Being a recent convert to the joys of craft beer, I realised I was yet to try a proper American ale. That's quite an omission, considering the new wave of brewing in the UK was largely inspired by the IPAs and pale ales being created in the States. I decided to put that right with a Pale Ale from Sierra Nevada, the daddy of them all.
The pour easily developed a head of a couple of fingers with plenty of carbonation. The nose was very impressive. Not a Thornbridge-style assault but a strong-yet-intricate smell of hops and biscuity malt. Upon drinking, I realised this is a truly great beer. The carbonation helps to deliver the tastes into all the right places and what a wonderful array of tastes they were. A lovely grapefruit bitterness being kept in check by a subtle biscuity malt.
At 5.6%, it's a pretty strong beer but actually tastes stronger. This would undoubtedly be labelled an IPA if brewed in the UK but these tags are completely arbitrary and I don't care what they call it, it's absolutely great. Once again, I think I have a new favourite.
Picked up a bottle of this today...it'd better be as good as you say.
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