Why I can't stop drinking Sierra Nevada?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by JasonHaviland, Apr 9, 2016.

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  1. JasonHaviland

    JasonHaviland Zealot (742) Feb 19, 2013 New Hampshire
    Trader

    I've come full circle.

    Like many, I evolved from the mass produced beers of my college years, to Sam Adams and then onto the Stone and Sierra Nevada mixed packs and then the beer obsession really took hold! It was twice a week trips to the craft beer stores to get on the limited release lists, try new styles and stock up.

    Then I learned of these mind-blowing beers: KBS, BCBS and I was chasing them all over the area. Learning the art of the chase was fun and being on a first name basis with local beer distributors and buyers is great, but once I climbed that mountain many times, I needed more, so it was day trips to Vermont for Heady and Hill and trades all across the country. Full-on obsessive craft beer geek.

    With the driving, high end beer purchases, trading postage etc., my cost per bottle probably climbed to a ridiculously high level. But that was fine, since I had a great job and plenty of disposable income. I felt lucky to be in a position to buy and enjoy such great beer.

    Then I made the decision to start my own firm and go out on my own. We had to budget across the board and the beer, wine and alcohol budget got slashed. It had to be done and I wasn't happy about it.

    So I'm at Costco with my wife and there it is, the Sierra Nevada IPA 24 pack for $23.99. Before that moment, I must have read dozens of posts on rediscovering some reasonably priced craft beer from years gone by. But I never went for it. I always wanted that $12, $18, $20 bomber or mixed 6-pack of goodies

    So I buy the case, bring it home, fill the beer fridge, grab the first one and retreat to the couch ready to enjoy some March Madness. I crack open the Five Hop Experimental, expecting to be slightly disappointed. It's only an 89 BA point rating after all. But to my complete surprise, I'm not. In fact, it's quite the opposite. I start drinking it and I really enjoy it. More so with each successive sip. 1/2 way through with my head cocked and staring at the label, I'm thinking to myself, man, really, this beer is pretty damn good and it's only $1.00?!?!

    It's been written many times, but only now, fully understood. I'm sure it's partially a psychological effect. The fact that the beer is only $1.00 and the fact that I need to budget reinforce each other. That's fine. It's a very positive effect and its working. I really like the beer, I love the price and I love that my beer geek life isn't over. Every time I open one I feel great that my beer life and financial life are in balance. I just can't stop drinking $1.00 beer that I enjoy. Simple as that.

    All the arguments about enjoying the social aspects of drinking in a bar with friends, supporting local breweries, having variety and drinking what you love are all valid. I fully support and do all of those things and I'm not arguing against any of those positions.

    I'm sure this is the umpteenth post of rediscovery. It's crystal clear to me now why there are so many and all I'm saying is that if you're reading this "rediscover" post for the upteenth time -- from a financial advisor and investment manager -- just do it! Enjoy a case or a 12-pack from the likes of Sierra Nevada, get a little budget buzz once in a while and then fine, take the day off and get back in line at Tree House.
     
    #1 JasonHaviland, Apr 9, 2016
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  2. WertMaker

    WertMaker Initiate (0) Jan 17, 2009 Oregon

    Sierra Nevada's Pale is my go to shelf beer, that or Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale. Quality products, both....
     
    #2 WertMaker, Apr 9, 2016
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  3. lester619

    lester619 Initiate (0) Apr 17, 2009 Wisconsin

    They are everywhere for a very good reason, they are simply damn good at what they do. Sometimes bigger is better.
     
    #3 lester619, Apr 9, 2016
    John1985, 2beerdogs, twb0392 and 16 others like this.
  4. sosbombs

    sosbombs Initiate (0) Jan 12, 2016 Vermont

    Sierra Nevada IPA was a beer I brought back with me from AZ in 1981 and probably the first true craft beer I ever had. Torpedo is my go to beer when I am low on funds. That being said, I would much rather drink a Treehouse, Heady Topper or almost any other higher end IPA out there these days.
     
    #4 sosbombs, Apr 9, 2016
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  5. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,132) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    ... and then you realized that a beer at Costco can be "mind-blowing" in it's own way. :slight_smile:

    I don't personally use "mind-blowing" as a beer category label, but if I did, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale would be in that category for me. I still remember the first time I had it while at a pizza place. Love at first sip. Since then, I've tasted it "blind" alongside other pale ales on multiple occasions and it makes my eyes light up every single time.

    The other night, my wife made beer-battered fish while I wasn't home. She picked the SNPA from the cabinet because the bottle looked the least interesting out of all my other beers there. She's right in that all the other bottles and cans looked more contemporary and cool. Despite this, she probably ended up using the best beer in the cabinet to cook fish. No worries - I was picking up more at a store within walking distance for a relatively small amount of money the next day. Couldn't even come close to doing that with any of the others.
     
