Bell Rates... Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

type: Pale Ale

origin: California, USA

ABV: 5.6%

location: house

served: 350ml bottle to glass

In recent years American craft breweries have seen a growth in sales, and it has to be said that some of the most interesting and high-quality American beers are brewed in small batches by people who's focus is on quality, rather than on shareholders and Superbowl commercials.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is one of these craft breweries, and although they've expanded somewhat over the last 30 years, and their products are now sold all over the world, the beer is still brewed with the same ideals of quality.

It should be noted that this is an American Pale Ale, and thus differs somewhat from a British PA, due to the different hop varieties in use on the other side of the pond. My own feeling is that Sierra Nevada's effort isn't actually too far off a lager, possessed as it is of a rather sharp, almost acerbic taste, and while it's very hoppy, it's not overly bitter. The beer also has a complex range of fruity and flowery undertones and a herbal element that (after going through all the herbs in my spice rack one-by-one) i'd say wasn't far off thyme.

Smell: not very strong, and with only hints of the complex flavour coming through in the bouquet. A little bit of citrus.  2/4

Colour: an attractive rich amber.  3/4

Taste: complex, and very hoppy, but clean and not too bitter.  3/4

overall: an interesting beer - and while 'interesting' could be considered to be good or bad, this definitely sits on the side of 'good' interesting. A quality brew that proves that America can produce high-quality beer when they realise that good beer is a result of dedication and fine ingredients, and not a result of board meetings and advertising budgets.   8/12

more info: www.sierranevada.com