Seeing this in the store makes me happy every year.
For whatever reason, it always tastes different than I remember from the previous year, but it’s always great.
Sierra Nevada has said that they use the same amount of the hops every year, but seasonal changes will result in differences in the beer. Edit- they might account for different alpha for bittering, but the oils will be different in the later additions.
I’m sure my memory of what something tasted like a year ago is also totally wrong.
I really love this beer. I used to brew a Celebrationesque IPA every so often, maybe I should dust it off while I have some of the real stuff to compare it to.
I’m gonna buy like I have every year. For whatever reason, last year’s was the ‘worst’ Celebration I’ve ever had. I spaced out the 12 bottles over a 2 week period and found them all lacking in malt and hop character as compared to previous recollections, but good (and Lord knows I’ve bought enough over the years). Gonna get some this weekend.
You know you’re a beer geek when you say “this year’s Celebration isn’t as good as last year’s.” It’s one of he most consistent beers I’ve ever had. Let’s face it, over the course of a year, how accurate is your memory gonna be? I know how I’d answer that! And even if you store some from the year before, it will have changed so you won’t be able to compare.
Guilty as charged ;D In my defense, I’ll say that I agree with it being extremely consistent year to year (one of my all time faves) - until last year. 
;) That wasn’t necessarily aimed at you…
Yeah, this is one beer that I never get tired of.
Finished a 6 pack a couple of weeks ago. I enjoyed this year’s offering more than the past couple of years.
See, now I thought this year’s was a bit lackluster. But then again, I pounded through the 12 pack in no time even though it was about 6 wks old from packaging. The freshest I could find locally unfortunately.
Frankly, Denny, I just don’t remember…
I had it on draft recently and did not care for it much at all. I even double checked the tap to see if the barkeep could have mistakenly poured a different beer. I am sure I will hit it several more times before it goes bye bye, but what I had wasn’t nearly as good as last year. Perhaps it was mishandled, perhaps tap line issues, perhaps a difference between East vs West coast breweries. At any rate, if I hit it again and the experience is the same I won’t be hitting it anymore this year.
So I had it last night in the same city, but a different venue and it was a completely different beer. My guess is they had the draft lines mixed up because even old and abused the two beers had little similarity. It was great so if I go back to the first place tonight I might ask for a taste before I snag a pint.
Sitting with a pint of this right now. On tap at my local beer shop. Not the time for a full review so I will just say that it is delicious and I find it basically the same beer as previous years.
I look forward to it every year. The label is just so christmasy. I like it, but I’d be happy if I could get their stout on a regular basis.
Yeah, I love their stout, too. It’s pretty underrated.
They have a coffee stout in their winter mixed 12 pack that is awesome. I wish they would sell that on it’s own.
I’ll look for it
Man, I love well made coffee stouts, thats for sure. My only stupid issue is I can’t seem to drink them at night as they keep me up later than I want to be. My wimpy, high-strung nervous system…
I am noticing as I age I am getting the same way with the after 4pm caffeinated beverages. However I have yet to find the coffee stout, I have been looking for it since I saw this post.