Stout with a Northwest Hop-Infused Twist
Written: Jul 23 '01 (Updated Jul 24 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: An enjoyable hoppy version of the style makes this fairly refreshing.
Cons: Some will not be keen on stray from traditional style.
The Bottom Line: Combines the traditional roasted maltiness of a stout with a traditional west coast hop infused twist. Will work very well for hop-lovers, but not for everyone.
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| andaryl's Full Review: Sierra Nevada Stout |
The Sierra Nevada Brewing Company was one of the early contributors to the USA microbrew revolution, having started brewing in 1981. Its growth and reputation have promoted its classification above that of microbrewery although, as Michael Jackson argues in his “Beer Companion”, there is logic for its inclusion as such “on the basis of its chronology and philosophy”.
Casual beer drinkers will almost definitely be familiar with Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale, one of the best USA examples of its kind. More observant beer fanatics will recognize Sierra Nevada for its well crafted brewing and added hop bitterness that has become the trademark of its brews. I have already posted reviews on the Pale Ale, Porter and Celebration (all links are on my profile page), so tonight I decided to sit in front of a baseball game with a bottle of Sierra Nevada Stout.
Sierra Nevada Stout
This beer was a silver medal stout winner at the Great American Beer Festival in 1988 and 1989. The website describes this as:
“…a creamy and full- bodied example of this traditional style ale. Very dark and very rich, the Stout displays a pronounced roasted flavor.”
Technical Information
Hops: Cascade and Chinook.
Malts: Two-row barley, caramel, black and dextrin.
ABV: 5.8%
I’m not sure if this one was bottle-conditioned but it was fairly lively.
Tasting Notes
The first thing to note in the pour is the impressively thick, spongy, tan foam. The body is thick and black with a slight reddish light reflection.
The aroma is very definitive and gives you a very accurate impression of what to expect. There’s a deep roasted malt, with chocolate, and clear evidence of hops that provide some fruitiness.
There’s a nice overall softness to the palate, with a very light carbonation. It’s medium-bodied, smooth, foamy, slightly chewy, but overall very drinkable.
Upon tasting, all the hints of the aroma are pretty quickly confirmed. It starts out with a wonderful mix of roasted malt, caramel, and chocolate, resulting in something a little coffee-ish. There’s also the briefest hint of smokiness right towards the end. It’s all pretty much what you’d expect from a stout so far, but it does stray a little in the finish when the hops come into play. There’s a tangy citric bitterness, something of a mix between green apple and grapefruit, that define this as a Sierra or Northwest ale. The bitterness lingers into the aftertaste but is tempered a little by the smoother malt flavors.
Verdict
This is essentially a hoppier version of the style, and may be a little off balanced for some. I do prefer my stouts to finish with a dry roasted coffee-like flavor, but this version does offer an enjoyable and pleasant change of pace.
This is not a stout for beginners, more of a hop-lover’s stout. The citric finish does provide a refreshing drinkability, while it maintains the more traditional chocolate and caramel roasted malt flavors. It’s a stout with a Northwest (or IPA) influence and is in fact pretty similar to Rogue’s Shakespeare although a little lighter in body and flavor.
Food
I always think that the citric bitterness of an IPA or the full flavor and robustness of a stout or porter work very well with a charred steak, so this beer balances the best of all of them and would make a perfect match. I would also add something like a roasted lemon and sage chicken.
Ratings
Pour: 5/5 Aroma: 8/10 Palate: 4/5 Flavor 8/10 Overall: 15/20
Score: 4.0
Recommended:
Yes
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andaryl
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Member: Andrew Smith
Location: California via Yorkshire
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