What Would Eli Drink?
Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale (2008)
WWED Grade: B

Appearance: Little head – good carbonation. Very clear and amber in color.
Smell: Smells great. A little herbal bitterness. Faintly sweet at the end on a deep breath. Not a fruity sweet - a sugar sweet.
Taste: Stronger than their famous Pale Ale. More bitter – more hops. Little spicy. Peppery. Bitter and dry hoppy after taste.
Mouthfeel: Very smooth. Holds the carbonation well.
Drinkability: Pale Ales give me a sense of fullness. I would have another. But could cap out at 2 or 3 in a sitting. Overall, I'd likely buy this beer again - but maybe not immediately.

ABV: 5.9%
Serving Type: 12 oz. bottle poured in glass.

This would be a good second or third beer in a tasting. A great beer for sports or casual drinking. Pale Ale's have never really been my beer of choice. You won't find them at the bottom of my list, but they won't be at the top either. I can appreciate them for what they are – and know what's good. Sierra Nevada are masters of the American Pale Ale. The Anniversary Ale Boasts Cascade Hops around the neck, so I was really hoping this beer would knock my socks off – it didn't. No more than their infamous batches of Pale Ale would. The hops are strong, so overall I'd say they did it well, but after LOVING the Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Fresh Hop Ale – this was a little let down. It may have also been hyped to me before hand. I know I'll need to drink with no assumptions, and no expectations in the future. Definitely a beer worth drinking if you're a beer guy/gal. If you're looking for something to sell you on the craft of drinking beer – you may want not want to start with a Pale Ale anyways. But for a Pale Ale – it was done well.