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Sierra Nevada Summerfest58 Blade Chainsaw
Sierra Nevada Summerfest is an American golden light lager brought to you by the makers of the infamous Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, which sits on Bestbeerbuzz's Best Beers list. The Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in Chico, California put together this beer from Two-Row Pale and Munich Malts, Perle and Saaz Hops and a bottom fermenting Lager Yeast for a moderate 5.0% ABV, a beginning gravity of 11.8 Plato ending with 2.8 Plato and an International Bitterness Units count of 32. While I consider Sierra Nevada Pale Ale one of the best beers around both in flavor and for a good buzz, I admit that I'm not familiar with any of Sierra Nevada's other offerings. My experience with their Pale Ale sets the standard high for this beer, but because the style of this lager is vastly different than the Pale Ale, I have to keep an open mind and enter the dragon with a pure heart. Onto The Method6.0/10 - The Classic1.5 - Appearance – A violent serve pours a clear straw with a chunky white head that dissipates early – carbonation is moderate and again clears leaving a crisp and transparent body. 1.0 - Aroma – Perceptible light grains in the malt base with immediately recognizable Saaz hop fragrances – a bit on the boring side and somewhat of a commonness fills the air. 1.0 - Taste – Tight grains flow with a clean flavor coming together with a bland but prime hop bitterness. 1.5 - Palate –A light and extremely crisp body that refreshes the spirit while maintaining a sharp edge at the top of the tongue. 1.0 - Overall – A real improvement over this overmarketed American formula, both in quality and flavor, but the combination continues to be predictable and downright boring. 
5.0/10 Blades - The Hammer – the booze -With an alcohol content of 5.0% alcohol by volume, the strength is moderate and never fully lives up to its potential. 5.0/10 Blades - The Knife – digestibility - Considering its thin body, both the alcohol and ingredients have some difficulty making use of its relatively quick process, so while the knife is respectable, it doesn't cut. 5.0/10 Blades - The Spider – the lift - It takes these critters some time to climb, making an appearance during the third serve, but finally complete a nice round rush halfway through the third. 7.0/10 Blades - The Motor –can you handle it? - Yes it's easy to ride this machine, and by the time the fifth comes around I'm getting down and funky. The Chainsaw30.0/50 Blades - The Buzz – Sierra Nevada Summerfest 2009 is a quality brew made with prime ingredients and attention to craftsmanship. And while its constructed well, the hop selections and bottom fermenting yeast over its malt base makes for a predictable and boring combination that still manages to puzzle me as to how it ever became such a popular style. And while I get the history of it, I don't know why Sierra Nevada would purposely seek to recreate it; their talents would be better suited on much more interesting and complex ales. As for the buzz, it never manages to create a euphoric lift, though by the middle of the six pack a nice round buzz comes. After the fifth and towards the end, Sierra Nevada Summerfest may make you feel like getting down and a little funky.
After Drinking Sierra Nevada Summerfest 2009, try another American Lager
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