Tasted Sierra Nevada Pale Ale for First Time

[DRoyLenz]

I also, used to hate the bittering nature of hops. This was before I started brewing. I couldn't choke down an IPA if I wanted to. I think the turning point for me was when I was making my first beer, I got to hold the hops, and smell them. Then when I added them to the boil, the beautiful aroma of hops and malt filled the room and surrounded me with warmth and love.

I don't know if it was a spiritual experience, or what. But since that day, I crave hoppier and hoppier beers, as well as maltier and maltier beers. I'll jump from a malty, sweet Marzen, to the hoppy goodness of an IPA, then finish it all off with an RIS or IIPA. I think getting your hands in the wort (NOT LITERALLY) is really what opened up my tastes.

 

[mithion]

IMO, Sierra Nevada beers have a harsh lingering bitterness which I suspect is a water issue. I enjoy tongue-splitting IPAs from time to time, though my own tastes tend toward the maltier side of things.

I think the lingering bitterness is a combination of the bittering hops (magnum are pretty high alpha) and also very high carbonation. They have sierra nevada on tap at some of the local pubs around here and it's not the same beer at all. It's a lot less carbonated and the bitterness is less harsh and more floral so the cascade really shines with SNPA on tap. So I recommend that when you drink bottled SNPA, pour in a large pint glass and try too pour aggressivly. You'll liberate more CO2 from being dissolved in the beer, and you'll get a nice fluffy head with oh so divine cascade aroma. You'll see it's a completely different beer when enjoyed this way.