Boulevard and Seirra Nevada TERRA INCOGNITA

Boulevard and Seirra Nevada TERRA INCOGNITA - Ale Aged in Whiskey Barrels (2013)

Brewed and Bottled by Boulevard Brewing Company in Kansas City, Missouri. USA.

Collaboration Brew (Limited Release).

25.4 fl. oz. / $13.95 USD / 8.5% ABV

About: "Situated at opposite ends of the California Trail, pioneering breweries Sierra Nevada and Boulevard have once again embarked upon a journey into the unknown. It was in 2012 that we first convened to craft a beer for SAVOR attendees. And it’s that collaborative effort, aptly named Terra Incognita (Unknown Land), which brought us together to relive our collective adventure in 2013 - and this time we will release it out into the world.

Earlier this year, Sierra Nevada Head Brewer Steve Dresler and Boulevard Brewmaster Steven Pauwels met in Kansas City to create a blend of three components: Terra Incognita aged in Templeton Rye barrels / Terra Incognita aged in a 2,000-gallon foudre / Fresh Terra Incognita dry-hopped with East Kent Golding. The end result is a, fittingly, earthy beer, celebrating the unique terroir of our two locations. The blend incorporates (roughly) 45% foudre-aged, 30% Templeton-aged, and 25% fresh dry-hopped beer - all aimed at showcasing some predominant oak characteristics with a subtle hint of earthy hops. Then just prior to bottling we added a dose of the wild yeast Brettanomyces, and allowed the beer to age for over three months."

Thoughts: Wrestled with that damn cork and pried that sucker clean out. Tipped my glass and started pouring slowly at first, and even slower as the head got thicker and thicker. For a barrel aged beer this thing sure has a thick, fat head that isn't showing any signs of dying down anytime soon! Color looks to be a dark chocolate brown with some shades of burgundy. There's absolutely no seeing through this one at all.

The smell on this bastard is fan-fuckin'-tastic I tells ya! Kinda like an evil root beer a little bit. I'm trying to lean in and get more of a scent through this two inch thick foamy head on top that's not dissolving. *Ten minutes later* Well, the heads still there so let's see what we've got here: man it's a weird one. There's a little bit of chocolate, but it's not chocolaty, a little rye, some wheat, straw, cherries, oak, a thick layer of easy going malts and a touch of hops. It smells sweet, spicy and just a little bit sour all at the same time.

First gulp and I'm hit with that wild sour yeast that just rips my shit apart. I have a feeling that this beer may be infected... with awesomeness that is!!1 Haha, I keed. A loaf of super peppery rye bread slaps me upside the face, while a soft touch of coffee beans and stale root beer flows through. Doesn't taste all that much like whiskey straight up, but the aftertaste of whiskey is there with a little bit of a burnt rubber, spice and a lot of rye. After that initial shock, the sour stuff really dies down but the funk remains. It's a little dirty, grassy, spicy, malty, sweet and sour, and tastes a little of hay and watered down vinegar. There's also notes of raw figs and brown sugar. Still not getting much of that whiskey, if only remnants of a cheaper Captain Morgan knock off, but it did impart a small bit of overall flavor into the beer. Mainly though it's raw figs and peppered rye bread everywhere. Not that that's a bad thing I guess.

Mouth feel is super light, airy and really carbonated. It almost disintegrates once inside the mouth. Pretty frothy too. TONS of bubbles.

This beer is decent, though it feels as if they may have played it safe. There's nothing overly offensive here, and at the same time it's not all that great. The rising sweetness in each gulp seems as if it's hiding something else. Overall it's really malty and flavorful, just not extreme in any way. Last bit of aftertaste after sipping the end of my first warm glass is a bit of nuttiness and cigarette smoke. It's good but just like many of the others, a one time bottle for me. Not that I wouldn't mind seeing the next batch made though... and man would I love to go back home again! 

Sierra Nevada Barrel-Aged BIGFOOT

Sierra Nevada Barrel-Aged BIGFOOT - Barleywine Style Ale Aged in Whiskey Barrels (2013)

Limited Release (Good luck finding this shit!).

25.4 fl. oz. / $16.04 USD / 12.2% ABV

About: "Our Bigfoot Barleywine is a craft beer legend. Each winter, this beast of a beer appears and wreaks havoc on unsuspecting palates with its intense bittersweet flavors. This year - in honor of the 30th Anniversary of this style-bending brew - we're releasing a very special version of this cult classic: Aged in oak whiskey casks for nearly two years, this barrel-aged Bigfoot is incredibly complex. The assault of resinous hops has mellowed, and the influence of the wood has shifted focus toward the malt - with rich burnt-sugar flavors and notes of vanilla, toasted coconut, and raisins. Grab this elusive beast while you can, because it won't be around for long."

Thoughts: Cork was a rough one. The cap on the cage has some really cool artwork of two mingling hops. Light pop off the cork after all that work. Poured a grainy dark ruby / burgundy color with a small frothy head that left a thin layer atop the brew and some thick puddles that lasted forever. 

This beer smells outstanding. Holy shit it has a strong scent to it. It's total candy. Incredibly sweet smelling. I'm getting rich hot chocolate, candy bars, 3 Musketeers melted down over smokey wood and mixed with whiskey for a bad boy milkshake. With a beer like this you've gotta let it warm a little bit to really get just how deep that whiskey is. I love how it just intertwines with this already incredible tasting beer, the essence of it just pulsating throughout the 

Wow that is fucking spicy. Holy shit. I got a little bit of spice in the scent but that just came out blistering! And hot damn does this whiskey barrel aging just simply Dominate the brew. Two gulps and I'm feeling the heat in my lower chest. The whiskey notes really start to come on full and throughout in the scent, but when you get this in your mouth it just cracks the bottle over your head with it. Talk about intense. A deep haze of smokiness follows the swallow and the hops which are usually off the charts in this barleywine are very laid back, though still quite noticeable. It adds up to a nice unique flavor in the aftertaste, and what a splendid aftertaste is it. Talk about mellow, yet effective. This beer has a sting to it alright, and it doesn't die down with each and every small gulp either. It seems as if it is intensifying, or at least holding its original strength which is very rare. Very peppery, absolutely love the burn from the booze, smokey and sweet, it has a very gentle bitterness and it's in your face with all the flavors. Top notch stuff.

