Sierra Nevada 2017 Snowpack

SN Winter pack

Porter
Stout
Coffee Stout
Rye IPA


Enjoy

 

Whoa...Narwhal is already out in the wild? I thought it would be at least another month. That one doesn't seem to be as widely available in my region of NJ as some of Sierra's other fine brews.

 

Yeah it's been out a couple weeks now in 6 packs, bottled 8/22. It's really good this year, but it's good every year haha.

 

OK, I see why you folks have it already. You're both in California. I've been subscribed to/following the beer on beermenus for a while now, so hopefully Narwhal will show up in NJ soon.

 

I found Narwhal at Costco this past week.

 

Literally any other style would be more interesting than a hazy IPA but they seem to be reaching for the hazebro crowd (who I do not think would pick up a SN variety pack anyway).
I wish they would consider their long time fans but I know why they are not.

 

It landed in MS beginning of September. You should be seeing it soon.

 

Really excited for this. With Narwhal now in six packs and that fresh hop packs coming out, I may drink SN almost exclusively throughout winter.

 

Pale Ale - Ok fine I get it.
Coffee Stout - Yes I remember loving it.
WIntertide - The only other WInter Warmer I drink regularly is Harpoon's and its just average.
Holiday Haze IPA - Would rather have a different style maybe a ESB but I'll take it.

 

I'd love to try a SN ESB! Lately its becoming my favorite type of hoppy ale. No way to equate an ESB with mango or papaya juice like every other IPA these days.

 

Have seen this years in Atlantic county last week

 

Awesome! I have one SN Coffee Stout left in my stockpile, and I am excited to try the winter warmer and Holiday Haze IPA.

 

They had one many years ago. It was their spring seasonal.

 

Oh S.N. brews it? I'll take two....

 

It sure does seem that Sierra Nevada is on the horns of a dilemma. For sales reasons they feel the need to try and attract 'new' customers (e.g., the Hazy IPA to attract the 'new' beer craft beer drinkers to be buyers of the 'old' craft brewery of Sierra Nevada). But as you pointed out a 12-pack with only 3 beers to attract these 'new' customers in all likelihood will not cut it. In the meantime the 'established' Sierra Nevada customers would prefer that the beers be of a more 'traditional' nature. Maybe these old stand by customers will refuse to purchase this variety pack since they view Sierra Nevada as not catering to their preferences?

Hmmm?

Cheers!

 

Is it really a fact that a majority of longtime SN customers are uninterested or against a new IPA style? I understand that some people may not like it, but it seems like a stretch as a premise for discussion.

 

Are new draft drinkers who see the #linelife early morning checkins and turbid beer pours on Instagram are going to get excited about picking up this 12 pack for a few nationally distributed bottles of a supposed NEIPA? I don't think so - they would never drink an IPA that came in a bottle anyway! SN seems to throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks. It seems a bit desperate but I'm a big fan so I hope they figure it out - without totally alienating the standby customers along the way.

 

I agree, maybe instead of having all the pretty lame mixed 12's, they should consider having 2 seasonals (maybe a mixed 12 of those), Otra Vez and Nooner can go:

Winter: Coffee Stout and Celebration
Spring: Ruthless and Glissade
Summer: Summerfest and a Kolsh, Gose (not Otra Vez) or Berliner
Fall: Oktoberfest and Tumbler

 

Yeah, but the winter pack has a hazy IPA in it...

I can't speak for everyone else, but it's not the fact that they're doing a hazy IPA, more so that it's not really a seasonal style at all.

Of course one could argue neither is Celebration, but it's a classic that has been brewed for decades, and is familiar and welcoming at this point. In addition to that, its always offered up something different than other IPAs over the years in my opinion. A heftier brew at 6.8%, one of the most balanced IPAs ever, with a solid caramel malt backbone and sharp hop bite complementing each other...all these characteristics make for a hearty brew perfect for winter.

I love me a New England style IPA, but a velvety smooth mouthful of fruit juice speaks more to the tropical side of me than the winter side of me.

 

Well, an all fairness there is a level of desperation for most of the large(r) distributing craft breweries today. The sales are down for breweries like Sierra Nevada and just like any business they would rather be selling more product vs. less. They are facing competition from BIG BEER like Goose Island, Wicked Weed, etc. and they are facing competition from the proliferation of local, small breweries that are opening at a rate of 2+ new breweries per day. What exactly is the best way to stop the decline of sales in this competitive environment?

And that is indeed a genuine risk. I personally do not have figures here but I would guess that there is a core set of folks who have been fans of Sierra Nevada beers for many years. I am one of those 'core fans' but the reality is that there is only so many of us and Sierra Nevada (and the other larger distributing craft breweries) need to expand their customer base if they want to maintain level sales and hopefully grow sales in the future (2018 and beyond). If they go too far to appeal to the 'new' craft beer drinkers we may feel like they no longer care about us anymore. A resentful customer will become an ex-customer.

You and I have both been advocates for Sierra Nevada making their Kolsch to be a more regular beer. I personally would love for the Kolsch to be a year-round beer but even making this beer available as a 6-pack for part of the year (i.e., a seasonal release) would be great. Maybe Sierra Nevada will track the sales of Boulevard Kolsch - Golden Ale to see if their is a sufficiently viable market for this sort of beer? Or maybe they will put their priorities into further attracting 'new' customers?

I will not advertise that I have the 'answer' here. The 'good news' is that in 2017 there is just a very large number of craft beer available for sale. If Brewery X does not fulfill your customer demands there is a plethora of other existing (and further growing) craft breweries that will be willing to fulfill our demands.

As a 'core fan' I am hoping that Sierra Nevada charts a 'balanced' business course but frankly this hope comes from fond memories of Sierra Nevada beers past. Maybe I will learn to enjoy their new offerings just as much? Or maybe my beer money will just go elsewhere?

Cheers!

@RobH @KOP_Beer_OUtlet @Sixpoint @sierranevadabill @Alexmc2