Sierra Nevada Changes, Rumors & News (2022)

I never thought that SN Porter was that good and locally it was one of the weaker options when it was around so I can see why that faded away in my area. The Stout was nice, though, and quite unique for a Stout at the time because it was on the hoppier end.

 

Sierra Nevada’s highest performing brand is the Hazy Little Thing line.

Sierra Nevada was built on the back of the Pale Ale. Criticizing them for going hazy is like criticizing them for releasing Torpedo 15+ years ago. They’ve been following the financial trend for decades. They brew hoppy beers, that is what they are known for.

They are selling what makes them money like any brewery.

In 2015-16 wasn’t their entire platform like Hop Hunter PA Ruthless Rye and Torpedo? Because that’s what I could actually get at my bar despite them “making Porter and stout”.

 

Love that Sierra Terrence said what most of us knew. Hazies are selling to people ,like many of us, that drink beer.

Nailed it.
Just like everyone was Bashing the hell out of Stone saying they miss Levitation, Pale Ale, Old Guardian, Double Bastard . I went and I asked the manager Why they pulled them and can you guess the answer??
They just didn't make them money.
I still have frequent access to every stone beer i ever loved at their local taproom so i have 0 complaints.

This sounds like you're winning in this case, but like someone said if you really liked the beer THAT MUCH you can get it. You already stated that there's other options on shelves so i guess it isn't a real problem.

Change is good.

 

If anything Sierra should be commended with what they did with Hazy Little Thing, I’m not a fan, but they took a style and mass marketed it into a brand that outsells their flagship beer.

Also, where you getting Double Bastard and Levitation in SD? Haven’t seen either of those on two for 6 months or more.

Pale Ale has been around, but they redid the recipe so it’s like the new Ruination.

 

Funny, I could get porter, stout, kellerweis, summerfest (during summer) and other non-IPA choices back then. I guess I was lucky.

 

you can still get all those beers. Just not with the same frequency. craft beer bubble burst companies can’t just throw out sixers of everything. I also used to be able to get Anchor Porter and Old Foghorn everywhere too. Can’t do that. Used to be able to get Stone’s line up can’t do that. Used to be able to get Ballast Point beers like Wahoo and Calico too.

also used to not have a kid and be 6 years younger then too.

also I find it funny how many people on here drank Summerfest and Kellerweiss so regularly, because we’d have 13.2 gallon kegs of that sitting for a month plus at the beer bars I worked at and ordered for back then.

 

2016 Double Bastard 32oz Crowler

Not in SD, I am in Los Angeles . The Stone Del Mar Taproom in Pasadena is a 20 minute drive for me.
I heard news ,although rumors for now, that Sapporo might close it in the next year though to focus solely on Brewery production.
Ive had this is my fridge since April. They bring in a keg of DB every now and again. Levitation has been a while but people dont get it a lot, it stays in taplist too long. They also bring Old Guardian and IRS vintages a lot.
Right now their main sellers are the hard seltzer and frozen margaritas with a 10% seltzer base alcohol at the taproom along with any IPA they have on tap .
This story is probably true for any BIG and SMALL Brewery doing the same

 

I was responding to this part of your message.

 

Bought of 12-pack of SNPA yesterday because of this thread. Will be sad if I don’t get to try their OFest, but I’ll NEVER be upset with good ol’ SNPA. Still the standard-bearer for the style.

 

These big stores are not a small limited market. A regional order for a mixed pack from an outlet like Costco goes a long way toward ensuring enough volume to support brewing and distributing the brands in the pack. Overall volume through beer-oriented outlets sounds good, the the market is so fragmented that production schedules and distribution schemes are difficult to manage.

 

I use to run a production meeting every Wednesday at 8 AM with all departments involved. We would have a one page sheet with about six-eight months worth of releases and production. We would discuss all aspects of the release with the department heads or representatives.

Where are we with raw materials (grain, hops, packaging materials, etc.) in house date, how is graphics moving along, compliance and legal registration, pilot brewing/test batch sensory coming along, brewing schedule, filter schedule, packaging dates, shipping logistics, release dates, sales updates for each release.

What we found, which was very apparent, we were spending 90% (probably more) of our time on 10% of our volume. Now take that 10% volume and move it down to the distributor, mind you that is also selling other breweries brands, not just Sierra. Where is their priorities going lie? They will focus on the hot selling brands and the movers, not the 10 cases of Porter or Stout that get delivered to their dock ever 3 months... Not to mention the retail accounts. I would imagine towards the end of our distribution on Porter and Stout, those ten cases were going to one or two accounts for some old school lovers of the brand... Or someone at the distributorship that enjoyed having Porter in their home fridge .

Personally, I believe with more and more smaller brewpubs popping up in local communities this is what ultimately forced our hand... And this is not a bad thing, I love going to Secret Trail here in Chico and drinking Charlie's Dortmunder or his Kolsch. They are excellent examples of the style. But styles like Porter, Stout, Kellerweis can be brewed on a local small brewers system and the occasional drinker can now get their fix by ordering a pint, maybe a crowler or two togo and not have a 6-pack that might last them 2-3 weeks in fridge... This is a beer community that loves their beer and beer styles, that's not the general public and doesn't reflect the trends within the industry.

So yes, we have discontinued Oktoberfest as a seasonal brand that was declining every year and similar to Summerfest... Which you might remember me saying, reached it's peak in roughly 2015 with 30K bbls sold and was half that volume 5 years later at 15K bbls? You will be able to get it on tap at our pubs, It will be on shelves locally in Chico and available via DTC in these states: CA, DC, KY, NC, ND, NE, NH, OH, PA, VA, & VT

 

I recently picked up SN Pale and Torpedo and poured it into a pint glass for a couple long time beer friends, didn't tell them what it was. Their reaction was priceless! Mid conversation the focus became "wow, what beer is this!? This is delicious!" I let them guess for a bit before letting them know. They're such good beers to always come back to.

 

I'm lucky to be able to have Sierra Nevada as a local brewery. I bought cases of mixed 12-packs at $14.99 each yesterday. And they are fresh.

 

And to have never left!

 

Thanks Terence, good insight.

Can you give it to me straight - is Northern Hemisphere chopped? Or will the Asheville brewery have some? My favorite beer of all time and I noticed distro from Long Bev was way down last year. Only went to Total Wines from what I saw.

 

Northern Hemisphere has gone the way of Oktoberfest... We will be brewing 200 bbls and you will find it in 6-pk 12 oz. cans (first time in cans) at our Gift Shops, on-tap in our taprooms, local Chico distribution and through our DTC channel. Should be available about the first week of October... Ruthless Rye, same format and about the same time.

 

"Personally, I believe with more and more smaller brewpubs popping up in local communities this is what ultimately forced our hand... And this is not a bad thing, I love going to Secret Trail here in Chico and drinking Charlie's Dortmunder or his Kolsch. They are excellent examples of the style. But styles like Porter, Stout, Kellerweis can be brewed on a local small brewers system and the occasional drinker can now get their fix by ordering a pint, maybe a crowler or two togo and not have a 6-pack that might last them 2-3 weeks in fridge... This is a beer community that loves their beer and beer styles, that's not the general public and doesn't reflect the trends within the industry."

Whelp, there it is in plain language: SN is now a brewery for locals, brand loyalists, and trend chasers.

 

I remember when I first got into craft beer it was all about the culture and community and discovery. Now it is financials, statistics, market share, shareholders, lawsuits, etc.

I know the answer is the local tap house, but would they do the same as the big guys if given the chance? Was the craft beer ethos a lie?

 

Good deal, thanks so much! I’ll be making a trip to Mills River in Oct!