Review: 4 Sierra Nevada “Little Thing” Beers (2022)
Sierra Nevada has four beers in its “Little Thing” series, and recently the brewery refreshed the packaging for all of them, bundling them together in a mixed 12-pack called the Little Things Party Pack. We reviewed a couple of these beers last year, but this is our first look at the quartet together. Let’s try them all.
Sierra Nevada Sunny Little Thing – This citrus wheat ale (made with orange and grapefruit) is sharp with orange and tangerine peel notes, its grapefruit element coming as rather juicy, and a little sweet. The finish is quite citrusy, almost soda-like at times. Pretty and thirst-quenching, though short on complexity — and a little watery — it’s a simple summer beer that pairs well with a catfish fry or a beefy BBQ run. 5% abv. B [BUY IT NOW FROM TOTAL WINE]
Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing – (One of) Sierra’s hazy IPAs, I’m liking this more today than I have in the past, its toasty, hoppy elements pairing more clearly with its more expressive fruitiness. Clean and malty, with mild notes of orange peel, coriander, and a touch of lemon, it’s pretty and balanced and well-suited for your average happy hour. 6.7% abv. A- [BUY IT NOW FROM TOTAL WINE]
Sierra Nevada Big Little Thing IPA – The hefty (double-ish) IPA in the collection, it’s hard not to gravitate to this approachable monster, which has a bold apple-cinnamon edge to temper what could otherwise have become an over-hopped bomb. Instead, it drinks like boozy custard, with a chewy, almost butterscotch quality to the sweet, silky finish. That said, there’s not a lot of complexity here: The beer is, indeed, both big and little at the same time. 9% abv. B+ [BUY IT NOW FROM TOTAL WINE]
Sierra Nevada Wild Little Thing – No real changes of opinion on this one. Sour strawberry and a dusting of tropical guava clash more than I’d like, the finish coming across as vinegary, pungent, and sometimes off-putting. Very sour but otherwise unmemorable. 5.5% abv. C [BUY IT NOW FROM TOTAL WINE]
$20 per 12-pack
Sierra Nevada Sunny Little Thing
$20
