Something for the Sierra lovers out there. Just grabbed a six pack of this, and frankly I think this is the nicest Sierra Nevada beer I've had. I much prefer this to the pale ale, porter and torpedo that I've tried. It's malty, but not over the top, with a dry finish and a lingering hop flavour. I haven't checked, but it tastes like a similar but different hop choice than the pale. Maybe something new, or a C hop and noble hop combo?
Pours dark brown with red highlights, quite clear but hard to tell with the sub-optimal glass I'musing. No yeast dregs in an empty, so I'm guessing not bottle conditioned. Aroma is low, but is C citrus and that identifiable chico yeast subtle sulphur.
Taste is medium intensity malt - nothing like a scotch ale, but right in the money for a quaffable brown ale. I get a touch of chocolate and caramel. Dry finish with some lingering bitterness. I'd guess around low 30s IBU. Hop presense is lovely and much more subtle than many beers I've been tasting this week. There's a C hop citrus; maybe centennial or cascade, with a roundness you get from noble hops. Now I think about it it's probably the same mix as the pale ale, just showcasing different due to the malt profile.
Overall impression; I could drink a heap of this. It's a fine beer crafted with drinkers in mind; smooth, yet dry, nothing too intense, but heaps of interesting things going on to keep you happy with your choice. Would buy again for sure.
Edit: It's a combo of Challenger and Yakima Goldings (US Goldings I guess) to 37 IBU - and apparently contains some smoked malt. The pale ale is cascade and pearle hops, so I couldn't have been more wrong. I didn't pick the smoke at all, and still can't even now I know its there.
