Sierra Navada 30th Anniversary Vol. 4: Our Brewer's Reserve - Oak Aged Ale (Grand Cru)

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Chico, California

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Nice dark copper color. Subtle haze. Big almond colored head that lasts!

AROMA: 3.75/4
Strong floral, citrus hop aroma - Cascade hop. Very aromatic. Nice.

TASTE: 8.25/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Hoppy aroma and hop flavor dominant. Bitter finish. Malt appropriate with nutty and woody notes. Well balanced. Hop, hop, and hop!
Aftertaste: 2.75/3: Hop bitterness lasts. Nutty. Raisin-sweet finish offset by bitterness.
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Very sweet but bitter finish. Noticeable alcohol. Full.

OVERALL: 2.5/3: A sweet hoppy offering. Complex but all balance nicely. An good beer from a great brewery.

TOTAL: 17/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Complex, kind of weird, but good and powerful. An okay sipping beer. Perhaps a dessert beer.

Ben: Nutty and sweet with lots of hop. Big. Complex-lots of flavors going on. A definite sipping beer. I like it!