# Sierra Nevada ... can't you make anything that DOESN'T taste like an IPA? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 26, 2005, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sierra-nevada-cant-you-make-anything-that-doesnt-taste-like-an-ipa/314278 "2005-07-26T19:29:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sierra-nevada-cant-you-make-anything-that-doesnt-taste-like-an-ipa/314278/1 "2005-07-26T19:29:53Z")
Just bought a 6-pack of Sierra Nevada’s “Bottom Fermented Summerfest Beer.” They say, “Our Summerfest is an outstanding example of a traditional lager beer…” I take a sip. Tastes exactly like every other Sierra Nevada beer. Good lord, lay off the hops already! Why bother messing with a lager if tastes exactly the same as your pale ales? ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sierra-nevada-cant-you-make-anything-that-doesnt-taste-like-an-ipa/314278/2 "2005-07-26T19:33:20Z")
Their Porter, Stout and Weissen don’t 't taste like their American Pale Ale. They do like their hops and being a hop head does seem to be required to enjoy all their beers. I am, so I like them. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sierra-nevada-cant-you-make-anything-that-doesnt-taste-like-an-ipa/314278/3 "2005-07-26T19:38:14Z")
Yeah, I’m not the biggest fan of real hoppy beers, so I’ve never enjoyed most Sierra Nevada’s I’ve had. If you’re looking for some good Summer Ale/lager type microbrews, might I suggest the following: Sam Adams Summer Ale. I’m not a fan of their normal beer, but this is is good. Still an ale, though. Saranac Adirondak Amber. Light, crisp, but with you know…flavor, so it’s a good lager, as opposed to most mas-market American beer. Magic Hat #9. Again, an ale, but sooooooooooooooooooooooo damn good. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sierra-nevada-cant-you-make-anything-that-doesnt-taste-like-an-ipa/314278/4 "2005-07-26T19:40:20Z")
> [@toadspittle](#): > > Just bought a 6-pack of Sierra Nevada’s “Bottom Fermented Summerfest Beer.” They say, “Our Summerfest is an outstanding example of a traditional lager beer…” > > I take a sip. Tastes exactly like every other Sierra Nevada beer. Good lord, lay off the hops already! Why bother messing with a lager if tastes exactly the same as your pale ales? I dunno. To me it’s not anywhere near hoppy enough (nor the right hop profile–it’s heavy on the Saaz hops) to be an IPA. Doesn’t taste like their IPA at all. Then again, it’s a bit on the fruity and hoppy side to be a typical lager. It falls somewhere between the two styles, but not necessarily in a good way. It’s one of their weaker brews. If you think Sierra Nevada is hoppy, stay away from Three Floyd’s (Alpha King, Dreadnaught, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sierra-nevada-cant-you-make-anything-that-doesnt-taste-like-an-ipa/314278/5 "2005-07-26T23:15:22Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > Yeah, I’m not the biggest fan of real hoppy beers, so I’ve never enjoyed most Sierra Nevada’s I’ve had. > > If you’re looking for some good Summer Ale/lager type microbrews, might I suggest the following: > > Sam Adams Summer Ale. I’m not a fan of their normal beer, but this is is good. Still an ale, though. > > Saranac Adirondak Amber. Light, crisp, but with you know…flavor, so it’s a good lager, as opposed to most mas-market American beer. Yeah, I have Sam in the fridge right now (I’ve had their Summer Ale a fair bit in the past, but it does taste a bit odd right now … must be those “Grains of Paradise”) and I love Saranac, more so because it’s regional (I’m in upstate NY). ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sierra-nevada-cant-you-make-anything-that-doesnt-taste-like-an-ipa/314278/6 "2005-07-26T23:30:44Z")
I’m doing a side-by-side of Sierra Nevada’s Pale and Summerfest right now. The Pale is quite a bit hoppier, with that wonderful Cascade mouthful in every sniff and sip. The Summerfest is quite a bit milder, with not nearly the hops, and as **pulykamell** noted, Saaz as opposed to Cascade. The OGs are significantly different as well.