From the Brewery: 

“Before Sierra Nevada was a reality, our founders brewed beer at home and dreamed of building a brewery one day. Back then, they brewed the beers they wanted to drink—bold and full of flavor. Stouts had always been a favorite, so when we needed a big and rich beer to test out the brewing system at our fledgling brewery, stout was the obvious choice. Thirty years later, not much has changed. We’re still brewing the beers we want to drink and our classic Stout is the same as it’s ever been—big, rich, bold, black as night and filled with the wild-eyed passion of which dreams are made.” 5.8% ABV American Stout

Purchased from BevMo in Clovis, California.

The Pour: 

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into my stout glass. The appearance is that of a typical stout; nearly solid black body with a brown foamy head that retains decently. Good lacing is left on the glass, and a small amount of carbonation can be seen.

The Nose: 

Roasted barley and nearly burnt coffee are the main aromas. These mix with toasted malts, faint dark chocolate, and a bit of a sour/lactose twang at the back end.

The Mouth: 

Sierra Nevada’s Stout is medium-bodied; soft and smooth in the mouth, going down with little carbonation harshness. There is much more going on in the flavors than the nose suggests. The dark chocolate, coffee, and barley notes are more intense and blend quite well, and a good dose of hop bitterness on the back end mixes well with the semi-sweet malt base. Lingering bitter dark chocolate notes coat the mouth.

Final Thoughts: 

This beer pretty much epitomizes what a West Coast stout should be. It is smooth and flavorful, with a decent amount of hop bitterness on the back end. Though I prefer bigger stouts leaning towards the imperial end of the spectrum, it’s refreshing to see (and drink) a no-frills stout that does everything right. 8.5/10

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. – Chico, California