Sierra Nevada Beer

[bovine knievel]

RALEIGH, N.C. -- West Coast craft beer-maker Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is opening a production site in North Carolina to expand its East Coast reach.

The Chico, Calif.-based company said Wednesday it chose a site along the French Broad River 12 miles south of Asheville as the home of its East Coast brewery.

[LBRod]

That makes me a little nervous.

[inman_trucker]

less than 1 hour from my house. Cant wait to do the tour....

[bovine knievel]

That makes me a little nervous.

No worries, LB. they ain't leaving Cali.

[LBRod]

I liked knowing my beer came from Chico wherever I ordered one.
There is no way they are leaving CA, they just started using their home grown hops.

[Iowan]

Yeah, I'm not wildly excited either.

Just something about Sierra Nevada beer being made near the Sierra Nevada mountains felt right.

We're about halfway between Chico and NC. We'll probably get some of that east coast SN.

[cortez the killer]

Yeah, I'm not too thrilled with this.

[bovine knievel]

Cans are comin'...



A 16 oz Torpedo!! now that's a fuckin' tallboy.

[Iowan]

Ok.

If they're canning, I can warm up to the idea. Really wish more brewers would move to cans.

[Flying Rabbit]

Never had problems getting it here in MD/WV/PA/VA, so its not really that exciting from that perspective. Now, if it means Bigfoot will start to be on tap around here we might get excited.

[Clams]

Ok.

If they're canning, I can warm up to the idea. Really wish more brewers would move to cans.

http://www.craftcans.com/

[Iowan]

Ok.

If they're canning, I can warm up to the idea. Really wish more brewers would move to cans.

http://www.craftcans.com/

A couple of our local breweries are looking into cans. Okoboji Brewing, which is opening up later this year in GW's neck of the woods is supposed to be doing all cans. Olde Main, up the road from me in Ames is debating it too. Good news, IMO.

[sactochris]

Can's suck unless your talkin bout tall boys.

[Clams]

Can's suck unless your talkin bout tall boys.

Not if you pour into a nice tall pint glass or mason jar.

[sactochris]

Can's suck unless your talkin bout tall boys.

Not if you pour into a nice tall pint glass or mason jar.

I'd rather just pour it straight down my neck.

[tinnitus photography]

i think it's a good idea...closer brewery = fresher beer.

[Iowan]

Can's suck unless your talkin bout tall boys.

They keep the beer completely protected from light and other substances which may affect the quality.

As Clams said, it's great for pouring into your pint glass.

The other beauty is that they're good companions for outdoor adventures. When my dad and I hike in Colorado, we always pack in a 6er of Oskar Blues for the trip downhill.

[Beebs]

Can's suck unless your talkin bout tall boys.

They keep the beer completely protected from light and other substances which may affect the quality.

As Clams said, it's great for pouring into your pint glass.

The other beauty is that they're good companions for outdoor adventures. When my dad and I hike in Colorado, we always pack in a 6er of Oskar Blues for the trip downhill.

Canned is to beer as boxed is to wine. The snobs take issue but it's truly superior. The outdoor community (particularly the back country ski folks) have been clamoring for quality beer in a can forever. A High Life tall boy tastes pretty good after nice ski or paddle but I'd sure prefer a Torpedo.

[Iowan]

Can's suck unless your talkin bout tall boys.

They keep the beer completely protected from light and other substances which may affect the quality.

As Clams said, it's great for pouring into your pint glass.

The other beauty is that they're good companions for outdoor adventures. When my dad and I hike in Colorado, we always pack in a 6er of Oskar Blues for the trip downhill.

Canned is to beer as boxed is to wine. The snobs take issue but it's truly superior. The outdoor community (particularly the back country ski folks) have been clamoring for quality beer in a can forever. A High Life tall boy tastes pretty good after nice ski or paddle but I'd sure prefer a Torpedo.

There is a bit of a movement amongst beer snobs to can these days. A few of the high-end Colorado breweries (Oskar Blues, Ska, New Belgium) are doing it. Its smart that SN is jumping on it.