For the mouthfeel I've gotta stay that this beer is pretty damn thick. Something to be reckoned with. It's not sludgy, and it's definitely not thin. This stuff coats like oil and leaves a resinous raw hop flavor on the back of the tongue which is offset by the all around sweetness and excellent whiskey flavor.

I remember drinking Bigfoot so many years ago. I used to buy a six pack of Celebration every year, and on the second year of doing that I remember I picked up a six of Bigfoot. This is back when I didn't even know what craft beer was. I grew up in California, and Sierra Nevada had a great distribution to all supermarkets. I remember drinking Bigfoot in 2001, 2003 and 2004. Celebration and Bigfoot have always been special brews to me. When I finally found this one and only bottle on the shelf after driving all around the state, I couldn't not grab it and take it home.

Sierra Nevada and Russian River BRUX

Sierra Nevada and Russian River BRUX - Domesticated Wild Ale (2012)

Limited Collaboration.

25.4 fl. oz. / $13.99 USD / 8.3% ABV

About: "What began as mutual admiration between Sierra Nevada’s Grossman Family and Russian River’s Cilurzos has grown and progressed into genuine friendship. Brux began as an idea and has grown into something altogether different: The liquid manifestation of change over time. Refermented in the bottle with Brettanomyces bruxellensis, Brux will change and develop over time. Copper-colored, dry and complex, with slightly tart notes of green grass, pear, spice and lemon - this ale will progress in the bottle for many years."

Thoughts: The cork popped off with a fair amount of pressure and smoked like a gun out of some kind of Film Noir. BRUX poured a really light yellowish, apricot color with a huge erupting head of tiny bubbles that faded damn near instantly. While the beer is a total haze, you can still see vast amounts of carbonation bubbles rising up like crazy.

Smells really crisp, really sweet, with some lighter Belgian yeast... spicy notes, and there's a little bit of an apple cider-like spice to it. Very fruity and tart with a hint of pear, but mostly a green apple crisp type of thing going on.

Intense first gulp! A blitzkrieg to the mouth, even with the smokey aftermath. It happened so fast. Let's try it again... it tickles. The carbonation in this is off the fucking charts here and just attacks the tongue viciously while the tartness and flavors pounce all over the place. It really is "wild". It doesn't let up either. Every single gulp has a tang to it, a haze to it and it's just fucking raw tasting. I like it. It's like, almost fuzzy feeling. The finish is really dry, but not super drying.

This really reminds me of a mead. With that cider like consistency and a little bit of a honey flavor in there at least. After adjusting to the immense blasts here a little bit more flavors start to come through. Earthy leaves, bundles of hay, and a lot more of that yeasty base. It's not really funky, but there is a degree of funk there, only it's not really unpleasant by any means. I did let this sit in my fridge inside a paper bag for about six months or so though, since I heard it was pretty rough upon initial release.

I was really expecting that wild yeast to be a huge factor and very up-front in the beer, but perhaps it's fallen back a little bit because it is blending rather awesomely here. It's pretty cool how it starts out like a hard cider / farmhouse type brew and ends up tasting a bit like a spiced ale. I guess this one really played a lot of mind tricks on people. For me I waited the right time, since well... any time I open a beer it's the "right time". But I'm pleased that I got a bit of the strange along with the unusual here.

Mistransformed, transforming or just malformed to begin with, well, who's to say? Some people online try to act like they're the shit, or shiznit if you will, saying that they drain pour $14 bottles of this, that, and other beers. You wanna know what I think? They're a bunch of lying fags. Yeah. I don't drain pour nothin', especially bottles over three dollars no matter how horrid it may be. This one wasn't bad at all though, just saying, so keep rolling with those cheek punches babies.

Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada Rhizing Bines

Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada Rhizing Bines (2013)

Limited Collaboration Brew (Brewed Once).

25.4 fl. oz. / $13.69 USD / 8% ABV

About: "Deepening our bond with Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., forged with the 2009 collaboration Life and Limb, we've brewed an East-meets-West Imperial IPA called Rhizing Bines.

"We had a lot of fun brewing the original dark and roasty Life and Limb in Chico with the Grossmans and Sierra Nevada’s extended family," says Dogfish Head President and Founder Sam Calagione. “We are very proud of the way that beer turned out. Now it’s our turn to repay that hospitality and brew a very hop-centric IPA in Milton with our pals from Chico, incorporating innovative ingredients and techniques from both breweries.”

On the hot side, Rhizing Bines went through Dogfish’s signature continual-hopping process with floral and citrusy Bravo hops. On the cold side, it was dry-hopped with an experimental varietal so new it doesn’t yet have a name, just a number: Hop 644. A component of Sierra Nevada’s aroma-boosting Torpedo system made a pit-stop in Delaware for dry-hopping duty before it headed to Sierra’s new North Carolina brewery.

To celebrate Sierra Nevada planting East Coast roots, Dogfish Head tracked down a Carolina heirloom wheat grown and milled at Anson Mills. The soft red winter wheat contributes subtle sweet and nutty notes to this hop-forward ale.

The label for Rhizing Bines depicts the pairings behind this beer: two hop varietals, two yeast strains (Chico and Doggie), two unique hopping processes and two family-owned breweries. These bonds start at the root - or rhizome - and stretch throughout the mature bines."

Thoughts: Nice hiss off the cap. Color is a rich orange, slightly on the light side and there's a huge white puffy head on top that's lasting forever. The beer itself is very clear.

Smells pretty mild. There's an extremely clean water profile in this. It smells very refreshing too. There's a hint of spice which pops and expands as you breathe in for long periods. I was expecting more of a fierce hop forward brew, but what's actually here isn't bad at all either. It's very earthy and floral, mellow and sweet, citrusy and reminiscent of cold winds. There's a heavy caramel malt which is the most dominating factor here.

