According to the label, this is a crisp lager. I’m not sure what the crisp means, but as far as lagers go this is up there with the Surly Hell as actually having flavor that I enjoy. I’m sure if I went to Europe they could show me all sorts of wonderful lagers that would break my stereotype of them. But Sierra Nevada’s is an American beer that does justice combating the likes of Budweiser and Michelob. I have not had Sierra Nevada’s beers that often. I’m not entirely sure why, they sell them plenty in liquor stores in Minnesota and I’ve heard good things. Perhaps they always lost to some other shinier beer or fad that I was having. I will have to change that now that this one impressed me.

This particular bottle, I got lucky enough to try for free with no strings attached. I’d wandered through a social event earlier in the day while at work and they had numerous beers out for the attenders. Not part of the event, I didn’t want to stop and grab something. However, later on I passed through the same hall and staff were tearing everything down. They were kind enough to let me swipe one. So I got the free beer of a party without the forced social awkwardness that comes from being at a party and only knowing one or fewer people.