Beer Camp is back, and maybe, just maybe mind you, better than ever. Let’s look back at a little Beer Camp History, Sierra Nevada style. First off, let me tell you, you haven’t lived until you’ve gone to beer camp. I went to Oldenberg’s Beer Camp in Fort Mitchell, KY many moons ago (late 90s actually). And while that brewery (sadly) is now defunct, others have taken up the banner of beer camp. Sierra Nevada for one.

Oldenberg’s camp was all about drinking beer, experiencing beer, learning about beer, and enjoying beer. Sierra Nevada’s camp has all that going for it too, but with one important difference: you get to make beer, too. It’s also a bit tougher to get into. To attend Oldenberg Beer Camp, one plunked down one’s hard earned cash and got to Fort Mitchell (just outside Cincinnati). Money won’t buy your way into Sierra Nevada’s camp. Instead, you have to go the Beer Camp Website and make a case as to why you should be selected as a Beer Camper.

At least, that’s how Sierra Nevada Beer Camp began life. For a few years, including 2011 and 2012 Beer Camp followed the above model, with homebrewers coming up with the winning recipes. They might have released such a sampler in 2013 or none at all; I’m sure I don’t know. In 2014, however, the game changed with Beer Camp Across America, a 12-pack of Sierra Nevada brews made in conjunction with other brewers from, as the title suggests, across the land.

That 12-pack was a bit pricey at $25 and in many areas hard to find, but it consisted of 12 different beers in collaboration with 12-different brewers. That made it a bit easier to swallow, and the beers were wonderful, too. The following year, 2015, only saw a single Beer Camp six-pack of one particular beer, Hoppy Lager, but the Beer Camp Across America 12-pack returned in 2016.

Many beer geeks (this reviewer amongst them) were disgruntled by the fact that the price had gone up to $30 a 12-pack, while selection had dwindled to two bottles each of six-different collaborations. Sierra Nevada seems to have taken notice, and for 2017 gave us….

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Across the World.

From the 12-pack sampler pack box:

Join Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and a crew of 12 on an epic exploration of international craft beer. In your hands is a treasure of rare styles-each a unique combination of energy, passion, and purpose from the world brewing community. Continue your adventure during the 2017 summer beer camp tour. The largest celebration of craft beer.

It's now October as I type and I'm still working my way through the 2017 12-pack. I've just broken into the second half, however, with Beer Camp Across the World Campout Porter Brewed with Vanilla and Honey, a collaboration with Garage Project brewery of New Zealand.

From the label:

In honor of Beer Camp, our friends at New Zealand's Garage Project Brewery wanted to carry the camping theme straight through to the flavor of our beer. Featuring a unique malt smoked over manuka wood, rare manuka honey and vanilla beans, this robust porter has sweet notes reminiscent of marshmallows toasted over a campfire.

Ingredients from the website:

Yeast: Ale

Bittering Hops: Southern Cross

Finishing Hops: Southern Cross, Pacifica

Malts: Two-Row Pale, Manuka Smoked Malt, Chocolate, Midnight Wheat, Munich

Other: Manuka Honey, Beachwood Honey, Tahitian Vanilla

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Campout Porter with Garage Project Brewery has an alcohol content of 7.7% by volume with 32 IBUs. I paid $24.99 for the 12-pack this year, back down from last year’s high. It really isn’t a bad price when you think of this sampler as 12 singles. My bottle of Campout Porter was packaged on 4/19/17, most likely in Mills River, NC.

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Campout Porter with Garage Project Brewery pours to a jet-black color with a thick creamy tan head and a vibrant chocolate and vanilla nose. A thick layer of Brussels Lace forms on the sides of my glass and follows the liquid all the way to the bottom.Taking a sip, the beer is medium in body, smooth and chocolaty with an underlying layer of vanilla and a rich depth from the honey.  A dry roasty vanilla finish finishes the beer out nicely.

I love the flavors going on here and the bit of alcohol warmth in the finish, though I can't say I really picked up any smokiness from the manuka-smoked malt.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft



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