This tastes interesting. Very unique. Starts off really tangy, not sour at all, but - and I don't want to say dirty because it's very clean tasting - there's like a strange herbal, grapefruit coughdrop (no menthol) type vibe to it. It's fruity and somewhat bitter, displaying a lot of grapefruit and melon flavors. Maybe a little kiwi too. Not really traditional tasting IPA though, that's for sure. It's got a gentle sting after the swallow, and when you pucker up afterwards that's when the bitterness starts to pound away but it's not overbearing in the least. It's all really an easy drinking, slightly twangy offering. The hop profile in this beer is extremely mellow.

Mouth is a little watery, but it gets a minor foam to it when held for a while. Not really too thin either, and it's not drying at all so that's good. This beer leaves a bit of a raw taste in the mouth. Kinda nutty, but not like peanuts at all, more like macadamia nuts... and a bit like the smell of raw busted open figs.

This is one strange brew. It's got a cool story (bro) to it (check out the video HERE), but for me it's a one time deal. Especially for dat price! Being both a supporter of DFH and especially Sierra Nevada I'd say that this is a must buy at least to try out, but overall I just wasn't that into it. I am however interested to see what's in store for Hop 664 down the road though, and of course, would like to see more collaborations between these two breweries.

Sierra Nevada NarwhaL

Sierra Nevada NarwhaL - Imperial Stout (2012)

Winter Seasonal? (New)

12 fl. oz. (x4) / $9.99 USD / 10.2% ABV

About: "A malt-forward monster, highlighting the depths of malt flavor. Narwhal Imperial Stout is inspired by the mysterious creature that thrives in deepest fathoms of the frigid Arctic Ocean. Featuring incredible depth of malt flavor, rich with notes of espresso, baker's cocoa, roasted grain and a light hint of smoke, Narwhal is a massive malt-forward monster. Aggressive but refined with a velvety smooth body and decadent finish, Narwhal will age in the bottle for years to come. Yeast: Ale / Bittering Hops: Magnum and Challenger / Aroma Hops: Challenger / Malts: 2-Row Pale, Caramel and Chocolate, Honey, Carafa and Roasted Barley."

Thoughts: NarwhaL poured a super-dense total midnight black right out of the bottle with a half finger beautiful, dark milk chocolate head.

This fucking beer smells outstanding! The first thing I get is syrup. And it hits hard too! Nothing subtle about this one. Heavy thick sludge like syrup in the scent. Loads of malt, Hershey's chocolate bars, some absurdly sweet coffee in the back, and a little bit of the earth left behind.

The taste is immense! Rich dark malts come through first, tons of sweetness, smoke, and a stinging boozy haze. A lot of that coffee flows through right after that once you breathe in, followed by an instant grassy aftertaste. This thing is blazing with roasted malts. There's a fair amount of peppery spice here too. Also, some hidden dark fruit type stuff going on far in the background if you just let your mind wander a bit while settling this in your mouth. It starts off with a sting, and while it slowly mellows, it doesn't really mellow at all. This stuff is boisterous, loud and hits like a brick. It's got a far-off candy like quality to it, especially as it warms, but for the most part it's not overly done in any one direction. The tastes here all blend perfectly and mingle well together. You can pick apart each and every feature, and yet, nothing is dominating here... only the severe blast of flavor.

Mouth feel is thick, syrupy, slightly foamy, sticky, dusty after the swallow, and coating.

This Imperial Stout has a pretty significant hop profile, but it's not too bitter for me. Personally I think the balance has been perfectly done for for such a hop driven company. There's a lot of sweetness here, and just the right amount of bitterness. It could use a few ghost chilies in the mix, but I'm not really complaining as I can add that myself. Thinking of mixing this with 1050 just for the fuck of it...

Mixing Beers #6

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale (2012) "VS" Oskar Blues Ten Fidy (2012)

WHAT'S GOIN' ON?: Sierra Nevada's Celebration Ale was one of the first craft brews that I had ever tried. It may have been the fourth, maybe the fifth. I love it, always have, no doubt always will and every time I look at that artwork and those colors, I get a funny feeling of fond remembrance. And I think of snow. Man, do I love me some snow. You know what goes good with snow? What goes good with winter and the holidaze? Some rich ass Imperial Stouts, that's right. Have a dirty cookie. I drank the first three of my 4$ each 12 oz. cans of Ten FIDY in a row and it was a pretty damn good experience. I saved one for whatever, at the time I didn't know... but when I brought home a 3-Pack of Celebration later in the week, I decided that the first Fresh Hop Ale of the Winter would be a mix brew review. 

HOW IT WENT DOWN!: The beautiful orange-reddish tones from the SN Celebration were slowly flooded and corrupted by the black spreading shadows, eventually turning this beer dark as night. The head is white with drops of tan inside, looking a bit like hot chocolate with melted marshmallows.

The strong hops in this take precedence and are not to be outdone by the roasted characteristics from the 1050. But eventually a hurling malty flow comes forth and sits along with it side by side. I do definitely prefer the scent of the Celebration alone over this combined form, since it's just so beautiful, however this mingling isn't half bad either.

Taste is a very strange one. You get a battle in the mouth starting off with a smooth texture, then crackling hops and after the swallow, a roasted bitterness and some intense toasty burn. If anything, the Fresh Hop Ale really adds a lot to this stout, by bringing forth some tingling hop driven persistence. It's got a very deep taste to the whole thing, very rich and creamy, and soothing yet eventful. Hops dance around through this tingling smoky haze and both beers play off of each other very well.

Mouth feel is syrupy, thick and extremely coating. And even then, it's surprisingly smooth. 

Though spicy and popping up front, the beer mellows just before the swallow and leaves a grassy aftertaste and a fire roasted burnt sensation. This was a pretty neat mixing of beers overall, and did a number on my tastebuds. As much as I liked it, I wonder to myself now if anything will ever top the mix of Pumking and WWS. Is it all downhill from here? That worried thought shall do nothing to deter me from mixing additional beers in the future and posting my results right here, however substandard they may seem compared to that utterly wondrous event.

