In the early 1990s, prior to the craft beer revolution, the only beers I was used to seeing at family functions were Heineken, Amstel Light, MGD and Coors Light. However, that all changed on a trip to California to visit relatives in the early 90s. My uncle, an early proponent of craft beer, had a number of unfamiliar beers in his fridge, and none stood out more to me than one with a green label with a river and trees: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. At that point, Sierra Nevada was still mostly regionally known. Needless to say, a lot has changed since then, and Sierra Nevada is now the second largest craft brewer in the country (by sales), one of the top American breweries (by production), and brews up the second best-selling craft beer (Pale Ale). Also since the early 90s, Sierra Nevada has not only increased its visibility in its beer, but also on its green initiatives, eventually allowing it to be selected as the 2010 Green Business of the Year (Region 9) by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Like many breweries Sierra Nevada has a number of sustainable initiatives, including spent grain recycling, water conservation, and packaging reduction, but none one of its green initiatives shines more than its energy program. Situated in Northern California, Sierra Nevada has prime real estate to generate electricity from solar cells, and as such, the brewery has one of the largest solar facilities in the country, with over 10,573 panels (right) located throughout its compound, providing the brewery with about 20% of its energy needs. Additionally, in 2005, Sierra Nevada became the first brewery to install hydrogen fuel cells, which produce another 42% of their electricity needs. These two initiatives, when paired with other initiatives throughout the plant, such as heat recovery units and other contraptions on the brew kettles to trap heat and steam otherwise lost to venting, demonstrates that Sierra Nevada is one of the more energy efficient breweries in the US. In the coming months, Sierra Nevada is set to open its new East Coast brewery in North Carolina, and it will be bringing its energy plan with them, along with its renowned beer.
You can read their extensive 2012 sustainability report.
Beer – 2013 Summerfest Lager
Sierra Nevada is most known for its Pale Ale, a hoppy, yet well-balanced session ale that you can find in almost any bar in the US. But, since 1980, the brewery has been taking on various seasonal brews, the first of which was its hoppy Celebration winter ale. It’s Summerfest has been a popular brew in recent years, as it is a relatively crisp Czech style pilsner. It pours a bright golden yellow, and left a small head which left minor lacing). On the nose, it smelled of light malts, and earthy, mild hops. The first quaff hits and it is hop forward, with a slightly bitter tang. It finishes sweet and smooth. As it sat for a bit, I could really begin to taste some of the more floral notes on subsequent sips. Ultimately, this provides for a delightfully refreshing, light summer beer, and could be one of my favorite Summerfests. It clocks in at an even 5% alcohol, so it is perfect for a session.
Beer Advocate: 3.68/5
RateBeer: 3/5
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