Sierra Nevada... Who's better?

I like Sierra Nevada and I live in Chico where the brewery is, I just wish that they would up their barrel-ageing game. Coming from the midwest I feel a bit spoiled, but I have not been impressed with any of their barrel-aged beers.

 

I don't know how this is even possible. You can get their beer anywhere in the country at almost any store you walk into, including gas stations.

 

This brewery only release is yummy, but @ 10.2% abv, I think it needs to lay down for a year.

 

I love SN, and my favorite part about it might be you can get SNPA just about anywhere, even in rinky dink run down convenience stores.

 

Couldnt agree with you more. Best "large" craft brewer in NE. Criminally underrated on BA. Everytime I buy something from them I kill myself for not supporting them more.

I had a Baltic Porter that was cellared for 2 years, was the best non IPA/DIPA I've ever tasted.

Homoculus was one of my favorite american style belgian ales.

I think smutttynose winter and pumpkin are 2 of my favorite 6pack seasonals. Only matchup where SN wins is DIPA, Big A is solid, but Hoptimum slays, and SNPA is old faithful.

 

Love some Founders - they tend to nail styles, or interpretations of them, better, but the OP has a point; Sierra Nevada is available to nearly everyone. What's more common? Sam Adams? I'd add that the price is fantastic, and Bigfoot is delicious.

 

Lucky you. This one sounds tasty.

 

I'm not going to read through this whole thread to see who else replied to your posts, or put up similar responses to yours—but you guys missed a key point here. SN is available just about everywhere. Sure there are great breweries putting out better beer (although from what I've had so far I wouldn't necessarily include Three Floyds in that category)—but I don't see anyone else putting out consistently rock-solid beer, at a great price point, nationwide and beyond. Few if any breweries are in Sierra Nevada's league. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a Narwhal waiting for me.

 

They tend to make more extreme stuff. But they can do things without hops, IRS is better than any SN malty offering. Ruination and IPA are better than Torpedo and Celebration for me too. Enjoy By is one of my favorite beers (hope they produce more and more of this). That said, SN puts out value beers better than anyone. Their tastiness per dollar ratio is quite high.

 

This is also my favorite overall brewery. Price, quality, consistency, and style variety combined are second to none.

To those who keep mentioning Stone and Founders.........where's the lagers and wheat beers? And their prices aren't even close to Sierra Nevada. If I'm at the liquor store and I see a $10 six pack of 6 week old Celebration, and a $15 six pack of 4 month old Stone IPA........it's a pretty easy decision.

 

I'm afraid so. Even after the second brewery is up-and-running we'll be about 1.3M Bbls. It took us 32 years to get to that size, so I suspect we won't get anywhere near the 6million mark any time soon.

B

 

If you factor in price, I don't think anyone is better, except maybe Deschuttes. Since I can't get Deschuttes here, SN wins. Seriously, I can get a 12 pack of Torpedo for $12.99