Celebration Ale - Santa came early this year.
Written: Jan 15 '09
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Product Rating:
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Pros: heavy hop flavor, just the right amount of fruit and spice.
Cons: heavy hop flavor may be overpowering for some.
The Bottom Line: For IPA fans, this is a must for the holiday season. Perfect taste and easy to drink.
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| xpander007's Full Review: Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale |
My latest Christmas review comes in the form of Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale. Located in Chico, California, Sierra Nevada Brewing is one of the most popular craft breweries currently operating in the United States. In my estimation, only Samuel Adams is more well known that Sierra Nevada. Much of this comes from the popularity of their Pale Ale which can found almost everywhere in St. Louis.
It has taken a few years for my palate to truly appreciate a high level of hops. Until this time, I was not a huge fan of many Sierra Nevada offerings especially the Celebration Ale. Luckily for me, that has changed and the Celebration Ale has become another beer on the long list of winter seasonals I yearn for.
This review was the Celebration Ale poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a standard pint glass.
The Pour:
The beer pours a deep copper color which turns more orange when held up to the light. There is a good amount of carbonation present which adds to the brew being mostly opaque. There is a nice white two finger head that left lacing throughout the entire glass.
The Aroma:
Since this is an IPA, it comes as no surprise that the aroma is dominated by hops, hops, and more hops. The sweet malt is also present along with some citrus fruit. I am picking up grapefruit or some sour lemon. While there are some spices notes, this is definitely not your run of mill Christmas beer.
The Taste:
The first thing I noticed was the sour citrus fruit. However, this was immediately overpowered by a blast of hops. There is a hint of malt but it is dominated by the hop flavor. I can catch a bit of spice toward the end, but very little. The beer finishes dry, very clean and simply refreshing. The aftertaste brings back a tad of the citrus fruits mixed with the somewhat bitter taste you come to expect from the style. Even at 6.8% abv. the alcohol is barely noticeable.
Overall:
While not your typical winter seasonal, this is a breath of fresh air. Celebration Ale has a wonderful balance of flavors and is extremely refreshing and easy to drink. This has become one of my must-have beers in December and will continue to make that list. If you enjoy IPA's this would be a selection for you.
Recommended:
Yes
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