going to open a brewery, we’d better make something distinctive. It’s been 40 years since then, and we’re still brewing what we love. This beer showcases the bold flavors and aromas of a classic West Coast IPA: intense pine and citrus with a deep gold color and slight caramel sweetness. Here’s to following your passion, and to the next 40 years. 

Sierra Nevada Fantastic Haze Imperial IPA

Sierra Nevada Fantastic Haze Imperial IPA.
9 % ABV. 40 IBU.
Sierra Nevada Brewing, Chico, CA (& elsewhere).

Quite hazy, with minuscule floaties bobbing about, under a slim ivory head.

In the nose: Powerful hop notes popping out, tropical notes and citrus tones. Starts sort of small, but soon to embiggen.

In the mouth: Aggressive bitter bite at the front, then along comes the juicy, mixed with the hazy. Big citrus, long hoppy finish, stays swimming on the palate. Zesty. Hop heavy. Eminently diggable. Bold flavors, everlasting bitterness and full of delicious delight.

We were in search of something fantastic. Something juicy, something hazy, something ripe with notes of mango, melon and citrus. So we said, "Reason be damned," and filled our kettles with five hop varieties and loads of malt, oats and wheat. Some may call that absurd. We call it absurdly fantastic!

Bittering Hops: Amarillo, Azacca, Chinook, Idaho 7, Strata

Malts: Two-Row Pale, Wheat, Oats

Yeast: Ale yeast

Beginning Gravity: 19.0° Plato

Ending Gravity: 3.0° Plato

Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest 2019 (collaboration with Bitburger)

Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest 2019 (collaboration with Bitburger)
6 % ABV. 22 IBU. Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, CA.

Clear, amber/copper color, slim white head.

In the nose: Sweet malt pops up first, nice and toasty, caramel-y, certainly in marzen-style. Quite nice.

In the mouth: More of the same. Mostly malty, clean, with brisk bitterness. Not too sweet, just right. Crisp. Toasty. Caramel-y. Smooth and lovely.  This is yum. Even yum a dum dum.

Clean, smooth, light, tasty. Good beer and you can drink it.

It’s the ultimate season of revelry, so we teamed up with Germany’s Bitburger Brewery for an Oktoberfest that turns backyards into beer gardens. Rally your friends and celebrate with a festbier whose rich amber color, secret hop blend, and smooth malty flavor bring the Munich tents to you. 

Sierra Nevada Spring Seasonal Brut IPA Extra Dry IPA

Sierra Nevada Brut IPA Extra Dry IPA. Alc. 6.2 % by Vol. Brewed at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, CA & North Mills, NC.

Crystal clear, bright golden, slim ivory head.

In the nose: Clean, dry, slightly fruity, moderate bitterness. Touch of sweet.

In the mouth: Flash of fruit, splash of citrus, traces of tropical. Clean, crisp, drinkable. Just the briefest blaze of bitter. I could go for more.

This is our Brut IPA, a new take on IPA brewed for a bone dry champagne-style finish. Late hop additions give the beer balanced bitterness and a bright pop of citrus flavor. It’s as intriguing as it is drinkable.

ALCOHOL CONTENT  6.2% by volume

BEGINNING GRAVITY  12.5° plato

ENDING GRAVITY  0.5° plato

BITTERNESS UNITS  25

INGREDIENTS

YEAST  Ale yeast

BITTERING HOPS  Experimental

FINISHING HOPS  Comet, Crystal

MALTS  Pilsner

Sierra Nevada Sidecar Orange IPA

Sierra Nevada Sidecar Orange IPA. Ale brewed with Orange Peel, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, CA & Mills River, NC. 6.8% ABV, 45 IBU.

Haven't I had a beer like this before? Ah, yes, I have. But it was a pale ale. Did they IPA it due to consumer demand? "Pale Ale? Pffft! Ho-hum, wake me when you've got an IPA." Seems likely.

Light chill haze. Bright golden hue. Milky white head.

In the nose? Robust citrusy aromatics. Bitter orange peel, with a side of hops.

In the mouth: Fresh and zesty. Medium body. Nice little hoppiness on the palate, but little is the key word. Orange remains a force to contend with. Bitterness returns and stays, stronger than ever. Hey,  guess what? Good beer, and you can drink it.

We pushed the complex and citrus-heavy flavors of hops to a new level with this orange-infused IPA. Combining bright and bold hops with real orange in the fermenter creates layers of citrus-crazy flavors, yet it maintains a balance and a crisp hop bite that make it the perfect aromatic IPA.

