Try?
Has it really been 30 years that Chico, California's Sierra Nevada brewing Company has been cranking out great beers? It doesn't seem so, but it's true. I can't say I've been there from the beginning, but it's close: I started drinking the stuff back in 1984. In those days, craft beer choices were nowhere near so abundant as they are today, but the store I frequented then (Mac's Liquors in West Warwick, Rhode Island) carried Sierra Nevada. The owner, Jeff, raved about the stuff, and so naturally I had to try it.
And I was instantly hooked. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale instantly became a favorite, mostly because the stuff had flavor. That spicy dose of fruity, slightly bitter hop flavor was a novelty, but one which would soon become a lifelong fascination. Jeff was more of a wine guy, really, but he carried a lot of great beers and I ended up trying them all, embarking upon a path of beer study that had me one day returning to him like some sudsy, half sotted version of Darth Vader:
"When I left you I was but the learner, now I am the master!"
But I digress. As I said, in those days, beer selection was not what it is today. But some of the pioneering craft brews you could buy then (along with Sierra Nevada) were those of the Anchor Brewing Company, also of California.
So, when Sierra Nevada's own legendary Ken Grossman decided to combine efforts with a series of beer savants to produce not one but a series of beers to celebrate three decades of brewing, it was only fitting that the first be brewed with the true Father of American craft brewing. The result: Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary Fritz and Ken's Ale: Stout, a joint effort with Anchor founder Fritz Maytag.
I, for one, can't think of a more dynamic duo to produce a beer. This is, of course, the dream team of American craft beer, and truly something to be excited about. From the label:
“Fritz Maytag, owner of San Francisco’s Anchor Brewing Company, is regarded as the founding father of the craft brewing movement. Frtiz agreed to guest brew this very special ale with us in honor of our 30th anniversary. As a nod to the dark ales and stouts that seduced both Fritz and Ken in the early years, we bring you this pioneering stout, a rich and roasted ale, perfect for aging, and worthy of your finest snifter.”
Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary Stout pours to a jet black color with a frothy thin layer of foam riding atop the liquid and a surprisingly nondescript nose that just lightly hints at dark roasted malts. Taking a sip, I'm a bit surprised by this one. It's a bit sneaky, I think, mostly because of what I was expecting. When I saw a 9.2% ABV designation on the label, I immediately associated that with stout and thought, "Ah! Imperial Stout!".
But this beer isn't really like an imperial stout. It's a bit more stealthy, and lacking the thick viscosity and heavy licorice notes I like in such beers. To be sure, it's smooth on the palate and creamy, and it does have an enticing roastiness. There's a decided richness to the beer with some burnt sugary notes and hints of molasses. Powdered cocoa and a hint of coffee come through, too.
In the finish, an herbal-minty buzz of hop bitterness are deposited on the tongue, and along with the alcohol warmth, leave the beer with a long dry finish. Sierra-Nevada recommends aging, but I'm not so sure-I think this one might be best drunk fresh. Still, I've got another bottle I'm lying down for a while, and we might just have to pop it at the end of the year to see how it pans out.
All in all, I love the subtle mélange of flavors here, and I think you will, too. Well worth the $9.99 I paid for my corked 750 ML bottle. Don't miss it. After all, a beer like this only comes along every 30 years or so.
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
(G)=Growler
