Sierra Nevada DevESTATEtion

Sierra Nevada DevESTATEtion is an American Black Ale/IPA. Sometimes Mother Nature can be a bit… well, an unpleasant lady. Sadly in 2013 she did a number on Sierra Nevada’s estate grown barley. High winds and drought meant no barley, hence no Estate Homegrown Ale this year. I was disappointed to hear this news since this is one of my favorite fall beers. So in it’s place this years (almost) homegrown ale is a whole new beer. DevESTATEtion is a quality Black IPA. It pours with a pretty tan head and has a lovely reddish-brown appearance. The taste has lots of roast and a good helping of dark chocolate upfront. The hops bring citrus, mild pine and near perfect bitterness on the back end. Brewing isn’t a perfect science, glad to see Sierra Nevada make the most out of a bad situation.