Sierra Nevada 2017 Snowpack

I agree with everything you said.
As for me, I am a pretty simple beer drinker - I'd be happy with a kolsch, ESB and a porter (with an Oktoberfest and wheat beer thrown in too.)

I do not care for the latest and greatest - this tiny rare batch of hops are used in this beer or the new coffee from the latest trendy coffee chain, etc. I'd imagine there are others who might feel the same. Of course I support a few key local breweries who make world class beer but I can't always get to the brewery for growler fills. I do have a couple of favorite canned ESBs I buy, of course I go to SN for Celebration and Oktoberfest. But I'm branching out to other breweries of similar size. Harpoon has a nice fall pack out now. Boulevard's Kolsch was disappointing so I'm still looking for my Kolsch supplier. So I've stepped away from buying as much SN as I used too.

 

The other option is to become a homebrewer. Every one of the batches you mentioned here I homebrew every year. I still have some Kolsch and ESB beers in my basement and I will be brewing a Robust Porter next month.

I bought a 6-pack last spring and I thought it was just OK; this will not be a repeat purchase for me.

For me that is my homebrewed Kolsch but I only have 10 bottles left so no more Kolsch for me once those 10 bottle get consumed until next winter/spring when I will brew another batch. If Sierra Nevada Kolsch was available for sale I would be drinking that between homebrew batches.

I am in a similar condition: my purchasing of Sierra Nevada beer is a bit lower than previous years but they are still getting my business. I will be buying some Celebration when it becomes available. I may be purchasing the wet hopped variety pack if I hear a lot of good things about these beers. At the moment I have a Harvest Ale fermenting that was brewed with wet hops picked from my hop plant in my backyard. Maybe this beer will be the only packaged wet hopped beer I drink this season?

Cheers!

 

Personally, I'm pretty happy with this pack. I get it that some of the BA's around here might prefer a more traditional winter seasonal, but there is a winter warmer in there, along with the beloved Coffee Stout, and of course the venerable Pale. I'm kinda glad to see a hazy IPA from SN in there (even if it admittedly seems an odd choice for a winter pack) as I am interested in trying their take on the style, and its another beer I haven't had, obviously, b/c I believe this is the first time they have released it. I will definitely and happily pick up this pack when I see it. If this gets more new-to-craft consumers to pick it up, all the better. This longterm fan of SN will be buying it as well.

 

Sierra Nevada needs more people like you. I am sure they appreciate your patronage.

Cheers!

 

Heavy Seas has a ESB winter seasonal.

 

This HazeBro buys every SN variety Pack that comes out! Good beer is Good beer - hazebro or no hazebro!

 

or at least a seasonal winter release

 

they put the porter in the first snow pack, guessing not enough people were buying it.

 

For my money, SN doesn't make a bad beer. Celebration is probably my favorite beer, owing in part, I suppose, to its limited nature. Mix packs are the way that large and regional breweries drive sampling and innovation. The "throw things at the wall" comment I guess isn't far off, but it is far more strategic than that.

The company clearly identifies trends in the market (session sours/NEIPA/fruited IPA) and makes product to meet that market demand. However, the positioning of the brand is in an awkward market spot. Too big to be 'local' and hot (ie: Tree House, Maine Beer Company etc), too small to go up directly against macro brands. Growth in the segment that they are in (large craft) has slowed, nearly stopped. I'll admit I haven't checked out IRI in 6 months, but if someone wants to correct me, I'll listen!

But what does SN do well? Make world class traditional beers. Price competitively. Innovate. I'd love to see something bold out of them, like building some brewpubs in key markets (I know they've got the second facility online in NC). Brewdog is going to be doing it. AB has done it via acquisition.

 

From a business standpoint I have no idea if opening brewpubs is a good idea or not but as a consumer I love that idea. It would be great to have other places to samples their portfolio of beer other than CA and NC.

 

Easy for me to say right? Not my money they are throwing down to build those pubs. You just look at where growth is coming from, and it is pretty clear that a local brewpub gives you local cache, and boosts off-premise sales in the surrounding area. Any large or regional brewery that isn't at least doing due diligence on the idea is falling behind IMO.

 

ABI must think it is a good idea for their ‘craft’ beer to go local: they will be opening a Goose Island Brewpub in Philly (this year?). This was discussed in a BA thread.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/commun...pen-brewpub-in-philadelphias-fishtown.456480/

Maybe it would be wise for the large distributing craft breweries to do the same?

Cheers!

@RobH @KOP_Beer_OUtlet @Sixpoint
@sierranevadabill @Alexmc2

 

I think some of those tagged might need to work on opening taprooms in their hometowns first.

 

American Kolsch six-packs debuted in January of this year. Are you thinking of a different beer from last spring?

 

I think you and @JackHorzempa have the same disagreement about semantics as when my wife and I disagree about when "next weekend" and "this weekend" are on the calendar.

 

I think its only a fresh hop variety pack. So more in line with celebration but not wet hopped like picked and brewed same day.

Mind PM-ing me your robust porter recipe? I've been trying to make a good one in the same vein as Smuttynose Robust Porter but haven't got there yet. Is yours attempting to mimic a commercial brew?

 

Very likely. To me, last spring was 2016. Just wanted to check...

 

And that is indeed the beer I purchased.

At the time I was contemplating sending you a PM on this beer but I did not.

Cheers!

 

Yes, I brew a beer very similar to Hill Farmstead Everett.

I discussed my beer (and Hill Farmstead Everett) in a New Beer Sunday thread:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/new-beer-sunday-week-580.402889/#post-4657907

Let me know if you are still interested in the recipe.

Cheers!

 

I'm always on the lookout for honest feedback and will gladly pass along any thoughts you'd like to share via PM or by email at jdanner at boulevard dot com.