A bottle is awesome sometimes, but in terms of preservation and versatility, cans can't be beat. Like you said, it's so much more convenient for enjoying a quality brew in the heart of nature.

[cortez the killer]

i think it's a good idea...closer brewery = fresher beer.

If you approach it from that perspective, then it's a good thing. I just worry that the balance of quality vs. quantity will tip in favor of the latter.

I like Flying Rabbit's idea of Bigfoot on tap. Delicious.

[Iowan]

i think it's a good idea...closer brewery = fresher beer.

If you approach it from that perspective, then it's a good thing. I just worry that the balance of quality vs. quantity will tip in favor of the latter.

I like Flying Rabbit's idea of Bigfoot on tap. Delicious.

That would be the primary concern as well. I still think the midwest would get Chico beer, but you worry about the quality on that end too.

Bigfoot on tap is excellent. That's a gospel worth spreading.

[Beebs]

I like Flying Rabbit's idea of Bigfoot on tap. Delicious.

That just sounds like trouble.

[Flying Rabbit]

Most definitely trouble. As it is, I have to buy a case (or at least a few 6ers) when I see them. Most of their varieties are fairly consistent, but Bigfoot is always hit or miss when they release it, with availability.

[Iowan]

Most definitely trouble. As it is, I have to buy a case (or at least a few 6ers) when I see them. Most of their varieties are fairly consistent, but Bigfoot is always hit or miss when they release it, with availability.

I feel like they made more 2011 than any other year. The first year we got it, it was scarce. Now its in most high selection liquor stores around here. I don't drink barleywines a ton, but I've been aging Bigfoot since early last year. Can't wait for the 2012 batch. My buddy has a 2009, 2010, and 2011 all aging in his closet.

[bovine knievel]

I like Flying Rabbit's idea of Bigfoot on tap. Delicious.

That just sounds like trouble.

Back in college, i attempted to drink a 6 pack of Bigfoot. I only made it through 5 before tapping out.

[Iowan]

I like Flying Rabbit's idea of Bigfoot on tap. Delicious.

That just sounds like trouble.

Back in college, i attempted to drink a 6 pack of Bigfoot. I only made it through 5 before tapping out.

I think it can be done, its just a matter of pace.

You have to think of it as a 12 pack of regular beer and adjust accordingly.

[emandrisdad]

Another factor from the brewers perspecitve is that the cost of shipping the cans is going to be lower. Its a huge weight difference at the numbers that a
brewer the size of SN is. If that helps out the consumer as far as price then its a positive on the consumer side. Every little bit helps and I'm already hearing
from my supplier that hops may become an issue again, much like a few years back. During the hop shortage price went up as much as 4x's. They've since come back down to the pre shortage prices, but the consumer never saw it on their end.

[lajakesdad]

My Sierra Nevada will always be from Chico so I'm not worried. But it can only be a good thing for all of you near there. They're my favorite brand and pretty much my go to beer now.

Can't wait for the Torpedo tall boys.

[sactochris]

Back in college, i attempted to drink a 6 pack of Bigfoot. I only made it through 5 before tapping out.

I think it can be done, its just a matter of pace.

You have to think of it as a 12 pack of regular beer and adjust accordingly.

12 regular beers, hell I do that every time The Truckers play The Fillmore.

[Iowan]

I think I'm getting hard about those Torpedo tall boys.

Torpedo will always have a special place in my heart. Back before Iowa lifted the law that required all beer above 6.2% to be classified as "liquor" all high proof beer coming into the state had to be turned over to the state liquor board, which had no idea how to properly store beer. Many brewers refused to deal with the State of Iowa on this, and it drastically limited the available beer that we had.

Sierra Nevada was one of the first brewers to deal with the Iowa Liquor Board, and Bigfoot and Torpedo were the some of the first non-European high proofs available here, and I drank the shit out of them. In 2010, the beer limit was raised to 13%, so now all high proof beer can go straight to the beer distributors, who work directly with the brewers. We've gotten a major influx of high proof stuff coming from other brewers, but Sierra Nevada, and in particular Torpedo, will always have a place in my heart. They reached out and provided us stranded beer lovers with something new and delicious. I won't forget it.