Sierra Nevada Beers Arrive!

Hillside Liquor Store has just received a very large order of Sierra Nevada products from Chico California. http://www.sierranevada.com/index2.html
Fans of their beer might remember that the last time we had it was in September, and quantities ran out quickly!
This time around we received 6 packs of: Celebration Ale, Pale Ale, Stout, and the Porter, as well as a 650 ml of the Pale Ale.

Celebration Ale is brewed for the winter season, and is robust and rich as well as being dry-hopped for a lively intense aroma. Celebration Ale is made with Centennial, Chinook and Cascade hops as well as Two-row Pale and English Caramel malts. 6.8% alcohol
With an ale as big as Celebration, you need a dish assertive enough to hold its own. Rich meats such as prime rib, lamb, or wild fowl underscore Celebration’s huge aroma, making a wonderful holiday meal. Intense, earthy pastas also work well—try goat cheese ravioli, a rich fettuccine, or gnocchi with Gorgonzola cheese sauce.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is probably the most well-known of all of Sierra Nevada's beer. It is a delightful interpretation of a classic style with a deep amber color and an exceptionally full-bodied, complex character. Generous quantities of premium Cascade hops (as well as Magnum and Perle) give the Pale Ale its fragrant bouquet and spicy flavor.
“Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is the flagship beer, the one that made Chico famous. It is a flawless beer that opens with bright, perky high notes of maltiness and orange blossom and segues into a delectable hoppiness.”– Elaine Louie, Premier Beer—A Guide to America's Best Bottled Microbrews

Sierra Nevada's Pale ale with its assertive hop flavor goes especially well with spicy cuisine, since its clean flavors counterbalance the richness of many hot dishes. It also goes well with starters and salads, its spicy complexity stimulating both appetites and conversation.

The Porter is dark, rich and delicious medium-bodied ale with a creamy head. The Porter’s smooth flavor (malty with hints of caramel) comes from a blend of deep-roasted barley malts.
This beer has both Golding and Willamette hops as well as Two-row Pale, Munich, Chocolate and caramel malts. 5.6% alcohol.

While porters are traditionally paired with steak (think Porterhouse), its deep maltiness is an equally perfect match for the rich, smoky flavors of grilled portobello mushrooms. The creaminess of Porter’s chocolate and caramel malts also makes it a perfect accompaniment to desserts, especially those made with chocolate.

The Stout is creamy, malty, and full-bodied, as well as satisfyingly rich. Caramel and Black malts give the Stout its deep, dark color and pronounced roasted flavor.
5.8% alcohol, the stout also contains Magnum, Cascade and Willamette hops and Two-row Pale, Munich, Caramel and Black malt.
“Sierra Nevada Stout is admirable from nose to finish, with notes of malty sweetness to the palate but plenty of bitterness available to set up a stimulating counterpoint.”

Black malts give Stout a smokiness that demands an equally intense flavor pairing. Smoked or raw oysters are a traditional accompaniment, but other shellfish serve equally well. For vegetarian dishes that stand up to Stout, try lentil stew, marinated eggplant, or smoked tempeh. Stout also makes a delightful dessert beer when matched with creamy tiramisu or toasted almond biscotti.
– Christopher Finch, A Connoisseur’s Guide to the World’s Best Beer


For more information about hops (humulus lupulus) and the effect they have on beer try here:http://beeradvocate.com/beer/101/hops.php

For more information about malt and adjuncts, try here:http://beeradvocate.com/beer/101/malts

For reviews of beer from around the world, try here: http://beeradvocate.com/