Sierra Nevada Nostalgia

This is more recent, but when Sierra Nevada started canning Pale and Torpedo, I would drive from my college to all these little shops in Maryland that sold six packs. I have very fond memories of drinking their first cans before, during, and after writing my thesis, and having a few pounders of Torpedo on my old back porch (actually a loading dock) before hoofing it to campus to deliver my speech on the work.

 

Thank you for your testament. I thought I might be the only fool nostalgian around here. Dwelling in the past is one thing, but cherishing great memories is quite another. I love SNPA and have since I first drank one at Bert's Seafood on Spring Garden St., somewhere around 1988. I had already loved great beer, and Lowenbrau was my favorite, but SNPA opened my eyes. I had traveled, been to England, Germany, lots of places, but that beer has personality. Still does. When you get a weekend off there in China, go to Mill's River, you will never regret it. Well, next time in the states!

 

I was too happy seeing the snow covered cabin on the label, thinking "Sierra Nevada holiday ale? That's a must!". I didn't even notice that now inviting phrase. It turned out to be more of a gateway to their other brews than SNPA. (Big fan of Narwhal and Bigfoot.)
By the way ... thanks for posting that. I am so glad I wasn't the only one expecting a spiced winter warmer.

 

What I love about SN is that they've totally proven what I've heard mentioned on here by some of the veterans -- that, after all the whale chasing and fanatical need to try everything under the sun, you may just find yourself circling back to the old standbys, somehow appreciating them even more than before.

I love a good tropical hop bomb as much as the next guy, or a giant, barrel-aged stout, or whatever, but hot damn am I a happy man when my fridge is stocked with Torpedo, SNPA, their regular old Stout (one my absolute favorites), and Summerfest. What a lineup.

 

Their Pale Ale is an oldie but goodie. I probably hadn't had it in two or three years until this past Saturday night when I enjoyed a couple while watching some post-season baseball at the bar. It lived up to those great memories, and did not disappoint in the slightest. I need to plan a trip down to Mills River sometime soon.

Cheers to SN & Ken Grossman!

 

I love all things SN but from the thread title I was kinda expecting "Nostalgia" to be a new seasonal release of a white IPA or something!

 

I drink a SNPA for the first time in the Mid 80's at a place called Mustards Grill in the NAPA Valley. I was drinking an Anchor Steam and noticed a beer on tap I had never heard of. The bartender said it was as good as Anchor but very different from it. He was right on both counts and I was hooked.

 

I felt the same way yesterday at Walmart. Decided to pick up some Hop Hunter (true, it's one of their newer beers, but I was nostalgic for SN beers in general)

 

I'm sure SN Torperdo is the beer I've purchased the most. That $13/14 12pk is hard to beat.

 

Very similar to my experience. I started out on Anchor Steam and stayed with it for quite a while since I didn't know any better. In fact, I only jumped off it when the price kept increasing. I then went through a short Sam Adams Boston Lager phase since I was totally off base about ales [which I thought were heavy, drink one and you're done type beers] but when I finally called up enough nerve to try SNPA, it was bye-bye lagers, hello ales. That leap of faith led me to try Torpedo and since then, it's been 67% IPAs, 33% all other beers.

 

Just had a SN pale ale at the Santa Barbara zoo the other day. Felt the same thing. Such a go to. Such a classic. 805 is everywhere out here! But still rather have a snpa...

 

I remember the Pale Ale once seemed bitter to me, but I still enjoyed it. Would have helped if I poured it into a glass. Then I also remember drinking Bigfoot in a frosty glass and destoying the wonderful flavor. Quality and price they are hard to beat. They need to turn the coffee stout into 6 packs or even better 12 packs at $13.99. Love them.

 

Wow! I love stories like this.
Celebration was my first exposure to real beer too... twice actually. I remember distinctly the first time I had a Celebration, I was in my teens (15 or 16 probably) and HATED it. I thought it tasted like pine cones. Flash-forward about 4 years later and I was given a fresh bottle by a coworker. Bang! it hit me like a ton of bricks and I've never gone backward.
I'm honored to be a part of a brewery that has had such a profound impact on the beer landscape, and to be part of one which I still firmly believe "does it right."

Cheers to you in China (although that beer is most definitely bootlegged!)

 

You are correct, sir. We do not export to China.

 

Torpedo was the first craft option I actually remember enjoying back when I first began the journey into good beer.

It sat atop as my highest rated beer for quite some time and is still in my top 20.

 

It was frustrating for me because you could not get SNPA in NJ at that time and wouldn't be able to for a long time. I'm not sure when Sierra Nevada got into NJ the middle 90's is a good guess.

 

SN was my first love as well, I will always give respect to SN. Picking up there seasonal beers is a must every year.

 

Yes, SN was some of the earliest craft brew I drank. I remember drinking Pale Ale is a restaurant with dinner and was just so impressed with it, it was so good, one of the first hop-forward beers I truly enjoyed. Haven't drank their beer in years, but I'll never turn down anything from them.

 

Publix, no doubt. I know it well!

 

I am never disappointed if I go to a bar/restaurant and their only craft offering is SNPA. In fact I am usually delighted. (more so if it is the winter season and Celebration is on TAP. OMG that is good on tap. )