We are in the final days of the year 2009 and I am in fact, celebrating. I have lots to celebrate: a healthy family consisting of a beautiful wife and amazing daughter- 5 years old in a week. A great job, one that uses my unique gifts and allows me to build relationships with people from all walks of life. Good and solid friendships- some relatively new, some dating back from my childhood and still going strong. A new niece, a new house, cars that work, and a cabin that my parents own and graciously allow us to spend just about as much time at as we are able. Its there I sit as I write this, on the couch in front of a fire I have just built, with a glass of fine ale in front of me. Its 10 degrees outside, crisp and quiet. The only noise out there is the random drone of a snowmobile from time to time and the wind that sometimes blows through the trees as if in a race with itself. Life is good, life is worth celebrating.

2009 Celebration Ale tastes remarkably similar to Sierra Nevada’s flagship beer, the Pale Ale. All in all, this beer tastes like the big brother of SNPA, but a big brother that’s only about 9 months its senior. Very similar color, flavor profile, taste and appearance. Celebration comes in at 6.8% ABV which is a noticeably higher than its relative. I do detect some different aromas in the nose of this beer- a bit more spiciness, a bit more complexity, but all in all, this beer is right in the wheelhouse of this well known American craft brewery. If you have a palate that enjoys crisp, hoppy but almost always well balanced ales, try this Celebration and their most well known beer, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. They will never disappoint. Oh, and don’t forget to celebrate whatever it is in your life worth celebrating- this beer will easily help with that.

ABV: 6.8%

Grade: A