Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale
This beer features nearly an inch of frothy off-white that has excellent retention. Lacing is patchy but sticky. Color is a hazy dark gold/orange hue. Looks very nice! Nicely hoppy but not overly intense aroma. Touches of citrus and pine backed up by a subtle malt undertone. Not the most aromatic IPA I've come across but certainly not bad. Taste is quite bitter without a lot of the citrusy notes detected in the aroma. Some herbal flavors present, slightly grassy, a little maltiness underneath. Not really getting much of the sweetness mentioned in other reviews. I know this is a fresh bottle but the hops are mostly just bitter and resiny without a ton of other flavor qualities. Maybe some citrus peels in here too, a hint of grapefruit. Kind of reaching a bit. Very nice mouthfeel, crisp and refreshing, with medium body and a lingering but not overly bitter finish. This may actually be the best part of this beer as you can pick up more subtleties of flavor as it fades in your mouth. The malt comes out a bit more here, with vaguely medicinal notes and the merest hint of spice. Alcohol begins to warm you as you work your way through the glass. I liked this beer but found it maybe a little bit one-note for my tastes. I love the hoppiness, appearance, and finish but wish there were a little bit more vivid flavors besides the overall bitterness.