The Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is a modern classic of its kind: the American twist on a traditional pale ale. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is widely accessible in UK stores yet, despite its huge annual production levels, Sierra Nevada of Chico, California, is still considered a microbrewery in the US.
The Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, which contains live yeast, is brewed with pale and caramel malts. The bittering hops are Magnum and Perle with Cascade hops thrown in for aroma, which certainly comes through in the nose.
It’s a crisp, exciting, spicy head that greets the drinker, with a heavy citrus note. The colour is a wonderfully light amber/straw and there’s a malty sweetness throughout. Many feel this beer sets the benchmark for modern pale ales and it will certainly appeal to those that like the new wave of American craft beers, European beer aficionados and, whisper it, lager drinkers…
The Essentials:
ABV: 5.6%
Look: Light amber
Smell: Citrus (orange), peppery spices
Taste: Sweet malts, citrus
Our verdict: Its popularity and long list of awards are testament to this beer’s ranking as one of the modern classics. Try it, judge for yourself.
Website: http://www.sierranevada.com/beers/paleale.html
