Sierra Nevada Brewing Company's 2008 Celebration Ale

Alright, with all of the Sn beers lately, I decided to drag out last season's Celebration. Another AIPA sounded like a good thing.

Pours deeper than Anniversary, but still a deep amber. The color difference is probably due to the dry hopping, and it seems to be unfiltered, or at least loosely filtered. The head is a little smaller than it probably used to be because it's aging a little bit.

Good grassy smell. Not sweet this time, this one seems to lean more toward the hoppy side.

Yep, it's a little older and the hops has lost some of its initial pop. Solid bitterness despite that though, good body and decent malt backbone that isn't really grainy or bready, but keeps the body fairly solid. Many holiday ales are spiced in some way, but this one accomplishes what it wants with dry hopping. Slightly peppery and zippy, without anything added that shouldn't be there.

Great beer. Can't wait for this year's.