Sierra Nevada 2015 Beer Camp Hoppy Lager

The other day I was in the liquor store (the only place, besides local breweries, where you can purchase bottles of beer higher than 4% ABV to take home), and my eyes were ensnared by a lone six-pack of beer on the floor in between two stacks of other common Utah brews. The thing that caught my eye was the unmistakable "Sierra Nevada Beer Camp" label that was no where to be seen this past summer in Utah, though it toured cities left and right of the state. I thought it might be something left over from the summer that someone special ordered but never picked up. As I crouched down and plucked a bottle from the pack, I read with wide-eyes that this was actually something new. Though I had originally hoped it was some rare, random left over from the summer, I was content to leave the store with something fresh and likely tasty. After all, Sierra Nevada never disappoints.

Sierra Nevada 2015 Beer Camp Hoppy Lager

BG Poured from a 12 fl oz (355 ml) bottle into a stemmed tulip, 7% ABV, Packaged 01/09/15, 55 IBU

A Light gold in color with two fingers of long-lasting, beige head. Tiny bubbles stream up from the bottom of the glass to replenish it. It’s super clear. Lots of sticky lacing.

A Woah, this is definitely Sierra Nevada. Lemon hoppiness nips at my nostrils as it wafts above the suds. Strong floral hops, cheese-like aromas, dank, the lightest bit of bready malt.

T Sweet malt with a hint of toast. But man, that hop character is explosive! It’s a bit piney, not back-of-the-mouth bitter like most IPAs, but still very present. Port Salut cheese, toast fresh from the toaster, there’s even a touch of pineapple and a little grapefruit.

M The finish is dry, and slightly cottony. Med-light bodied, with moderate carbonation.

A Firm, yellow cheese. Dank hops. A little bit of toasted malt. 

C This is an incredibly pleasant IPL (India Pale Lager). It’s very tasty, but maintains moderate drinkability. You can knock a few of these back without too much palate fatigue, and you can also have one and be satisfied with the flavor. The bready malt provides an awesome saddle for those dank hops to ride on all day long. I just love this hybrid style. The only thing that I find distasteful about it is the “Available One-Time Only” posted on the front of the bottle. Even if it’s true, it makes me think of infomercials that say, “Limited time only!” or  “Call in the next 5 minutes, and get not one, but two blahblahblah”. Everything else about this beer is exactly what I’d expect from SN… nothing less than delicious!

FP Port Salut cheese on garlic crackers. Short rib polenta poutine. NY style cheesecake topped with spicy Mexican chocolate shavings.