Some Quick Thoughts on Sierra Nevada's Beer Camp

As part of my birthday festivities yesterday, I met with some friends at the Bier Stein, who were hosting the Sierra Nevada Beer Camp and had all 12 of the collaboration beers on tap.

I have to say, I really like the idea of breweries collaborating on beers, though I imagine the process can be a sometimes frustrating one. But the way Sierra Nevada is doing it - sort of as an ongoing program, working with breweries around the country, is fantastic. Sierra Nevada gets increased exposure at all the markets it shares with their collaborative partners, but the partners also benefit, in turn, by being featured in parts of the country they usually can't get beer to.

Case in point, I was able to try beer from Cigar City, Allagash, and New Glarus, among others. The full list of the beers, along with plenty of details about the program, can be found here. The centerpiece of the program, beers aside, is an ambitious 7-city beer festival taking place starting in Chico in mid-July and going all around the country. Sierra Nevada also invited every brewery specific to each region to its designated festival - trying to get hundreds of breweries to attend each event. I'm not sure how successful they've been, but I can't help but compare this to, say, the Great American Beer Festival's very limited capacity. I wonder if Sierra Nevada is making this point deliberately.

Regardless, if you're able to try these beers, do it. The full 12-pack is coming out in July. Here are a few of the highlights:

Yvan the Great - Made with Russian River. This is a Belgian blonde that's unsurprisingly delightful. Clean, complex, and tapering off to a great finish, this is a beer made for summer.

Maillard's Odyssey - Made with Bell's. Billed as an Imperial Dark Ale, this is roasty, smooth, and boozy, while still being very light in the mouth and very drinkable.

There and Back - Made with New Glarus. An English-style Bitter, this features all the prominent malting one expects from a great bitter, along with classic grassy/earthy hop aroma and flavor.

Double Latte - Made with Ninkasi.  I once talked to Jaime Floyd and I remember he mentioned always wanting to make a great coffee stout, but didn't want to step on Oakshire's toes. Here's his chance, then. This is a smoother, sweeter beer than Overcast, with a more prominent coffee aroma and flavor.