Since as long as I can remember, there have been plenty of myths surrounding the legendary Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale. Most of it is fun craft beer folk lore that has taken on a life of it’s own. I’ve heard some good ones that include: there are spices in it, they use chocolate malt in it, it’s the same recipe as Torpedo Xtra IPA, the beer can be aged for years and take on complexities,etc etc.

One of the bigger myths is that the beer is a different recipe from year to year. I’ve bought into that one myself, as I have perceived the beer to taste different and smell different over the past 4 holiday seasons. For the most part, it’s always been the same vibrant amber gold with the same picture perfect head, but it’s wonderful hop profile has been distinctively different year to year to my nose and tongue.

So it was time for us to bust some myths, and drop some knowledge about this craft beer holiday staple. We reached out to Bill Manley over at Sierra Nevada with the following questions about Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, and in particular the 2010 edition. We hope you find this interesting and informative.

1. Why was the term fresh hop ale used this year?

2. It’s always speculated the beer is different from year to year. This years tastes almost like the Estate Ale. Less citrusy, less fruity than ever before. Am I correct that it changes from year to year?