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp 2012 Series

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp 2012 Series

Limited Release. 12 fl. oz. (x12) / $20.49 USD / VAR% ABV (see below)

I was mildly excited about this and picked it up on sight. Care to read what I thought about these?

Floral IPA (aka Long Stem IPA) - Beer Camp #53 (2012)

12 fl. oz. (x3) / 5.9% ABV

About: "This unique take on the IPA style takes the floral aromas and flavors found in hops, and combines the with actual flowers! This medium-bodied brew was made using actual organic rose petals and rose hips for an unusually aromatic experience. With a complex mix of floral, citrus and pine hop flavors, and a balanced and easy-drinking malt backbone Long Stem IPA is a one-of-a-kind beer.

Bittering Hops: Citra / Aroma Hops: Centennial and Crystal / Torpedo Hops: Centennial, Saphir and Rose Petals / Malt: Golden Promise, Caramel (15L), Special B and Chocolate / Yeast: Ale / Other: Rose Hips."

Thoughts: As I poured this the head got off to a pretty violent start then slowly fell back into a sliver atop the brew. It's got an orange color overall, perhaps a little bit of a cinnamon color to it. When I hold it up to the light I notice that this beer is Grainy as all hell! It looks like someone took a couple hop flowers and took a cheese grater to em.

Smelt pretty pungent during the pour. Well, the scent is certainly more floral than anything else. I'm noticing like a 75% lemon 25% grapefruit citrus hop background under the flowery aroma. It's kind of sweet, like those Lemon-head candies, or those old school sugared lemon candies that your granny would have in a jar for three years straight and when  you tried to pick one up the whole bowl would come up with it! It's like that, and soft flower pedals.

The taste pretty much matches the scent exactly, which isn't a bad thing at all since it smells really cool. It's got a decent bitterness, and a light touch of pine, but it's also a tad sweet too.

Mouth feel is a little heavy. It's a weighted beer that's prickly, very crisp and finishes clean.

This is an OK beer. It's not incredible or mindblowing, and unfortunately not too intresting really. But it tastes good at least, and I guess that matters. Right?

Imperial Red Ale (aka Red-Oric) - Beer Camp #65 (2012)

12 fl. oz. (x3) / 8.1% ABV

About: "This Imperial Red Ale takes the bold hop profile found in a traditional Imperial IPA and turns up the malt. It has big aromatic hop notes of grapefruit, peach and melon, balanced by a very smooth and surprisingly robust malt body. Hops take the lead on this beer, but the malt tames the bitterness and adds a unique drinkability.

Bittering Hops: Magnum and Experimental Variety / Aroma Hops: Chinook, Magnum and Experimental Variety / Dry Hops: Citra and Magnum / Malt: Pale 2-Row, Patagonia, Caramel (45L) and Chocolate / Yeast: Ale."

Thoughts: This beer poured a translucent cherry cool-aid like color, with a huge somewhat pink looking fluff of a head. There's tons of carbonation bubbles going up, the smaller bubbles rising slow and the bigger bubbles zooming right past them. Cool. There are really neat speckles scattered all throughout the brew too. I like the cut of this one's jib, or something...

The scent isn't all too strong. It's hard to pick up, and a little bit strange. A very low droned, malty and sourness to it. I'm getting toasted sesame seeds I think, or like, funky sourdough bread.

Taste is bitter straight off the bat. And smokey. And tart. Well hidden alcohol. A prickling sensation while it's held in the mouth. After the swallow the whole back of the throat is as if I had just chewed a piece of lemon peel. Eventually that dies down a bit, and as the beer warms it become easier drinking. It tastes kind of like a funky, flat, spiced soda. Meh.

Light, airy and fluffy like a bit cotton ball as it expands.

Not really digging this one too much, despite the noticeable quality.

Imperial Pilsner (aka Sticke Pilsner) - Beer Camp #43 (2012)

12 fl. oz. (x3) / 5.6% ABV

About: "Packing a big hop-forward punch and bright crisp finish, this golden pilsner features a hearty dose of "sticky" resinous Crystal and Pacifica dry hops, which balance the light-bodied yet complex malt background.

Bitter Hops: Magnum / Aroma Hops: Crystal and Pacifica / Torpedo Hops: Crystal and Pacifica / Malt: Pale 2-Row, Europils, Munich and Acidulated / Yeast: Lager."

Thoughts: Poured an incredibly clear light yellow. There's a lot of carbonation going on. The head was really crackly at first but didn't die down as fast as I thought it was going to.

Smells of straw. Light, crispy hops. Mild citrus.

Slightly bitter, herbal... quite yeasty, and a there's a bit of twang to it. There's a subtle spicyness to it and a  Lemon kick in the background.  In fact, a lot of this beer is subtle. There's really not a lot going on  at all, other than it tastes OK. Very mild and soapy, aside from that tingling spice that's it's got there. It's a little bit funky. Aftertaste is like ash.

Mouth is light, easy and a little watery.

Yep, nothing I love more than sitting back with an Imperial 5.6% Pilsner after a hard days wor... oh wait, I fuckin' hate pilsners now don't I? Forgot about that. But hey, maybe I'll find an eye-opener pils one of these daze, who knows.

Oatmeal Stout (aka Snowed In Stout) - Beer Camp #45 (2012)

12 fl. oz. (x3) / 9.0% ABV

About: "Brewed in honor of the season's only snow-day in Chico, this big stout was born out of winder, but is perfect any time of the year. This imperial oatmeal stout is inky black in color, with a big milk chocolate, mocha-like aroma. It has a silky body from the use of rolled oats, and a round and lasting finish.

Bittering Hops: Brewer's Gold and UK Challenger / Aroma Hops: Willamette and Styrian Golding / Malt: Pale 2-Row, Caramel (60L), Rolled Oats, Chocolate, Black and Roasted Barley / Yeast: Ale."

