Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Weizenbock #37

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp beer number two... Sierra Nevada Best of Beer Camp Weizenbock #37.

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Weizenbock #37 poured an incredibly hazy honey color into the glass with vigorous carbonation feeding a frothy white head.  Aromas of banana and clove were most present, but a subtle hop presence added some pine and spice.

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Weizenbock #37 opened with a huge, sweet banana start that carried through a Belgian yeast funk into the body of the beer.  The middle was sweet to the point of being overbearing, but the ale surprisingly spiced up as it faded, bringing through some more interesting pepper flavors that cut the sweetness.

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Weizenbock #37 certainly sits as a wheat ale with bock character, and is much more closely related to the wheat bears in Europe than those made on this side of the pond.  Another beer that is a bit too much on its own but that would shine with spicy food.

Sierra Nevada Old Chico Crystal Wheat

Let's start off "California Brews" week with another something special (so rare, in fact, that it isn't available outside the city where it's brewed) from Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. Sierra Nevada has a sub-brand, "Old Chico", that is brewed exclusively for the city of Chico, both as a way of giving the community what they want and paying homage to the "think regional" philosophy they live by.  I was fortunate enough to get exposed to Sierra Nevada's Old Chico Crystal Wheat last year, and the always gracious Crystal donated one of her bottles to the 365 Days of Beer cause...

Sierra Nevada Old Chico Crystal Wheat poured a crystal-clear (pun assumed) bright yellow into the glass with a sparse white head.  The nose was surprisingly pine-centric for a wheat beer, but there were unmistakable, Hefeweisen-like wheat notes.

Old Chico Crystal Wheat drank big and bright up front, capturing the mouth feel of big hops without being piney or citrusy and certainly not bitter.  The big front faded into a lemon tinged biscuit flavor with some grassy aftertaste.

This beer is surprisingly hopped and clear for a wheat beer, but maintains the fundamental character of the wheat varietals.  Highly drinkable, very refreshing... this is a perfect beer for a hot summer day.