Sierra Nevada Celebration (2020)

That's awesome to hear. It's such a perfect beer for me, but I never sit on any bottles and always regret it. Maybe this year I'll stash a 6-pack in the back of the fridge

 

It is that time of year, went back to my hometown and their only brewery has their IPA & APA recipe dialed into a somewhat clone of Celebration. Found myself drinking a 6 pack of the APA when I was there and grabbed another 6 pack when I got on the road to bring home with me. So I am definitely craving it. Can only hope my Costco gets the cases of it earlier this year rather than later.

 

One of my best beer buying memories was coming across cases of Celebration Ale at Costco in mid January marked down to $13.00 ea. My worst beer buying memory was that I only bought two.

 

Man I'm a little worried about the SN stout. My only reliable source hasn't resupplied since a march bottling ran out in late June or early July. Would love to see it more widely available. The cap is a little closer to orange also, not that deep Christmas red.

God, I always remember the first time I reluctantly accepted a celebration, fully expecting a spiced holiday beer. What a wonderful surprise

 

Or like Nugget Nectar, never saw it.

 

yes, unfortunately I passed on that deal, won't do it this time though.

 

I have a couple bottles each of vintages going back about 10 years. Have to figure out some Celebration Celebration.

@SierraTerence

 

Not Celebration, but Christmas and winter beers are already in stores by me.

 

Bigfoot was as scarce as the real Bigfoot last year. I tried buying a case and never found any till 13 March, last six pack and only one I ever saw.

Enjoy

 

13th March. Lol. Holds a special place in my heart. Daylight savings once upon a time and my sobriety birthday.

 

Many years ago, Commercial Tap House in RVA did had a night that was some sort of celebration for them (I believe some sort of anniversary) where they had a 10 year vertical of Celebration available. I didn't get to try them all (would've been really hard to get from the table to the bathroom, much less home), but I had 3 or 4, each a couple of years apart. After a couple of years of aging, it started to taste kinda like a weak American Barleywine.

I know everyone is into new sub-styles these days. "Session Barleywine" with Celebration as the standard?

 

I think I likened one of my older bottles to an Old Ale; had that sort of mustiness in the nose I remember from some English samples.

 

I have about 5 of them left from last year. I had one Mid summer in July while it was 98 degrees out. Still delicious but it didn't hit the spot right in that moment of time.

 

Seriously? We're over two months into having OKTOBERFEST here never mind Summerfest.

That's because it's an IPA.

The end of the pandemic might be a good time...

It does age well, I've always called it an aged "Bigfoot Light".

Which makes sense given it's the same malt and hop profile.

Downtown Wine and Spirits has had a bunch of old Celebration sitting on a warm shelf in the back for years now. I believe most of it is 2008. Worth grabbing a bottle or two for science.

 

I have been informed by a good source that Summerfest did not sell well this year. It would be wise to keep this in mind so you won't be too surprised concerning changes in availability for next year (or the following year).

Cheers!

 

Well, that sucks.

 

@SierraTerence -- wasn't me who told him, been keeping it under my hat.

 

Summerfest seemed like it sold well in my neck of the woods. Maybe I just bought most of it. A reliably solid seasonal, sincerely hope it doesn’t disappear.

 

I am not sure where in PA you live but I have available to me in the Philly area more brands of high quality locally brewed Pilsners than I have the time (and money) to drink.

It would be quite unfortunate for folks in other areas of the country if Summerfest were to be discontinued. But, brewing is a business and if customers no longer are purchasing a given seasonal beer then....

Cheers!