Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Pack

Yes, just got a 12 pack in PA for $23 and change after tax. It was packaged on 5/29/18.

 

These tend to be priced to move in our local grocers - $15-16 for the 12 pack when SN is on markdown, which is pretty much always - so I'm sure I'll grab one at some point.

 

I picked up the box on 6/6 from SN's Mills River gift shop. $21 and change w/tax. Really like the Session IPA and the Hoppy Pilsner, but was pretty darn disappointed with the IPA and found the DIPA a little meh.

I'm a HUGE fan of SN and love the Harvest releases both Southern and Northern Hemispheres so excitement and expectations were surely a factor in the 2 beers that I found not so great. Still, the IPA/DIPA just weren't up to their normal standard of greatness in my opinion.

Overall, the box was 50/50 for me. Looking forward to the Single Hop pack later this year!

 

Ugh, does there always have to be a hoppy Pils? Gross...

 

Gross? Don't buy it then homie.

 

What part of PA are you in?

That seems to be the consensus with all of these hop packs, I have tried a few of them now and it regularly lands 50/50.

 

Central

 

Do you know when that’s coming?

 

Advertised for July-August, but could be subject to change.

 

Yea. This southern pack was originally scheduled for April I think.

Hopefully it hits Chicago this week

 

Completely agree, it is actually rather amazing how well their brews stand the test of time. Their quality control is absolutely phenomenal. I won't pass on their products until they are 6 months old or so. Unfortunately for most breweries however the 3 month range is a solid cut off point, hell it may even be a bit generous.

 

Spoke with Ken and Brian just yesterday about their quality and how well they they hold up over time. Simply put, everything from the mash tun on is blanketed or purged with nitrogen, avoiding O2 pickup at each step which is key of course. Their canned/bottled products have O2 levels in the double digit PPB range, not even PPM. This is why they have such shelf-stable products!

 

I was informed during my tour of the Sierra Nevada Mills River brewery that for their core beers they recommend a best by duration of 150 days (5 months) if the beer is continuously stored cool/cold (i.e., low 50’s F or colder).

Cheers!

 

This land anywhere yet?

 

Different strokes, folks. That's probably the one I'm most interested in.

 

I have seen it floating around AZ.

 

The mix pack dilemma... When you know you will not like one of the beers in the mix pack, will the other beers be good enough to make up for it?

FWIW, in these forums representatives of Victory have reported similar ppb range O2 and stability for their packaged products. The equipment needed to get that high level of quality control is expensive, and it's generally the larger brewers (craft or not) who can afford it.

 

Victory's lagers are some of the best in the game as far as I am concerned, you can taste the quality level in those beers, especially on draft... Much like Sierra Nevada. You can tell the difference in the beer, regardless of style, when the equipment and processes behind it are top-of-the-line. Victory and SN are my two favorite breweries... I just wish both were a little closer to home!

 

What did you think of Home Grown Lager? I have not had it, but heard it was pretty bad.

 

This discussion from a few years ago contains some great technical information dropped by Victory, Sierra Nevada, Firestone, and A-B brewers about beer packaging and freshness.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/old-ipas.177842/