Sierra Nevada Tropical Torpedo Tropical IPA

Sierra Nevada Tropical Torpedo Tropical IPA. I mean, that's what the label says. 6.7% ABV. 55 IBU. Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, California, and wherever else.

Clear, golden toned, slim, white head.

In the nose: tropical fruit sweetness first, with increasing hop bitterness. Nothing but sweet, fruity, and slightly bitter on this front.

In the mouth: Juicy. Juicy, fruity, and bitter. Pineapple, papaya, grapefruit, guava, lime. Lightish bodied, excellent censurability, eternal hop flavor, nothing but refreshingly delicious.

There just ain't nothing wrong with it.

Hey there's something on the label: Inspired by the island life, we created an IPA completely disconnected from the mainland. We used our one-of-a-kind Hop Torpedo to deliver an intense rush of hop flavor and the lush aromas of mango, papaya, and passionfruit with every sip. Enjoy our tropical twist on the American IPA. This beer is hopped with Amarillo, Citra, Comet, El Dorado, and Mosaic. 

Sierra Nevada No Middle Ground Coffee IPA

Sierra Nevada No Middle Ground. 6.9% ABV. 50 IBU. Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, California. (And elsewhere.) Ale with coffee added.

Clear, copper/bronze color, big ivory head that slips down shortly.

In the nose:Coffee and hops butting heads. Mixing and mingling, but none taking court. Earthy coffee notes with pine and citrus just below. And then hops take command.

In the mouth: Earth and coffee grit get on the palate first, with sweet malty flavors beneath. Slowly, hops flavors kick up from below. Medium-bodied, long finish, lush malt. This is an odd one. I'm still not on board with this not quite a style. Coffee IPA? Why? Does it work? No.
I'm not getting what I want from an IPA and the coffee ingredient adds little value. These two elements don't belong together, no matter what it says beneath these words.

At first glance, it might seem strange to combine coffee and hoppy beer, but really, the two flavors have a lot in common. Good coffee and hops both have complex and fruity aromas which create layers of flavor. No Middle Ground is brewed with fruit-forward hop varietals and cold-brewed coffee for a unique take on the IPA.

INGREDIENTS

YEAST  Ale yeast
BITTERING HOPS  Simcoe
FINISHING HOPS  Citra, Mandarina Bavaria, Simcoe
MALTS  Two-row Pale, Munich, Oats, Midnight Wheat

OTHER  Cold Brewed Coffee

Sierra Nevada Know Good IPA

Sierra Nevada Know Good IPA. 6.2% by Vol. 62 IBU. Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, CA.

Clear, bright golden, slim white head.

In the nose: Lightly spicy, sightly citric, very mellow. Floral. Kinda quiet.

In the mouth: more bright, sunshine-y, citrus, a little bit juicy. Honey-ish.. Lovely stuff. Lightish bodied, fully flavored. Good ol' drinking IPA. Ain't nothing wrong with it.



This straightforward, slightly hazy, American IPA has just enough malt body to launch the citrus and floral hop notes straight to your palate, making Know Good perfect for today or any day. When it comes to hop flavor, we know what good is, and you do, too.

Sierra Nevada Flipside Red IPA

Sierra Nevada Flipside Red IPA. 6.2% ABV, 55 IBU. Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, CA.

A little hazy-ish, crimson-colored, nice and lasting creamy-toned head. Looking good.

In the nose: Caramel and toffee meets citrus and a little pine. Sweet, plus hoppy, with but a twist of bitter. Nice.

In the mouth: Hops hit first, but the lush malt mouthfeel fills it in right away. Shiny, sparkly, clean, crisp and vibrant hop profile fills the palate, too, and continues to shine. Hops grow and climb over the malt, getting brighter and bolder. Citrus hop notes tower over other flavors, in the end, and I like that. I could drink a few of these with no problem at all,

This was from the 4-Way IPA sampler pack. Three more to go.

Flipside finds the perfect balance between hops and malt in this easy-drinking red IPA. It features just enough smooth and slightly sweet malt body to support huge citrusy and tropical fruit-forward hop flavors from the use of Simcoe, Citra, and Centennial hops.

Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing IPA

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company Hazy Little Thing IPA. Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, CA, & somewhere in North Carolina. "Family owned, operated, and argued over." Alc.  6.7% by Vol.

It's bright golden, and, yeah, it's all hazy, bro. Big. beautiful ivory toned head atop.

In the nose: Cool and calm fruity hop notes. Orange and lemon, tangerine. Nice.

