Sierra Nevada Brewing Company - Anniversary Ale (2007-2009)

Darker in color than some IPA's, pours a copper/golden/amber color with ample tan head of about 3 fingers, laces nicely on my snifter. Faint notes of pine on the nose, not overly aromatic. Taste is again pine, with some malty presence following, almost caramel. Feel is crisp on the front and oily on the finish. Nice sessionable beer, not super bold on the aromas or the flavors, but enough to keep it good.

Rating: Good

ABV: 5.9%

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. - Harvest Wet Hop Ale

Initial appearance is a deep amber copper color, with a nice "glow". Ample thick tan head that dissipates to a nice crown. Smell has nice pine and pineapple notes with some alcohol and malts creeping in on the back end. Taste has crisp pine flavors with gentle sugar sweetness on the back. Light oily feel, with crisp light carbonation, nice warming from the alcohol. Greatly drinkable, could easily drink 3 or 4 not overpowering in any aspect but nicely flavorful in most.

Rating: Better

ABV: 6.7%

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company - Southern Hemisphere Harvest Fresh Hop Ale

Pours a deep copper color with an off-white two finger head. Smell is not a powerful aroma, some piney and alcohol notes initially with some slight floral notes following. Not an overpoweringly hoppy beer, piney notes initially with what seems to be a grapefruity finish. Great feel, some slight oilyness with a powerful but light carbonation. Very enjoyable and drinkable beer, good taste, feel and moderate ABV.

Rating: Better

ABV: 6.7%

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company - Torpedo Extra IPA

Pours a golden/amber/copper color with an off white one finger head, laced the glass nicely. Great smell, very much piney with some light floral notes on the end. Taste, again very much a piney flavor of the hops, some slight grapefruit notes finishing. Good feel, light carbonation, not to dry. Nice, abv isn't out of this world, but more than a few is a few too many.

Rating: Best

ABV: 7.2%

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company - Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale

2010 Vintage poured a golden brown into a tumbler, head was average with minimal lacing. Aroma is very well balanced, with sweet malts and citrus hops leading the charge. Taste is nicely balanced as well, good sweetness from the malts with some citrus flavors on the finish. Medium to full bodied feel, little syrupy, with some oilyness to complete. Very drinkable Barleywine with great characteristics.

Rating: Better

ABV: 9.6%

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company - Porter

Poured a deep dark ruby or garnet tinged brown with ample tan head that dissipated quickly and left some lacing. Aromas primarily of chocolate malts with some slight bitterness on the tale end. Feel was medium to full bodied with some dryness/crispness noticed. Very drinkable as the flavor was not overly sweet and the ABV is manageable.

Rating: Better

ABV: 5.6%

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company - Celebration Ale

Poured from the bottle into a rounded tumbler. Pours a deep copper hue with ample off white head that lasts long and laces very nicely. Aromas of grapefruit initially, with some malty backbone of roasted malts. Hops and fruit flavors balanced well with slight roasted character of the malts. Crisp feel on the front with a minor oiliness on the finish. Great, balanced beers are always very drinkable with this one having a sessionable ABV and great taste.

Rating: Better

ABV: 6.80%

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company - Life and Limb

First of all this is a collaboration between Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head Brewing Company.

Poured from the bottle into an tumbler. Pours a nice thick dark ruby/brown with a tan head. Limited lacing. Initial aromas are definitely roasted malts and sweetness of the maple syrup. Taste is sweet initially with the malts being very present seem to taste some bitterness following with a hint of coffee, maybe chocolate. Feel is medium to full bodied, leaning to the full side, with some light tight carbonation. Alcohol warming is present and noticeable in the aftertaste. Overall a good beer, with great unique attributes. ABV limits sessionability as does the sweetness in my opinion.

Rating: Good

ABV: 10.20%