    #5 zid, Apr 9, 2016
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  6. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    This may be the "umpteenth" time this sentiment was posted but I seriously doubt it was ever expressed so well.

    Cheers to you!!
     
    #6 JackHorzempa, Apr 9, 2016
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  7. LennyOvies

    LennyOvies Initiate (0) Jul 22, 2015 Mexico

    A recent post came to my mind: Hype is not a flavor.

    Stuff like SN gets left behind by so many beer geeks just because it is cheap and around every corner.
     
    #7 LennyOvies, Apr 9, 2016
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  8. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Take away all other factors- including price- and many of their beers would still be personal faves just because of what's in the glass. Price and availability are just the cherry on top.
     
    #8 TongoRad, Apr 9, 2016
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  9. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader



    :astonished: Umm....
     
    #9 jesskidden, Apr 9, 2016
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  10. zeff80

    zeff80 Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,425) Feb 6, 2006 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah

    Great post, although the thread title shouldn't end with a question mark.

    I love grabbing a six pack SNPA when I just want something to drink or if I'm in a craft beer wasteland.
     
    #10 zeff80, Apr 9, 2016
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  11. SinH4

    SinH4 Initiate (0) Jan 18, 2016 Germany

    I feel you. I couldn't care less about how cheap a beer is or how big the brewer is if the beer is good.

    A blissful example from the other side of the pond, and the upside of living in Bavaria: I can walk into a rather big beer retailer in my neighborhood who doesn't even do craft beer and get a crate (20x 0.5l) of Aventinus for 19 Euros. The same with Hopfenweisse and some other stuff.

    Sometimes I really wonder why I bother to hunt down all sorts of new beers when Aventinus, which has been a personal favourite of mine from the first hour of my beer curiosity and still is in my Top10 after thousands of beers, is always there for me. But then my ticking addiction says "screw rationality."

    On a different note, I wish you the best of luck with your firm and that everything works out so that then you can choose to drink Sierra Nevada no matter the budget.
     
    #11 SinH4, Apr 9, 2016
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  12. hillind

    hillind Savant (1,007) Apr 24, 2010 Pennsylvania

    I have the same reaction every time I grab a SN product, "why don't I get this more often?"
     
    #12 hillind, Apr 9, 2016
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  13. Groenebeor

    Groenebeor Initiate (0) Feb 14, 2009 California

    I personally can't imagine a West Coast Pale Ale that's better than SNPA. How can you beat perfection? I've no flaw with this beer. It's incredible.
     
    #13 Groenebeor, Apr 9, 2016
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  14. rightcoast7

    rightcoast7 Maven (1,330) Apr 2, 2011 Maine
    Trader

    You're preaching to the choir here. Torpedo has been my go to shelf beer for the past 5+ years and is virtually always in my fridge. At $16/12-pack at the grocery store and often cheaper on sale, there isn't another beer that good for that cheap. I save my more exciting beers for Friday-Sunday, but Sierra will always have a place in my weekday rotation.
     
    #14 rightcoast7, Apr 9, 2016
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  15. bubseymour

    bubseymour Grand Pooh-Bah (4,800) Oct 30, 2010 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I wish I could buy and enjoy bulk beer purchases like most people to save money. Whenever I love a particular beer, buy in 6 or 12 pack format and drink it regularly, I just no longer enjoy it much at all. After the 3rd of same beer in a given week, I'm burnt out and the rest (regardless of style or rating) either hide in the back of the fridge until I can give away to guests. Frustrating but seems to be a reoccurring theme with myself. I don't buy into hype either...I just don't
     
    #15 bubseymour, Apr 9, 2016
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  16. DrStiffington

    DrStiffington Grand Pooh-Bah (3,740) Oct 27, 2010 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I've spent a shit ton on beer lately, but when I want great beer cheap, I buy Sierra Nevada.
     
    #16 DrStiffington, Apr 9, 2016
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  17. lester619

    lester619 Initiate (0) Apr 17, 2009 Wisconsin

    My guess is he meant pale ale.
     
    #17 lester619, Apr 9, 2016
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  18. Thecalmdrinker

    Thecalmdrinker Zealot (659) Jun 27, 2015 Montana

    I feel like the same, but with Samuel Adams or Alaskan brewery. :slight_smile:
     
    #18 Thecalmdrinker, Apr 9, 2016
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  19. Dravin

    Dravin Initiate (0) Apr 27, 2014 Indiana

    I love myself their variety packs and a twelve pack of Nooner cans calls out to me with a siren song each time I visit the grocery store.
     
    #19 Dravin, Apr 9, 2016
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  20. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,132) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Might as well just show what I happen to be drinking:

    [​IMG]
     
    #20 zid, Apr 9, 2016
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