Yet Another Beer Show

Well, well, well. It’s been a long time since we’ve sat down with a frosty brew on a late night. I’ve been been sampling a few different beers in recent weeks, but the Sierra Nevada Celebration is the first winter brew I’ve come across this season that’s worthy of sharing notes.

This beer works directly out of the bottle or in a nice glass. Should you decide to go the classy route, it pours a rich, warm, amber color and features a really thick, effervescent head. There is obvious lacing, which just makes you feel good. The lacing sticks around quite a bit, too, indicating Sierra Nevada is using a fresh, healthy batch of hops. Each year, they take the earliest hops from their harvesting season and use them in their Celebration brew, which is also dubbed their “Fresh Hop Ale,” so this is no coincidence!

Beyond the frothy head and other positives of this beer’s appearance is a noticeable and enticing aroma. There are sharp notes of both citrus (grapefruit?) and pine (Douglas fir?) that are very, very inviting.

When you finally get to the drinking, it just gets better and better! Sierra Nevada rarely does poorly, so it’s to be expected that one of their annual paramount brews is so good. This hits all of the expected IPA notes (hoppy, palette-freshening), but brings a malty balance that you won’t find in prototypical IPAs. The nature of this beer allows it to slide comfortably into the realm of winter seasonals it occupies.

I highly recommend it and believe it has all of the necessary points to make your holidays just perfect.

Quick Hits:

• Thick, beautiful head with substantial lacing. It’s like a snowstorm on the side of your glass
• Aromatic citrus and pine scents bursting to get to your nose
• Rich, balanced flavor with a bit of a hop bite and a spicy finish
• Overall an incredible and versatile brew that’s good for taking a six pack to parties or stock-piling for yourself in your beer fridge

Enjoy and have the happiest of holidays!