Sierra Nevada
Chico, California & Mills River, North Carolina
For the 3rd time in a decade, Dogfish Head & Sierra Nevada release ‘Life & Limb’
Some of the newcomers to the craft beer scene probably don’t remember Life & Limb, the collaboration between Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada. The first release of this collaboration occurred in 2009, followed by Life & Limb 2 in 2011. Now, the third release of this Life & Limb collaboration hits shelves, this time in 16-ounce cans.
This American strong ale is brewed with two different syrups – maple syrup from the Calagione farm in Massachusetts, as well as birch syrup. In the previous collaborations, the birch syrup was delivered to Chico, California fresh from Alaska.
Additionally, the breweries used estate barley from Sierra Nevada’s farm, plus a house yeast blend of both Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada.
We are proud to share our third version of the life and limb with its thousands of other branches who collectively comprise the craft brewing family tree. Sip slowly with friends and loved ones, savor long-because one could do better than be a swigger of birches.
The “canned on” date is dated in May. From the looks of it, neither brewery has really mentioned this release on social media as it seems to have quietly hit shelves nationally. Neither Sierra Nevada nor Dogfish Head responded for comment.
For its third release in 10 years, this unique collaboration – Life & Limb 3 is available in 16-ounce cans (by Sierra), very suitable for future aging in the event of a Life & Limb 4 release.
Style: American Strong Ale (w/ Maple Syrup. Birch Syrup.)
Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft. Limited Release.
Debut: August 2019
10% ABV
Sierra Nevada chooses Bitburger Brewery for Oktoberfest 2019 collab
In 2015, Sierra Nevada released an Oktoberfest ahead of the fall season. Instead of simply brewing the beer in the German tradition (releasing it for their on-site fest parties), Sierra Nevada took it a step further. They began collaborating with some of the best German breweries in the world.
The first edition was quite a masterpiece- combining Sierra Nevada’s hardcore brewing quality with Brauhaus Riegele’s 600+ years of brewing experience. A different kind of festbier and you could certainly taste it.
Since then, Sierra Nevada collaborated Mahrs Brau, Brauhaus Mittenberger, and most recently – the oldest brewery in the world, Weihenstephaner.
For the 2019 release, Sierra Nevada has selected Bitburger Brewery. Based in Bitburg, Germany, Bitburger lays claim to one of the top breweries in sales volume in their home country. Founded in 1817 by Johann Wallenborn, the brewery’s pilsner sells over 1 million U.S. barrels annually.
This year’s Oktoberfest edition is brewed with Bitburger’s Siegelhopfen (meaning “sealed hops”)—a classified hop blend that has never been shared outside the German brewery walls, according to Sierra Nevada. Additionally, Bitburger offered their signature house yeast, also never shared outside of their own brewing operations.
“We are thrilled to be brewing together with our friends from the iconic Sierra Nevada Brewery. Not only are we united by our passion for exceptional beer and truly unique hop flavors, we also share a long history of transatlantic exchange, leading to this exciting collaboration.” – Jan Niewodniczanski, Managing Director of Bitburger
Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest 2019 will be available just once in 12-ounce bottles and draft starting in late July 2019.
Style: Oktoberfest
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. One-Time Release.
Debut: Late July 2019
6% ABV
Sierra Nevada makes first-ever acquisition, Sufferfest Beer Co.
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. has made their first-ever acquisition, Sufferfest Beer Co.
Sufferfest Beer Co. is a young brewery, launched back in 2016 in San Francisco, California. Founder and CEO Caitlin Landesberg had been searching for a beer that was the perfect thirst quencher for someone with an active lifestyle. Eventually, that search led her to create her own recipes with a brewmaster and ultimately, Sufferfest Beer Co. was born.
Sierra Nevada’s President and CEO said today – “While still in its infancy, Sufferfest is at the front of the wave of ‘functional’ alcoholic beverages. By joining with Sierra Nevada, Sufferfest will be better positioned to grow and continue to lead the way in a rapidly growing and highly competitive space.”
The intention of the acquisition is to better position Sufferfest to grow in a highly competitive space of healthy beer options, including gluten-reduced and gluten-free offerings.
The terms of the deal have not been disclosed, but the deal is for 100% of Sufferfest Beer Co.
A new Trip in the Woods: Sierra Nevada Cocoa Coconut Narwhal
Sierra Nevada Cocoa Coconut Narwhal has joined the brewery’s ‘Trip in the Woods’ Series.
Giving fans a chance to see some of Sierra Nevada’s core brands in a new light is key to the ‘Trip in the Woods’ series. The family line has already seen releases like Barrel-Aged Narwhal Imperial Stout with currants, and Ginger Bigfoot (barleywine with ginger root). It’s Narwhal Imperial Stout season once again and along with it, comes a new dessert-inspired offering.
Sierra Nevada Cocoa Coconut Narwhal is on it’s way to shelves around the U.S. and is already proving that chocolate and coconuts really take beer to the next level.
Cocoa Coconut Narwhal uses Sierra Nevada’s popular imperial stout base brewed with toasted coconut and aged in for over a year in bourbon barrels with more toasted coconut and cocoa nibs. Whether you drink it alone, or with your favorite dessert is up to you.
