Sierra Nevada Celebration

Brewer's Notes: Fresh Hop Ale; no spices.
We first brewed Celebration IPA in the winter of 1981. Each year, we use only the first fresh hops of the growing season to create this complex and robust ale. Layered pine and citrus hop aromas balance delicately against rich, malt sweetness to shape this bold wintertime classic.

10 Nov. 2020
I return to an classic Christmas ale. Back in the day, Celebration was in BeerAdvocate's top 100. Celebration's release tells me that Christmas is near. It is a robust IPA with a strong malt backbone and plenty of bite from NW hops. I still think that it is a titch too piney but cannot resist a 6-pack or two this year.

Beeradvocate. 

Rating = 4 glasses.

02 Dec. 2008

Tonight's year-old Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale was a welcome oasis of hops in a malty winter. Celebration Ale is a highly rated IPA. However, I tend to find it to be too piney. Drinking one at room temperature felt like drinking Pine Sol. I cellared a bottle last year to see if time would smooth out the hops would. It did and the piney taste was greatly diminished. I noticed a sweeter malt beginning than what I remembered and it was balanced by a nice hoppy finish. However, the hops did not have "zing" and a slight piney aftertaste persisted.

Celebration Ale is a seasonal release from Sierra Nevada. The brewer consistently makes good beer and sells it for good value. I recommend that new beer geeks sample the brewery's products to learn about good beer and beer styles. The brewery tends to put an American twist on styles by using bitter Northwest hops.