Sierra Nevada Brews, to go

It’s Picnic Day, and I’m having a swell time sitting on my porch (with some great beers, of course) watching the drunkards fall off their bikes and yell obscenities. It’s a perfect day for a blog post! Thank you, Sierra Nevada, for the following:

 

SN PALE BOCK
7.00%ABV
Serving: 12oz to pils
A: White finger of good looking head over a semitransparent light golden/orange brew. Head dissipates relatively quickly but at least lingers over the surface of the beer for the session.
S: Crisp lager freshness on the nose with malt sweetness delicately balanced out by hops. Honey and grains on the nose.
T/M: Crisp, light and perfectly carbonated mouthfeel brings out a balanced but seemingly basic malt and hop profile. Honey (as on the nose) with a semi-dry, bitter hop finish.
D: No overwhelming flavors or aromas…nondescript brews are necessary now and then! This is great for the style, and it’s a perfect beer to welcome the hot Cali sun. This beer is easily sessionable.
Pale Bock - B+

SN WHEAT BEER
4.40%ABV
Serving: 12oz to weizen
A: FOUR huge fingers of white, thick foam over a somewhat hazy dark orange to light copper color. There is a respectable amount of lacing and head retention.
S: Fresh wheat and spice under a crisp aroma of (vaguely) damp grains.
T: Not the hugest flavors, but those discernible include citrus and wheat. The flavors are not as spicy as the aromas would lead me to believe. The sip ends in a bitter fruit character. There is also a delicate perfume sense about the beer that I quite enjoyed.
M: Water at some moments, but mostly crisp and refreshing. 
D: I’m more than happy to finish the 6er of this brew and make room for the Kellerweis! But I do want to point out that this beer is great to pair with a salad.
Wheat - B

 

SN PORTER 
5.60%ABV, 40IBUs
Serving: 12oz to stein
A: Three fingers of a huge, bulbous head that almost spills out of my stein. The brew is a dark brown with ruby hues. The rocky head sticks around for a while and leaves some sticky lacing.
S: Chocolate, coffee beans, and oatmeal. These are absolutely inviting aromas for me.
T/M: Big sweet malts of semi-burnt chocolate and roasted coffee. Rounds out to a citrus/tangy finish. A great bitter residue sticks around from this nearly medium-bodied brew. Roasted flavors really pull through as the it warms in my glass.
D: This is exactly what a porter should be. Will it replace Black Butte as my go-to beer?
SN Porter - A+ 

look at the head on this beer! and no, I don't spend all my time on beeradvocate.com...

 

Beers of Character: Sierra Nevada Stout and Anchor Bock

SIERRA NEVADA STOUT - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.; Chico, CA
5.80%ABV
Serving: 12oz to pint

A: Nearly 2 fingers creamy/bubbly tan head over pitch black with only the slightest traces of brown at the bottom of the glass when held up to the light. The head retains as a good sized film and there’s sticky lacing on the sides. 
S: Collision and balance of hops and malts; some alcohol notes but they’re barely there. Coffee in the deeper parts of the aroma.
T: Roasted, bitter dark chocolate leaves a strong espresso-like flavor and consistency on the palate. The bitter desires all of my attention.
M: Heavy, creamy body slides slick down the throat leaving bitter residues on the palate. The aftertaste sticks around for a very long time.
D: Very pleasant and warming. I loved the lingering tastes. I look forward to trying some other brews by Sierra Nevada.
Sierra Nevada Stout - A

Today featured a beautiful, moderately warm, sunny morning. I thought the Spring-like weather would be perfect for cracking open a seasonally-appropriate bock around lunchtime. Literally the minute I pulled the beer out of the fridge, the clouds rolled in over the sun. Strange, but it didn’t hamper my experience at all.

ANCHOR BOCK - Anchor Brewing
5.50%ABV
Serving: 120z to pils

A: One finger dark beige head retains for at least a minute and then sticks around as a ring for the entire beer; thick lace the whole way down the tall glass. Beer is black, dark brown and mahogany around the edges.
S: Sweet malts, super faint citrus as the beer warmed slightly; balanced and inviting aroma.
T: Slightly roasted sweet malts with some very light coffee flavors, not overpowering unlike those found in some porters; sensed some smokiness at the back of the palate. Sip ends in notes of tart dried fruits.
M: Heavier body than I expected with medium carbonation and heavy, sweet residue.
D: This brew is very easy and pleasant to consume. Tons of body and flavor. One of the better bocks I’ve had recently.
Anchor Bock - A

i love the beige head and mahogany bottom

 

Both these beers are available NOW at the Co-op and Cost Plus. Grab the bock soon as it’s only brewed through April!