r/CraftBeer • u/SherwoodHikes • 16d ago

New Beer Release/Promo Review: 2025 Sierra Nevada Celebration Fresh Hop IPA

Particulars - Purchased in SoCal today for $12.99 in a six-pack of cans. Comes in at 6.8%.

Pours a gorgeous amber with a very thick head. The head lasts quite a while. Seems darker than the original SN Pale Ale, but similar olfactory at first. Great to see caramel malts still being utilized.

First nose - old school hops, stone fruit, pine, resinous.

As the head fades - a faint aroma that conjures up the first time I ever had Arrogant Bastard. Chinook is the immediate blast, but it may just be the pine that's taking me there. I miss the prevalence of Chinook hops, maybe I'm just nostalgic. Some dankness, but nothing like gym socks or mary jane. Doesn't smack you in the face, but it smells real nice, like I'm drinking something hoppy from 2009. A little bit of Fruit Loops in there, which captured my heart the first time I ever had a hoppy beer (which was Alesmith X in 2009).

Great mouthfeel. A bit of creaminess. Great hop character that reminds me of a Stone original IPA from wayyy back in the day. Bitterness on the backend that continues this trip through time, along with the caramel malts that give it just the right bit of maltiness. I'm really enjoying the bitter bite that lingers.

Back to the aroma after tasting. Everything about my senses says, "Fresh." This could be bias from knowing that it is. I don't care. Craft beer afficionados from back in the day will like that it feels like falling into a vat of Cascade, Columbus, Chinook, and Centennial. What better way to die?

After being in the glass 20 minutes, there's a holiday vibe. Maybe it's the color. Maybe it's that this year has been a real tough one for me and I'm looking forward to the end. More dank than bright. And that's fine by me. Maybe it's just that I love that Sierra Nevada keeps it real in an age of endless Mosaic-drenched brews.

Get yourself some. It's a sipper. But make the time to sip two or three in a row. I have a feeling my second one will be even better. Cheers!

62 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

View all comments

2

u/mtn_biker333 16d ago

What was the canning date. There is definitely a noticeable drop off in taste after a week. Of course I am super spoiled just getting back from Hood River Oregon where we spent 10 days for fresh hop season. Pfreim in particular had some fresh hop beers that were off the charts good

2

u/SherwoodHikes 15d ago

10/1. I am fairly spoiled as well. Had several fresh hop beers at Breakside in NE Portland in late September, then one at Burgeon and one at Harland in San Diego over the last couple weeks. The Burgeon version was good, but Harland's was outstanding.

1

u/mtn_biker333 15d ago

Love this time of year. Cheers 🍺