Thoughts: The deceptively hidden milk-chocolate colored head on this erupted in a downward fury that nearly overflowed. In its fluffy and giggly wake, it left a pitch black brew that clouded up the sides of the glass.

Sweet and somewhat spicy, an roasted coffee undertone, toasted oats and chocolate milk. This smells... awesome!

Starts off with a gentle sweetness, with kind of a tingle that slowly fades into a slow roasted bitterness that isn't all too powerful. Alcohol must be incredibly well hidden in this one. After a while it becomes bittersweet, and though there's a bit of a burn around the back of the throat once it warms, it's all pretty mellow. There's nothing extreme at all about this one, but that isn't really a bad thing here.

It's a little bit more watery than I thought it would be.

This one is decent enough. Once it gets room temp there's a bit of black licorice that comes out, and that's pretty nice.

Final Thoughts: Overall I think all four of these beers lacked in a special something. I can see why they're pretty much brewpub exclusives and don't imagine that any of these will ever see a full time release on their own. I am interested in trying more beers from their uber-long list of Beer Camp brews though. Hopefully next time they'll keep the original names on the package though. I wasn't fond of the generic titling (and labeling) on these. 

Considering the fact that I didn't totally love at least one of these four beers, the only way I'd buy another Beer Camp 12 Pack for 20$ would be if they were four different brews. Though it goes without saying that all four of these beers are far better than a lot of the mainstream shit out there, they don't really hit me as "labors of love" or whatnot. Quality brews nonetheless, but not nearly Sierra Nevada's best moments.

Sierra Nevada Old Chico

Sierra Nevada Old Chico Brand Crystal Wheat (2012)

Year Round (Local to CA.)

12 fl. oz. (x6) / $8.99 USD / 4.8% ABV

About: “Brewed using 65% wheat malt and 35% barley malt. This filtered wheat beer is light blonde in color, light bodied and has a wonderfully clean finish. This is a great choice for craft brew novices and beer aficionados alike.”

Thoughts: Old Chico poured an extremely clean, light golden amber yellow with a small fizzy white head. There's a medium amount of carbonation bubbles floating upward from all areas of the glass.

Scent is of low level malt, and wheat. It's very light, and there's not much to it as the smell isn't hidden or hard to get.

The taste is just like the scent. Wheat... lots of it! Light caramel, water and a slight bitter slap at the end. There's not much going on here.

Mouth is light, very crisp, refreshing - a great brew for older folks and people swimming in the community pool.

This is like a watered down version of their pale ale, only wheat based. It tastes better than other light beers, especially the mass produced shit, and it's decent for a wheat beer, but it's still a light beer (for Sierra Nevada) and that ain't my thing.

I never knew that this beer existed actually. When I saw it on the shelf in the supermarket I said to myself, "what the hell is this?" And on closer inspection I said aloud, "Sierra Nevada makes a light beer?!" What in the fuck for? But while I don't have a use for this brew, I can see why they put it out, as there is a demand from special people for light beers. And if you're a brewery that doesn't make one aside from Draft, then why the hell not? Then again, it's only sold in Chico, CA and now a limited surrounding area... so I guess I don't understand really.

Sierra Nevada HoptimuM

Sierra Nevada HoptimuM - Whole-Cone Imperial IPA (2012)

Limited Selections.

12 fl. oz. (x4) / $10.56 USD / 10.4% ABV

About: "A group of hop-heads and publicans challenged our Beer Camp brewers to push the extremes of whole-cone hop brewing. The result is this: a 100 IBU, whole-cone hurricane of flavor. Simply put - HoptimuM: the biggest whole-cone IPA we have ever produced. Aggressively hopped, dry-hopped, AND torpedoed with our exclusive new hop varieties for ultra-intense flavors and aromas.

Bittering Hops: German Magnum / Aroma Hops: Simcoe and New Proprietary Variety / Dry Hops: Simcoe and New Proprietary Variety / Torpedo Hops: Citra and Chinook / Yeast: Ale / Malts: Two-row Pale, Golden Promise, Munich and Wheat."

Thoughts: HoptimuM poured out a vibrant pumpkin shade of orange with an incredibly white bubbly head that puffed up topped it off beautifully. The beer is nearly transparent, but an abundant amount of hop flakes are drifting through space here. It's really cool looking.

The scent, as always when it comes to Sierra Nevada, is their trademark classic quality craft-work. This one smells very similar to their Torpedo actually, only a slight bit amplified. It's incredibly fresh and rich. It doesn't climb up the nostrils furiously like Southern Tier's Gemini (gotta love it), but rather slowly fills the senses like being locked in a plate glass room filling with a sweet poisonous gas.

This brew has an incredible peppery hop spice to it. It starts out really sweet and maintains that malty sweetness throughout, and though it's got an immense bitterness that gradually intensifies after each swallow, both of these aspects contribute to what just may be the most superior beer ever created. Why debate it? After warming for a short bit, the blending of all components on display here are presented flawlessly. It's caramel candied hops with a smokey citrus finish. This may not be the absolutely best Imperial IPA I've ever had, but this is a top 10 beer material and there's no fucking doubt about it.

The mouth isn't all too heavy, but it's just a little sticky and that flavor coats well.

This beer is incredibly easy to drink. You can tell that there's a strength to it, but it's not outright an exclusively hop driven experience. The balance that it has achieved is actually quite remarkable, and the booze is well hidden. Don't worry, you can still taste and feel the booze, and it makes for a more exciting aspect to the brew overall, but it is a lurker. After buying a four pack and a three pack I went out and found another three pack and snatched it up with a few more bottles of Bigfoot. I'm sure in the next few days another four pack will be my possession. I am, addicted to this shit.

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale (2012)

Limited Selection (Winter)

12 fl. oz. (x6) / $13.99 USD / 9.6% ABV

About: "Our award-winning barleywine boasts a dense, fruity bouquet, an intense flavor palate and a deep reddish-brown color. Its big maltiness is superbly balanced by a wonderfully bittersweet hoppiness. Yeast: Ale Yeast. Bittering Hops: Chinook. Finishing Hops: Cascade and Centennial. Dry Hopping: Cascade, Centennial and Chinook. Malts: Two-row Pale and English Caramel."

