Sierra Nevada
Chico, California & Mills River, North Carolina
Sierra Nevada Premium PILS launches in select markets
Sierra Nevada Premium PILS Lager is debuting across select markets across this U.S. this week.
In Atlanta last evening, a team from Sierra Nevada as assembled at The Ramspeck (Brick Store Pub’s private event space) to debut a new beer. While the brewery is most known for whole-cone hop forward offerings, this beer you could say is a departure from the hops- a Premium PILS Lager.
A year in the making.
For more than a year, Sierra Nevada VP Brian Grossman, Brewery supervisor Seth Hewitt, Innovation brewer Matt Ruzich and team have been developing a new pilsner – a future national offering that Sierra Nevada hopes mays set a standard for the style in U.S. In the past, Sierra has released a pilsner here and there – Nooner Pilsner back in 2014, and seasonal Summerfest. Good beers in their own right, but the grander vision was a more “elevated” pilsner. Hence why “premium” is a part of the branding.
History + Quality.
The team focused heavily on the brewing history on pilsners, especially water chemistry, hops and yeast. Premium PILS is features Weihenstephaner yeast, and newer hop variety Saphir (German bred), and Pilsner malts with a touch of Carapils malt. Throughout Sierra’s presentation, the brewers focused on quality. Something the brewery is well-known for, and it definitely shows in Premium PILS. It’s soft, and crisp, with just a tinge of underlying hoppiness, and only 4.7% alcohol by volume. Whether or not the brewery intended it, they are setting a new standard for craft pilsners going forward.
Markets.
For now, Sierra Nevada Premium PILS is available on draft in 30 markets: Orlando,Jacksonville, Atlanta, Chicago, Portland, Maine, Las Vegas, Reno, NYC, Rhode Island, Denver, Boise, New Orleans, Grand Rapids, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Cleveland, Portland/Eugene/Medford, Dallas/Ft.Worth, Milwaukee & Madison, Wisconsin, Bay Area/Sacramento/Chico, California, St. Louis, Charlotte/Asheville/Winston-Salem/Wilmington/Raleigh, North Carolina, South Carolina (All), Washington D.C.
For now, PILS is a year-round beer, expanding to more markets over the summer. Expect it to hit a very unique package in late-summer 2025.
Below, scenes from the media release party in Atlanta.
Ed note: Article was updated 4/21 to mention PILS is a year-round beer at launch.
Sierra Nevada Celebration IPA returns in cans this month
It’s always nice to see a venerable beer like Sierra Nevada Celebration IPA still able to stir up some excitement. The brewery posted a picture of Celebration cans ready waiting to be filled, and fans re-professed their love for this seasonal beer all over again. Celebration IPA is an absolute seasonal classic, akin to Bell’s Two Hearted, or Russian River’s Pliny the Elder. Only, you can only get it as the year wind’s down.
Celebration Ale has hit shelves once again.
Sierra Nevada has been brewing this fresh-hopped India pale ale since 1981, just one year after opening in 1980. While craft beer’s #1 selling style [IPA] has seen a lot of trends, Celebration Ale has remained steadfast in simply staying as-is. Perhaps that mix of quality and reliability is what makes it so popular – a fact proven by the overwhelming reactions from Celebration fans after the brewery posted the above photo this week.
Celebration Ale follows Oktoberfest in the brewery’s seasonal series of releases.
Style: IPA
Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft.
First Release: 1981
Latest Return: November 2023
6.8% ABV
PIC: Beer Street Journal
Sierra Nevada adds Crisp & Tropical Little Thing
Sierra Nevada’s “Little Things” Series expands with the addition of Crisp Little Thing a summer approaches.
The series started with Hazy Little Thing, which is the first nationally distributed hazy IPA in the U.S. For summer 2023, the brewery is releasing a lager- Crisp Little Thing, as well as Tropical Little Thing, the second in their limited rotating IPA series.
Crisp Little Thing is described as “crushable” as most lagers tend to be, 4.7% alcohol by volume and a smooth 18 IBUs. Only found the the “Little Things Party Pack” – 12 pack variety pack.
Tropical Hazy Little Thing is available in 12oz/6 packs, now through August 2023. The IPA features Cascade, Sabro, Sultana, El Dorado, and Amarillo hops, built on the back of oats, Two-Row malt and wheat.
Crisp Little Thing (4.7% ABV)
Style: Lager
Availability: 12oz Cans, Mixed Pack Exclusive
Tropical Little Thing (7% ABV)
Style: IPA
Hops: Sabro, Sultana, El Dorado, Cascade, Amarillo
Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft. May-August.
Debut: Summer 2023
Sierra Nevada Sunny Little Thing
Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest 2021
Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest 2021
Sierra Nevada Raspberry Bigfoot
Sierra Nevada Raspberry Bigfoot
Coming Soon: Sierra Nevada Barrel Aged Peanut Butter Cup Narwhal
October 2012 was when the beer world first got a taste of Narwhal Imperial Stout. The beer joined Sierra Nevada’s “High Altitude” Series, shortly after the brewery had debuted another huge stout – 30th Anniversary Imperial Stout. Soon, it looks like another Narwhal will be spotted – Sierra Nevada Barrel Aged Peanut Butter Cup Narwhal.
This is far from the first variant of Narwhal that Sierra Nevada has released. The brewery’s Trip in the Woods Series has seen Barrel-Aged Narwhal with red and black currants, as well as Barrel-Aged Cocoa Coconut Narwhal.
As for  Barrel Aged Peanut Butter Cup Narwhal., the artwork is all we have right now, presumably brewed and both Chico, California and Mills River, North Carolina locations, and at a minimum – available in both gift shops.
Hold tight as this flavored Narwhal Imperial Stout dives to new depths, an abyss that’s rich with cocoa nibs, peanut butter flavor, and hints of vanilla from bourbon barrels. No need to unwrap candies, power the legendary dessert right into your glass.
Barrel-Aged Peanut Butter Cup Narwhal Imperial Stout is a 16-ounce can or bottle release.
Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Peanut Butter. Cocoa Nibs. Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 16oz Cans or Bottles.
Debut: TBA
12.7% ABV
