2beerguys beer blog

Sierra Nevada – still going strong

Here’s an interesting story about Sierra Nevada. The following comment caught my eye: “..its beers are sold in every state in the union, in the U.K., and in a few locations in Europe…”

It makes me wonder, how many other breweries can say the same thing? If I were to make a guess, the following might fit into this list: Redhook, Sam Adams (Boston Beer Company), Anchor, Saranac (Matt Brewing Company), Long Trail…

Others that might be close, if not already there: Dogfish Head, Boulder, Brooklyn, Magic Hat, Rogue, Widmer?

This is all just a guess. If anyone knows, please let me know.

Well, I hope that you enjoy this article.

Don’t forget to check out our Sierra Nevada Reviews:  http://2beerguys.com/sierranevada.php

Sean
2Beerguys.com

Drink Craft Beer, You’ve Earned It!!!

The Beer Guy: Sierra Nevada remains high atop craft beer peak
Tony Kiss

American beers come, and often go. Brewing is a good way to go bust (of course these days, there are a million ways to do that).

But some early American craft brewers have not only survived, but thrived. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is among them. On Nov. 15, 1980, Sierra Nevada turned out its first batch of what would become its now famed Pale Ale.

Today, its beers are sold in every state in the union, in the U.K., and in a few locations in Europe, according to assistant brewmaster Terence Sullivan, who was in Asheville a few weeks back to explore the territory, check out the local competition and attend the Warren Haynes Christmas Jam.

Sierra Nevada has expanded from a local operation in Chico, Calif., to the ninth largest brewing company in the U.S., and the third largest “100 percent American owned” brewery, he said. Sierra Nevada produces about 750,000 barrels of beer each year, he said. A barrel is 31 gallons. In Asheville, our biggest beer-maker, Highland Brewing, produces about 16,000 barrels.

Sierra Nevada is based in Chico, Calif., in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The place is growing, from right around 60,000 in the 2000 census to about 87,000 today, according to Wikipedia. They call Chico the “City of Roses.” But with Sierra Nevada based there, it might as well be the city of beer. “Summer can get hot,” Sullivan said. “(A temperature of) 110 is not uncommon,” but locals just head up the mountains to chill out in a creek.

They can also chill out at the Sierra Nevada pub, which has a wide variety of brews made by the company, many of which are not seen anywhere else.

Sierra Nevada was founded by Ken Grossman, who opened a home brew shop in Chico in 1976, and with partner Paul Camusi built the first Sierra Nevada brewery. In 1989, they relocated to bigger digs, and in 1997, expanded again. Sierra Nevada now has 200-barrel and 100-barrel brewhouses, plus a 10-barrel pilot brewhouse for “research and development,” but it too is used to make some Sierra Nevada beer sold in the Chico area, Sullivan said.

One challenge for any brewery that widely distributes its beers is keeping the product fresh in stores — especially when it’s coming from a single source (instead of a chain of breweries). That’s very important for Sierra Nevada, since their brews are being shipped from Chico across the country and now overseas, Sullivan said. Sierra Nevada has already established a following in the U.K., but to get it there in good care, it’s shipped in refrigerated tankers, he said.

And drinkers there will pay a premium for it. Sullivan said he’d talked with a fan who had paid $32 for a six pack of porter.

Around the U.S., Sierra Nevada is mostly known for its flagship pale ale. “Roughly, off the top of my head, it’s 80-85 percent of the beer we sell, in bottle or draft,” Sullivan said. But the brewery produces a big line of beers (other year-round offerings include a porter, stout and wheat ale). And then there are the seasonal beers: the current Celebration Ale, ESB, Summerfest and Anniversary Ale). And they also do a special release called Harvest ales.

The Celebration Ale is sold in colder months, but really is not a traditional spicy “winter warmer,” but a true American Ale with Chinook, Centennial and Cascade hops, he said. Keep an eye out for Torpedo Ale, which is an “extra IPA” style at about 7.2 percent alcohol. It should be arriving here in February in bottles. And around April, Sierra Nevada will release a hefeweizen wheat beer. “I was just sampling some, imagining how it would taste if it was chilled out,” he said. Sounds good, but in the meantime, look for Sierra Nevada’s brews just about everywhere.

The Wedge Brewing Co. down along the French Broad River has released a tasty new dopplebock. This orange-amber brew has a frothy, lasting head and a slightly sweet finish and is very tasty. It weighs in at 7.3 percent alcohol, and is available on draft at the brewery.

Link to article.