Thoughts: Bigfoot and Jason hangin' in the woods together? Seems plausible. Bigfoot poured a deep amber orange out of the bottle, a beautiful color, with a huge puffy one-and-a-half finger bone-white head that wasn't so eager to retreat back into the woods. Once the head died down it left little clumps that I lapped up just for fun.

Smells of beautiful hops at first whiff. It smells like candy to me. It's very reminiscent of their classic Sierra Nevada scent, only seemingly candy coated. There's a hint of caramel in there, but it's laying low.

The taste is quite simply put, Incredible. The sweetness hit me first with a zing and afterwards a warm yeasty bread taste slowly expanded. During the swallow I got a little bit of citrus, and afterwards, a mildly intense hop bitterness stuck on the back of my tongue.

Mouth feel is thick and coating.

Compared to some of the other (and my favorite) barleywine(s), this one is a really hop heavy. Not that that's a bad thing of course! I love it, and it's always great to have options when it comes to my favorite style. This isn't my absolute favorite barleywine, but man is it good. When I started doing these beer reviews it was great fun, but it's beers like this which make me wish I could have reviewed a few of them years ago since the tastes are ever changing. It's great going back and trying these beers again from Sierra Nevada. I used to buy them on a semi-regular basis many years ago and don't know why I've been depriving myself lately. No more.

Sierra Nevada Torpedo

Sierra Nevada Torpedo - Extra IPA (2011)

Year Round (Standard Release)

12 fl. oz. / $1.69 USD / 7.2% ABV

About: "Around here, we take hops pretty seriously, which is why we weren’t satisfied with the standard method of dry hopping for our first year-round IPA. We spent years tinkering, tasting, and tweaking ways to get the biggest and best hop flavors and aromas into our beer. Our persistence has paid off. Our obsession with harnessing huge hop flavor led to the development of what we call the hop torpedo, a revolutionary method of dry-hopping designed, built, and debuted here at the brewery. Our torpedo is a sleek, stainless-steel piece of hardware that delivers more pure hop aroma than any method of dry-hopping we’ve ever seen. Like all our beers, Torpedo Extra IPA uses only the best whole-cone hops possible making this delicious ale worth the wait. Malts: 2-Row Pale and Crystal / Bittering Hops: Magnum / Finishing Hops: Magnum and Crystal / Dry Hops: Magnum, Crystal and Citra."

Thoughts: Poured a bit of a light gold yellow that formed into a hazy, grainy, near-transparent auburn golden orange with a tad of red and a lighter orange off-white foamy head. There are several hundred suspended bits of hops in there, almost unnoticeable throughout the beer and a few carbonation bubbles rising up.

A classic Sierra Nevada scent. Beautiful hops that open nasal passages and create inner orgasmic mind flows. Grassy hops, earthy hops, sweet and semi-bittersweet hops. There's also some hops in there too.

Does Sierra Nevada ever disappoint? 'Fraid not, don't think so! Starts off really strong, but gets so smooth just afterwards. Bitter, but as it smooths out it gets even a little sweet. Solid hop bomb with a sweet finishing touch thanks to the minor malts here. Citrusy, piney and grassy while maintaining a fair balance and gentle fallback.

Very bubbly, a little bit thick and frothy yet goes down super smooth. Very pleasing on the tongue.

A very accessible strong IPA that exemplifies the beautiful all around taste that Sierra Nevada produces on a regular basis. These guys know... they just know, what tastes good. This brew is a heavy hitter, but with a softer side. Pleasing to all the senses, and fine, fine quality.

Sierra Nevada Celebration Fresh Hop Ale

Sierra Nevada Celebration Fresh Hop Ale (2011)
Winter Seasonal (Limited Release)
12 fl. oz. / $1.69 USD / 6.8% ABV

About: "The long, cold nights of winter are a little brighter with Celebration Ale. Wonderfully robust and rich, Celebration Ale is dry-hopped for a lively, intense aroma. Brewed especially for the holidays, it is perfect for a festive gathering or for a quiet evening at home. Bittering hops: Chinook / Finishing and dry hops: Cascade and Centennial / Malts: Two-row Pale and English Caramel / Yeast: Top-fermenting Ale Yeast. Awards: Gold Medal Winner at: United States Beer Tasting Championship (IPA: 1994), Silver Medal Winner at: California State Fair (IPA: 1999), Great American Beer Festival (IPA: 2002)"

Thoughts: Poured a very clear golden amber orange with a fluffy, snowy head that lasted a little longer than some of their other brews.

Grapefruit citrus, like Ruby Red. Hops are popping all around. Little bit of pine. Man, this really takes me back. I remember the first time I bought a six pack of this, I don't know if it was 2003 or sometime around there, but I've never forgot how much I loved this brew. Back then I had never really had such a beer to this extreme.

Major hops hit at all corners of the mouth and back of the tongue, it's spicy and tingling, with a low level of malt that tries to sneak in and calm things down. Better luck next time malt! Oh malt, I'm just playin' with ya. Don't cry! The super subtle malt really does back it up nice... kinda like how Robin backs up Batman, that is!

There's a long bittersweet that sticks around at the end. It's very warming in the belly too.

If you're a hop head, you've probably already tried this. And if you haven't, this strong and easily found brew (later in the year) will either make you one, or totally break you down into buying another case of Amstel Light. Myself, I just finished a single 12 oz bottle off (gotta save up for the pricy stuff - doin' reviews here) and man do I feel good! This is my all time favorite Sierra Nevada brew.

Note: This is the start of my short but not-so-necessarily sweet Christmas Brew Review for 2011, to be summed up at an unknown later date and perhaps even discussed. This beer has always reminded me, not necessarily of Christmas, but of December, Snow and Festive times. I've always loved snowfall. Sometimes when I look around town in the later months and see everything covered with the stuff, my brain just automatically goes to that Celebration label. Then I think about how much fun I had the first night I drank that entire six pack alone in the dark...ness. Good fucking times man!

