2019 Sierra Nevada Summerfest

I thought last year's Summerfest had a really nice hop character... it seemed bigger than usual. When I first got this year's, I was surprised by how floral/herbal it was too. I'm not talking IPA level hopping here... more like something that would only really pop if had alongside another pale lager. Having said that, I'm a big believer in context - so it just could have been how it tasted to me on those particular days. Age was likely a factor too given that these were the first ones of the season in each case. Sierraveza can have that same relative floral punch (even though the hops are different than Summerfest), but the 2018 cans lingering around here no longer deliver that. Speaking of which:

I think it's great but I'm not normal. The old product by me is a bad sign about how well it'll do as a year-round. Nice to see some positive statements here though so I guess I'm not alone:

It's the same price here... and that's also what Summerfest goes for. We've already done this dance, but why would Sierraveza be "way overpriced" if it's the same price as Summerfest?

 

Sierra Nevada is marketing this beer like the AALs of Mexico:

"The Details
Inspired by the classic cervezas served ice cold by the beach, we created our own take on those light and easy beers born south of the border."

https://sierranevada.com/beer/sierraveza/

I have already provided the 'reference point' of Lord Chesterfield.

Cheers!

 

I don't know why Sierraveza isn't offered in 12 packs (15 packs?), its certainly not a sipping beer. I have only seen it in a few places so I don't think sales can be expected to be great but I hope it sticks around.

 

Using SN beers for comparison I just don't see how it makes sense for Sierraveza to be the same price (and in a few cases more expensive) than Hop Bullet, Hazy Little Thing... Also, going head to head with Mexican ALs it's more expensive, not going to win many converts there either.

I know that we could take it to an ingredients level here but price it closer to Founders Solid Gold and I bet it would fly off the shelves...I know that I would buy it regularly.

 

Seems more Red Stripe/Reggae to me but ....HEY WAIT! That's the "Beer Jesus of America" Greg Koch, isn't it?

Damn, I know they had to sell the Berlin brewery but Greg's pickin' up extra cash doing commercials for competitors now?


Of course, just as weird, the (once) anti-marketing Sierra Nevada doing commercials.
(Yeah, just 'cause posting on YouTube is free don't mean it ain't a commercial).

 

JK, should I set my timer to see how long until Stone Brewing sues Sierra Nevada here!?!

Does Stone Brewing have enough coin to sue two breweries at the same time?

Cheers!

 

No Kolsch this year? Severely disappointed.

 

I actually think Summerfest comes across drier this year than I remember, it comes across a little more harsh and more "brute" like. Still really good, but I wish it was a little softer. I don't love it as much as I have the past few years.

 

Summerfest>>>>>>>>>>>>Sierraveza


Every day of the week..

 

I suspect that you will not be seeing a SN Kolsch for a very loooong time.

I have been advocating they produce this as seasonal release for many years. To no effect.

Cheers!

 

Since you are a brewer, what do you think 'happened' here?

Cheers!

 

15 pack of cans would be cool...

 

Does Sierra Nevada still use whole-cone hops and open fermentation for beers like Summerfest or is that just for beers like Pale Ale and Torpedo?

 

It is my understanding they use whole-cone hops for all of their beers but open fermentation is conducted only for two of their brands: Kellerweis and Bigfoot.

Cheers!

P.S. Terence (@SierraTerence) please chime in if anything above is incorrect.

 

My guess is an intentional "tweak" to make a drier finished product through changes to the mash schedule. I'd assume SN knows how their yeasts work in such huge capacities to avoid variances in attenuation. Just my hunch though.

Or I've been drinking too much Helles lately that it just comes across more aggressive. Who knows!

 

Did this year's Summerfest taste the same to you from a hopping perspective? There has been comments posted that this year's version is "too hoppy", do you agree with this?

Cheers!

 

Both breweries are configured to use whole cone hops. That is all I have seen on tours.

 

To me, it just comes across drier. Less residual sweetness of course will accentuate the IBU's, even if those remain unchanged from past years. It just seems a little 'harsher' and honestly, it reminds me of their Brute IPA they had released not long ago. They have a similar dryness to my palate. I will crack another open today and see if I still feel the same way.

I don't think it's too hoppy, honestly, just too dry. A little more malt sweetness would have balanced it a bit better, IMO.

I was planning to buy a 1/6-bbl of it this year as it's always been one of our favorite beers each Spring (the past few years we always happened to be at Sierra Nevada when it came out and enjoyed plenty of this beer fresh at the source in Mills River, Chico or the Torpedo Room in Oakland), along with plenty of cans/bottles at home... But this year it just has not hit the spot for me as it usually does, which makes me sad. Still really like the beer, but I definitely think some tweaks occurred this year with the recipe and/or process to brew it.

Lagers are my go-to style to drink and brew... So I respect the delicate balance of a Helles, the more aggressive Pils and the malty end of the spectrum as well. They will have to drag me out of Germany I think in a few weeks when we are there on vacation!

 

I found a nice supply of cans and bottles



Seems like all three of the distributors I stopped in had some (SW PA), and I am willing to bet if my locals have it then the rest of my area probably has it as well.

 

How many have you had so far?