This very special version of our Narwhal Imperial Stout was brewed with toasted coconut and then left to mature in Kentucky Groupon barrels for nearly a year. To the barrels, we added additional coconut and cocoa nibs to create a uniquely rich and decadent stout.
Sierra Nevada Cocoa Coconut Narwhal is available in 25.4-ounce bottles for a limited time.
Style:Imperial Stout (w/ Coconut. Cocoa Nibs. Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 25.4oz Bottles
Debut: Late-September 2017
11.8% ABV
Ed Note it looks like this release debuted in early September. Not every market has received this yet.
Sierra Nevada Tropical Torpedo debuts in cans
Sierra Nevada Tropical Torpedo hit shelves as we started 2017. The trop-spin on their tried and true IPA has been very successful, prompting the brewery to add on cans to the lineup.
According to Sierra Nevada founder Ken Grossman, “Innovation is part of our DNA.” There is a lot of truth in that statement. Sierra Nevada is one of a handful of American breweries responsible for putting hoppy beer on the map, thanks to Torpedo IPA. The style has dominated sales in the craft beer segment for years now.
RELATED: Sierra Nevada Sidecar Orange Pale Ale
Recognizing the shift in tastes among American drinkers, the brewery has released a new take on their classic – Sierra Nevada Tropical Torpedo.
Implementing the brewery’s proprietary Hop Torpedo (for which the beer was named), the brewery has made some juicy changes to the dry-hopped aspects of this IPA. The result is a juicy, tropical twist on a classic. Unlike Sidecar Orange Pale Ale that uses fruit, Tropical Torpedo relies entirely on the dry hop for the fruity flavor.
What you get. All the tropical hoppy flavor that is so en vogue right now. That hop torpedo spits out some magic. Torpedo is already an American icon, and one thing’s for sure, this drop of trop isn’t far behind. Expect passion fruit and mango aromas and flavor, with a great bitter finish. Buy more than a 6 pack. You’ll want it.
“The rush of hop flavor and lush aromas of mango, papaya, and passionfruit awaken your senses with our most adventurous IPA yet.” – Brian Grossman, Second Generation Sierra Nevada brewer
Sierra Nevada Tropical Torpedo is available in 12-ounce bottles, cans, and draft.
Style: IPA
Hops: Amarillo, Mosaic, Citra, El Dorado, Comet
Malts: 2 Row Pale, Munich, Honey
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft.
Debut: January 2017
Debut (Cans): Late-July 2017
6.7% ABV, 55 IBUs
Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Ginger Lager, with Surly Brewing
In 2017, Sierra Nevada’s Beer Camp is going international. One of America’s best breweries is pushing beyond their home borders, collaborating with folks across the world. As far as U.S. based collaborations, Minnesota’s Surly Brewing has been chosen to for 2017. Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Ginger Lager is the result.
If you haven’t had the pleasure of trying Beer Camp creations in the past, they truly are some very unique beers, brewed by some of the best brewers out there. A collaboration between Sierra Nevada and Surly conjures up images of outdoorsy types and metal enthusiasts in one room, with impossible to predict results. What they came up with is a lager, which might not thrill everyone. That is, until the team adds spicy ginger, cayenne, and oak. You can forget forgettable lagers.
Absolute Beer Camp Highlight.
This is far and away one of the best beers in the 2017 Beer Camp box. A crisp lager that leads with ginger, and finishes with a touch of cayenne and oak. If you thought lagers were boring, this one will have you rethinking it. Consider this an official nomination for this beer to go into full production. One lonely can is far from enough of this unique beer.
The abrasive attitude of Minnesota’s Surly Brewing Co. brings an aggressive yet refined approach to creating recipes. We came together to create this easy-drinking but complex ginger-infused lager. It’s brewed with hot ginger and a pinch of cayenne to spice up the heat and then dry hopped with an inclusion of oak for a touch of woody vanilla to round out the flavor.
Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Ginger Lager will be a 16 ounce can release, a part of the Beer Camp Across the World collection, debuting later this year.
Style: Lager (w/ Ginger, Cayenne. Oak Aged.)
Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft.
Debut: June, 2017
6.2% ABV
Sierra Nevada Raspberry Sundae Ale, with The Bruery
Sierra Nevada Raspberry Sundae Ale can be found in the new Beer Camp Around the World mixed pack – a collaboration with The Bruery.
The Bruery’s Andrew Bell calls this an oddball beer. The ice cream inspired Raspberry Sundae Ale is standout in Sierra Nevada’s Beer Camp Across the World box. To the point where you’re not sure whether you want to drink it first or last.
Raspberry Sundae Ale is brewed with raspberries, cacao nibs, and vanilla plus a touch of lactose for a bit of creaminess. You’ll every one of those flavors, but nicely retrained. A beer like this is supposed to bring a raspberry sundae to mind while drinking, even compliment the actual dessert. Not be a substitute for it.
Sierra Nevada and The Bruery’s Raspberry Sundae Ale creation is just one of 12 tasting adventures you’ll find in the Beer Camp Around the World box. Hitting shelves now.
Style: Herb/Spice Ale (w/ Raspberry, Vanilla Beans, Cocoa. Lactose.)
Availability: 12oz Bottles. Mixed Pack only.
Debut: Late May/June, 2017
8% ABV
Image: Beer Street Journal