In the mouth: Light on hop bitterness here, higher on the fruity factor. Very smooth, clean, delectable. Hop bitterness peeks in a bit, to be sure, just a touch. It's smooth and mellow, the malt is light and crisp and slightly sweet. Good hazy IPA and you can drink it.


It's a nice one, sure, but I still prefer a real IPA. An IPA's IPA.

As brewers, we get the privilege to sample our beers straight from the tanks in all their raw glory. Some beers need a little polishing to get ready to go out into the world, while others—the hop-heavy, rowdy, crowd-pleasers—should just be left alone. We wanted to share this brewery-only treat with you, so we present this Hazy Little Thing, our unfiltered, unprocessed IPA, straight from the tanks and into the can.

I know that everyone will associate the name "Hazy Little Thing" with "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" by Queen, but let's think about another crazy little thing. It's time to start thinking about Captain Beefheart. I've been saying it for years. And the present is as good a time to say it as any.

Sierra Nevada Hop Bullet Double IPA

Sierra Nevada Hop Bullet Double IPA. Spring Seasonal. (We're not out of winter yet, over here, sorry, not by a long shot. But we can dream....) 8% ABV. 50 IBU.

Clear, bright golden color, beautiful ivory head, leaving a little lace.

In the nose: Floral, light fruit, softly spreading citrus.

In the mouth: All the hoppy goodness slides on to the palate with grace and style. Pow! It's here. It's a little juicy, it's a lot dry, and it's happening now. Dry, dusty, delicious. I am digging this one. Light bodied, lean malt, nothing but hops. Bring 'em on! Give 'em to me! Hit me up!

Here's one I'll go back to again and again.

Here's some of what they say about this: Hops are the name of the game with a Double IPA, but we knew we had to take it one step further. With Hop Bullet, we’re using a new technique, hitting the beer with a double-barreled blast of Magnum hops and lupulin dust—pure, concentrated hop flavor—directly into the tank to emphasize the intense pine and citrus flavors of classic West Coast hops.

Sierra Nevada Hoptimum 2017 Triple IPA

Sierra Nevada 2017 Hoptimum Triple IPA. Distinguished, Yet Devilishly Hoppy. 9.6% by Vol.

Clear, bright amber/near crimson, slim white head.

In the nose: dank. juicy. sweet. fruity. sticky-icky. yeah, that seems to be the hallmark of a “triple IPA.” Pithy, piney, plenty of citrus and tropical hop action.

In the mouth: Big, bold, and hot. Bold and burly. Slick, and thick, and delicious. But, not for the faint of heart, so to speak. Rich malts to match the huge hops.

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp 2017 Golden IPA Spring Seasonal

Sierra Nevada 2017 Beer Camp Golden IPA Spring Seasonal. 6.5% ABV. 50 IBU.

Crystal clear, golden hued, lace-leaving ivory head.

In the nose: bright, bold, fruity, tropical. Beautiful hop flavors in this aroma.

In the mouth: Bitterness off the bat, but sweet and creamy, too. Bitterness calms down just a bit, then does a 2-step with the sweet, juicy part. Little dry, little bitter, little sweet. I like this tango a ton, and I'm enjoying this style of IPA more and more. Good beer and you can drink it.

From the website: At Beer Camp, no beer style is off limits, so we jumped at the idea of doing a Golden IPA using wheat malt for a light, dry body and bold American and experimental hops for intense citrus flavor. The perfect spring seasonal, we invite you to enjoy this year’s Beer Camp encore.

Sierra Nevada Sidecar Orange Pale Ale

Sierra Nevada Sidecar Orange Pale Ale. 5.3% ABV. 35 IBU.

Clear, bright orange coloring, lush ivory head atop.

In the nose: Big citrus out of the gate. Citrus hop notes complement the orange peel.

In the mouth: Bright, bold, lively. Citrus flavors dominate. Crisp, fresh and refreshing. Medium bodied, lightish malt, Plenty of orange flavor coming through, without being over-bearing, cloyingly sweet or otherwise unbearable.

Good pale ale and you can drink it. Nice one, SNBC. I could drink a few of these.

Here's some gobbledygook from the source: We love hops with a bright, citrus-heavy character. We always wondered what it would be like to punch up the citrus while maintaining a crisp hop bite and balance. The result is this new take on the hoppy pale ale brewed with Cascade, Equinox, and Mandarina hops with a hint of orange peel from additions in both the brew kettle and the fermenter that tweak the classic hop profile and add a zesty pop of bright orange flavor.