Sierra Nevada Tumbler

Sierra Nevada Tumbler - Autumn Brown Ale (2011)

Autumn Seasonal (Limited Release)

12 fl. oz. /  $1.69 USD/ 5.5% ABV

About: "Sierra Nevada uses malt within days of roasting at the peak of its flavor to give Tumbler a gracefully smooth malt character. Two-row pale, crystal 40, chocolate and smoked malts give it a malty complexity. Challenger hops in the boil add balancing bitterness, while more Challengers and some Goldings give just enough hop flavor in the finish to balance all that malt."

Thoughts: Poured a dark hazy cherry red, medium brown with a light brown bubbly head and a little bit of frothiness.

Hmm. Well, it does smell like autumn, fallen leaves actually. I'm getting very light malt characteristics. Kinda chalky, but everything seems so faint.

The taste is a little more like it. It's not as good as their Pale Ale, and if it were like that brew it would be a lighter version. There's a hint of the recipe in there, but this one is more nutty and toasty. Gets a little bit sour towards the end. It's not really caramel or toffee and not coffee even... brown sugar perhaps, but very little of it. It's smokey and mild.

Seems medium but it's rather thin and very drinkable. There's not much of a tingle from anything factoring in.

It's all very mild. All of it. The smell, the taste, the feel. Until now I haven't met a Sierra Nevada that I've been particularly displeased with. It's not a horrible beer by any means, but it's not up to par with their other brews that I've gotten used to. Hopefully they'll be reworking this next year, or the year after to give it more of a lasting impression. In the end, for me, it's a bit too "gracefully smooth".

Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head Life and Limb 2

Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head Life and Limb 2 (2011)
A Sierra Nevada / Dogfish Head Collaboration!
Brewed and Bottled by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., in Chico, CA. USA.
Rotating Schedule (Limited Release)
25.4 fl. oz. / $10.29 USD / 10.2% ABV

About: "Our decision to make this ale together comes from a shared passion for bringing natural beauty into the brewing process. Both of our families own and operate independent breweries and our co-workers, who share this passion, are an integral part of our extended family. / LIFE - For the living brewer’s yeast in every bottle working in vibrant unison to enhance complexity, refinement, and to encourage aging. LIMB - For the two syrups used in making this ale (maple and birch) which contribute to its unique flavor profile and symbolize this collaboration between Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head. / This ale is dedicated to the family of craft-brew drinkers worldwide who continue to support the little guys, iconoclasts, entrepreneurs, and pioneers who risk life and limb to shape the craft-brewing community. We are proud to share our two branches with the thousands of other vibrant branches – those of fellow brewers – who collectively comprise the craft-brewing family tree. Sincerely, Sam Calagione and Ken Grossman."

Thoughts: Poured a dark, dark brown almost black with a huge fluffy dark-eggshell head that nearly overflowed.

Nothing's really jumping out at me. Very light zingy malt. Caramel and very bitter unsweetened chocolate. I'm getting some fruity undertones, but no real syrupy scent. It's a little woody and grassy, but that's about it. Let it warm because only then will you get the brew's true scent, which is actually pretty good yet still, so very hard to acquire. You've got to breath in through your nose continuously for a while before it really starts to sink in.

It's got a good balance of hops and malt. Little heavier on the malt. I'm not getting straight up Maple Syrup that I've read about. Really I was expecting this to be full blown insanity of maple syrup taste, but it's not at all. It's instead rather earthy, and sappy. Not like some store bought sweet syrup aura you'd expect on waffles, ham or bacon. My big ass neighbor must use about a gallon of maple syrup every weekend morning because I walk out into the hallway and I'm nearly sandblasted by the stuff. I thought a bit of that smell would be in this brew, but it's not. Truth be told, I'm not really a Syrup kind of guy. I don't eat pastries, the last time I had a waffle it was blue, and though I recently visited the Indian reservoir Maple Syrup capital of the northeast US, I partook in nothing more than eating steak and eggs, smoking from a peace pipe and fondling various animal skulls. That being said, it still is a very sweet ale with nearly no bitterness at all.

Alright, so by now I let it warm up. This beer was never meant to be consumed cold. Do it room temperature. Don't even question the thought, as coldness hides every single aspect of Life and Limb. It smells and tastes more like syrup, and still with very earthy overtones. It's still not raging with Maple Syrup, but rather dark fruits like plum, prune and black cherry. The sappy, bittersweet syrup comes through in a seemingly dancing rhythm. Aftertaste is a bit of grapefruit citrus, and lemon zest. Not too dry, but a little drying. Kinda sticky and lingering. There's a boozy feel with each gulp. It's warming. It's a stark contrast to how it was when so cold.

I guess I let expectations get the better of me this time around. I was expecting something so utterly strong and dominating, that when I was hit with all but hidden flavors and scents from a brew too cold, I nearly had a mini freak-out. "What the fuck am I going to write!?", I thought. I've been looking forward to this for so long. Well, it turns out that everything went pretty well in the end. Overall, a fine, fine brew. Spicy, malty, thick, tingling, bittersweet, warming, and the slightest bit astringent. I remember tasting tree sap when I was younger, and this reminds me of that a little bit. Just don't go in expecting Mrs. Butterworth's.

Sierra Nevada 30'th: Imperial Helles Bock and Imperial Stout

Sierra Nevada 30'th Anniversary: Charlie, Fred and Ken's Bock - Imperial Helles Bock (May 2010)
Extremely Limited Release
25.4 fl. oz. / $10.49 USD / 8.3% ABV

About: "Charlie Papazian and Fred Eckhart are the men who launched a thousand breweries. Their writing on the art of home brewing and steadfast promotion of beer culture helped propel the craft brewing movement. Charlie and Fred agreed to work with us on this special ale in honor of our 30th anniversary. This Imperial Helles Bock is a testament to the ever-evolving brewer’s art. Bold yet balanced with distinct toasted malt character, moderate sweetness and clean and floral hops."

