Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is definitely worth checking out.  If you're ever in Vegas, for god's sake stay away from the casinos when you buy beer!  You absolutely do not need to pay $7 for a Coors Light.  Go find yourself a grocery store or whatever that sells beer - there's lots of them on the east end of the strip.  They're still pricey for the US - you'll pay about $11 - $12 for a 6-pack so pretty much "normal" prices for Vancouver.

Anyhow, on to Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.  It's a nice bitter Pale Ale with a really tasty flavor, and quite a nice finish.  They pre-treat the bottle with a yeasty beer mixture so there's usually a touch of yeast in the bottom of the bottle, but that's how you know you're getting something besides plain old ordinary boring beer.

If I had to choose a local Pale Ale that had the same kind of flavor, I'd go for Nelson Brewing.  The Sierra Nevada is better though - it's got more body and really has a much fuller taste.  Lots of hoppy flavour much like Nelson, but there's just more to it.  Check it out!