Caveman Beer Reviews: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

Note: This is a series I call Caveman Beer Reviews, because I like to drink beer but am a caveman when it comes to beer knowledge. I know only the basics, and do not have a refined palate. I’ll review the beers on price and what they look, smell, and taste like to me.

Beer: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

Bottom Line: A sharply bitter beer that will greatly appeal to lovers of bitter brews.

Price: About $13.99 for a 12-pack of 12 ounce bottles.

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Details

My wife got me this beer to try as part of a Trader Joe’s run. I had never seen it before, and had no idea what to expect. It’s got a very outdoorsy-looking bottle that makes me imagine it’s made by heavily bearded woodsmen who know what they’re doing. I wound up liking it very much.

Origin: California and North Carolina, USA

Alcohol: 5.6%

Looks: A short, dark glass bottle with some bucolic-looking greenish labeling. For some reason, it reminds me of Vermont. The beer itself is light brown.

Smell: Light beer smell.

Taste: Despite its light smell and pale brown color, the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale has a strongly bitter taste. It’s a sharp bitterness (especially towards the end) that lingers on the throat and top of the mouth. It also has hints of citrus, like very bitter orange or orange peels. Such citrus taste is so bitter as to be barely noticeable, but it’s there.

This ale is refreshing, but not easy to drink unless you like bitter beer.

I really took to the Sierra Nevada, but that’s because I enjoy bitter brews. I don’t think that someone that has other predilections would like it.

Hangover Factor: Nothing unusual. I’m a male in reasonably good health born in 1983.

Final Thoughts

The Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is a solid, well-tasting, somewhat pricey beer. However, it sure is bitter. If you like that kind of beer, by all means get it. If not, spend your money on something else.