Thoughts: Well this one certainly poured lighter than the others. A golden straw-yellow color, almost a little bit orange once it's in the glass. Big foamy head as usual.

Smells citrusy. A little light, especially after the other 30'th brews there. Getting some lemon. Tangerine peel. Low creeping malt and hops.

It's got a zesty sting. Tastes a bit of floral hops. Sweet and bitter are both on the same level, with quite a well done balance overall. Somewhat tart. Not overwhelmingly tart mind you. But that's the main backdrop in flavor one it goes down. Doesn't really have the bite of an 8.3%.

A little fizzy, smooth and very easy to drink. Not terribly exciting unfortunately though.

Overall a very, very mild Imperial. The lightest I've ever tasted so far actually. For all that it's worth though, it still does taste damn good. And the warmer it gets, the sweeter is gets.

Sierra Nevada 30'th Anniversary: Fritz and Ken's Ale - Imperial Stout (March 2010)

Extremely Limited Release

25.4 fl. oz. / $10.49 USD / 9.2% ABV

About: "First of the series. Fritz Maytag, owner of San Francisco’s Anchor Brewing Company, is regarded as the founding father of the craft brewing movement. Frtiz agreed to guest brew this very special ale with us in honor of our 30th anniversary. As a nod to the dark ales and stouts that seduced both Fritz and Ken in the early years, we bring you this pioneering stout, a rich and roasted ale, perfect for aging, and worthy of your finest snifter."

Thoughts: Poured a midnight pitch black, with a dark chocolaty head that appeared to lighten into a soft fluffy whipped topping.

Heavy on the chocolate and coffee. It's not leaning towards one or the other. Both seem to be represented quite well.

Bitterness, alcohol tinge, major coffee... gonna let it warm a bit. Very malty, strong and runs through the sinuses. The alcohol notes are pretty strong in this one. It's not affecting the mouth feel, but rather the taste a bit. It's definitely more coffee than chocolate, in fact, the chocolate seems to all but disappear after a while. Only a peppery cocoa lingers. It's still there if you stop and search for it, but tangy coffee alcohol pretty much sums this one up. I'm getting some earthy tones on the finish too. Bitter, grassy and a little bit smokey.

It's a little bit thick, but yet again, just like the rest it goes down smooth. Not really a sipping brew though as it's a bit filmy, your best bet would be to chug this fucker down and run for the hills.

This one is a little bit more funky than all the rest. A lot of smoke aftertaste. A lot of smoke period. It's kind of like drinking a few shots of coffee brandy after eating some Chocolate Rice Crispies while standing over a bonfire and breathing in some of the embers. Yeah, kinda like that.

Sierra Nevada 30th: Black Barleywine Ale and Grand Cru

Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary: Jack And Ken's Ale - Black Barleywine Ale (July 2010)
Extremely Limited Release
25.4 fl. oz. / $10.49 USD / 10.2% ABV

About: "Jack McAuliffe was the first American "micro" brewer. His tiny New Albion Brewery in Sonoma, California inspired countless dreamers to start small-scale breweries of their own. Jack agreed to guest brew this very special ale with us in honor of our 30th anniversary. This Black Barleywine Ale is a nod to the legendary ales New Albion served at their legendary summer solstice parties. Rich with bittersweet and roasted malt flavors, balanced with whole-cone 100% American Cascade hops, this robust ale should age gracefully for years."

Thoughts: Popped the cork and it came out a smokin'. Poured blacker than the night. Looks absolutely gorgeous, with a dark-tan brownish head that took about five minutes to fade (the mustache helped a bit though).

Raisinettes! Heh, I love it. I'm smelling raisins, chocolate, little bit of coffee. This smells warm and inviting.

Oh, so rich. Savory. Strong. Chocolate milk, then a slight alcohol tingling. Then fruity tones come in, there's cherries and raisins, and a also a little bit more of that coffee taste that rounds out the finishing touch. Aftertaste is a little like grapefruit, and kinda grassy. You can tell it's got that signature Sierra Nevada yeast.

Little bit frothy, slightly heavy, but goes down damn smooth. It's bittersweet, but the bitter is so subtle aside from that grapefruit in the aftertaste. Drinkability is way above average, especially for such a strong ale. This is a downright beautiful brew that would be a damn shame to pass up. I'm glad I didn't.

Sierra Nevada 30'th Anniversary: Our Brewers Reserve - Grand Cru (October 2010)

Extremely Limited Edition

25.4 fl. oz. / $10.49 USD / 9.2% ABV

About: "Brewers Reserve is a special ale highlighting our pioneering history and the innovative spirit that has carried us through all these years. Is is a marriage of our three most acclaimed ales: Oak-aged Bigfoot, Celebration Ale, and fresh Pale Ale blended together and generously dry-hopped.  Come join us in celebrating thirty years with this most special brew. Drink it now, or save it for a future anniversary of your own. Note: 22% ALE AGED IN BOURBON BARRELS, 78% ALE"

Thoughts: Poured a very dark amber, light reddish-brown with a dark eggshell head that stayed forever.

Smells pretty spicy. Malty and sweet. Almost indescribable. I think I'm in love actually! I want to have this scent forever. I've said that about one other mind altering substance, but not too often about a brew. Toffee ice cream, or rather, like a Heath Bar. Only drowned in superb alcohol.

Flavors bounce all over the place, and flows of different tastes that roll about in the mouth. This is insane. Caramel, and a bitter candy-like sweetness for the most part. It's a little bit peppery too. I sneezed once. Black cherry, raisin, half-cooked dough, white pepper, brown sugar, very light malt vinegar.

A little bit frothy, tingly, and yet goes down so damn smooth. Impossibly smooth even.

Not really getting too many fruity tones in the aftertaste. It's very woody. The bourbon flavor, to me, is pretty light, but the oak and sweetness of it really comes out on top of everything in the finale and it is applause worthy. It's like a deliciously Evil caramel liquid candy that kicks your ass sideways.