The Beer Retard - February 16th, 2007

At first, this seasonal IPA by Sierra Nevada doesn't taste significantly different than the brewery's flagship Pale Ale. As the beer warms, you start to get more bitterness. Though this bitterness becomes fairly pronounced, I'm still thinking that this is a more subtle variety of hop than is used in typical West Coast IPAs. Not knowing what Sierra had in mind, my initial reaction was that this was a rather tame example of the IPA style.

Once again, my beer ignorance has been revealed. I say that because this isn't an American-style West Coast IPA at all. It's a British-style IPA brewed with Goldings hops, a traditional British variety. These hops have a much different aroma and flavor than the grapefruity and sprucey hops produced here in the U.S. The effect of the Goldings is more subtle on the aroma and the palate, although there's still plenty of the trademark bitterness you come to expect from strongly-hopped IPAs. For those who don't like the extra-strength hoppy ales, but want something more bitter than a regular pale ale, this would be a good call. I need to seek out more British-style IPAs so my inexperienced palate can become well-seasoned.