Torpedo Ale

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. in Chico, California, is the proud parent of Torpedo Ale, a hefty beauty billed as an "Extra IPA". It contains 7.2% alcohol and came in a fat ass 710mL bottle. It's a clear, ruddy copper-coloured ale topped with a majestic, off-white foam that lasted to the duration. According to the label, this stuff is dry-hopped using Sierra Nevada's "Hop Torpedo".

Not a lot of aroma manages to make its way through the thick head, but what does is bitter, in a spicy evergreen direction. In spite of the innocuous nose, this beer has a pretty substantial American IPA flavour, with a focus on heaps of piney hops. There's also some nice booze warmth. Underneath the hops, there's a nice patina of sweet malt. As a neophyte craft beer enthusiast, Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale was one of my early favourites and Torpedo carries the mantle of my expectations nicely.

It's not as rich in character as some smaller market India pales, but this stuff is admirably bitter and entertaining, particularly considering that its a widely available, large scale craft ale. I would eagerly drink this stuff again.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.