Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5
Had the draught version at California Pizza Kitchen. Considering how widely available this beer is I'm surprised it took me this long to try it. Not the best APA I have had but still better than average. Good bitter hops flavor and somewhat dry. It is nice to know there are actually decent beers at the grocery store.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
Golden coloured. Big hop aroma. Full bodied, clean maltiness. Very bitter finish. I liked it!
omhper (44752) reviewed Bigfoot from Sierra Nevada Brewing Company 23 years ago
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 10 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
Sampled young. Reddish brown. Thick. Super fuity, super bitter, super cascade aroma. Probably need to mature for some time to become perfect, which is what I intend to do with my 2nd bottle.
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9
2022: The last time I rated this, I was surprised by the 9 year gap, and here I am 7 years later wondering what is wrong with me. Anyway, this beer is really a beacon of consistency. This is 100% the beer I remember it being. It has that heavy caramel/toffee malt with deep citrus and resin hops. Strong, heavy but soft palate (is that an oxymoron?). Nice bittersweet finish. 2015: I can’t believe it’s been 9 years since I’ve updated this rating. I haven’t consistently been able to find it since I’ve moved to Florida, in fact, the last time I remember even buying was possibly 2008 or 9. This is still a great beer, and while I might not give it a 4.2 if I was rating it for the first time today, it would be a 4.0 probably, and I’m not changing the numbers at this point. This really earns the name barleywine because of how it retains a full smooth soft maltiness, and even with the high hop presence, it never seems like it pretends to be a DIPA. Still has that great red color and rocky foamy head too. I will say that if there’s any difference, the hop profile seems different but probably for the better. It’s a bit more floral, brighter, fresher, not as chewy and resinous as I remember. 2006 (fresh): Whoa! This seems wholly different this year, and I’m sure much has to do with the switch from Nugget for bittering to Chinook. The aroma is amazingly fruity, also soapy and floral. Classic red color remains. Malts seem more restrained, as an intense floral and resiny hop character attacks right out of the gate, with a near burning alpha acid. Strong bitter finish. A step bacward in both complexity and the classic Bigfoot drinkability. 2005 fresh: nothing quite like a fresh Bigfoot. The same nice red color, the large foaming webby head. Aroma piney, a little soapy this time around, some caramel malt. Flavor deep and satisfying: big rounded caramel body with a resiny somewhat grapefruity tingle all over. Intensely bitter finish, but pleasantly so. I see I never rated the 2004 fresh, but I did have one at a year old just a couple of days ago: everything I like in the beer, hops faded just enough to rid this of its heavy resiny feel, and smooth it out. 1 year is good to this beer. 2003 Tasted fresh: Whoopee, Bigfoot is back and as good as ever. Rich piney/resiny hop aromatics, smooth velvety sweet malt (caramel, fruit) profile coupled with tingly hops and a bracingly bitter finish. Prev years notes: I’m really amazed at the hop presence in this beer. It comes across nicely with a pleasant bitterness and full nose of hops. Excellent lace lasts the whole glass. Flavor is rich and full-bodied and well-balanced. The high alcohol content is barely noticeable. Its the smoothest beer above 8% ABV that I’ve ever had. UPDATE: 2002 - same as always, ultra hoppy with quite a citric piney bite. I compared this fresh 2002 with a one year old bottle of 2001. I really prefer the one year old -the hops have softened but are still present and the malt comes through with warmth and depth, making it even smoother! Can’t wait to try it again in another year.
omhper (44752) reviewed Celebration from Sierra Nevada Brewing Company 24 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8
Hoppy, bitter nose. Hoppy, bitter aroma. Hoppy, bitter flavour. Finishes hoppy and bitter. Lovely.
Dogbrick (24210) reviewed Celebration from Sierra Nevada Brewing Company 24 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 2 | Flavor - 2 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 2.5
I almost gagged when I drank this it was so bitter, then I noticed the date on the label was 2000, not 2001. I think I need to have a chat with the guy I bought it from.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8
Rerate - I used to not like this, the stronger roasted flavors coming across as plasticky and chemically. It doesn’t taste that way to me anymore, thankfully! New rating: Dark brown. Medium pitted beige head. Aroma pleasantly roasted with some notes of coffee, chocolate, cereal grains. Quite smooth with a mild astringency from the roasted flavors, almost even a little bit acrid. Fairly well balanced, lies almost exactly halfway between the ends of the spectrum from sweet to bitter. Lingering aftertaste is dry coffee.
Oakes (33493) reviewed Porter from Sierra Nevada Brewing Company 25 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 7.5
Definitely one of the world's best porters. Not as hoppy as Palvasalmi, not as malty as Fuller's. Just beautifully balanced.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Golden-amber colour. Mild aroma of cascades and wood. Mild bitterness. Some woody, citrusy notes but nothing assertive or distinct.