Sierra Nevada's Press Release: Chico Estate Harvest Ale

TwoHeadsBrewing · 07-23-2009, 05:19 AM

Just heard that SN's new Estate Harvest is a bit different this year. I don't know how they grew barley in this heat, but apparently they pulled it off...

Chico, CA (07/22/09)—Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is honored to announce the release of Estate Ale—one of the world’s only estate-made beers brewed with 100% all-natural, locally-grown hops and barley, which are produced at the brewery in Chico, California. Inspired by the renowned winemaking region of its Napa and Sonoma neighbors, Sierra Nevada is the first brewery to develop its own terroir. This beer is brewed with ingredients that reflect the flavors of the environment and the seasonal rhythms of nature.

The wine industry is fond of speaking about the individual flavor characteristics that it takes from its environment. This terroir is present in all growing things that are tended with passion and care. The environment that builds flavor is more than simply the soil or the climate: it is also the passion and commitment of the grower. Sierra Nevada’s location near the convergence of the mighty Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges—and its roots in the heart of California’s fertile Central Valley—offer an environment unique in the world. This volcanic backdrop and productive earth each lend character to the water, hops, barley, and yeast.

Chico Estate Ale is the product of years of tending the soil, building an environment around the brewery, and even more years of planning. It began in 2003, with the planting of the first experimental hop yard in the field adjacent to the brewery. Over the years the field grew, and the hops along with it. The quality improved: the rhythm of planting, tending, and harvesting was established. In 2008, the brewery released Chico Estate Harvest Ale for the first time, utilizing the fresh-green flavors of these homegrown hops. The brewery was so pleased with the result that it decided to take it further than anyone else and produce a 100% estate-made beer.

That fall, the brewery made the decision to expand the hop field and plant a test plot of barley onsite. The goal to make an estate beer seemed farfetched. Countless times, the brewery heard that growing malting barley in the hot, dry Chico climate was impossible. Despite the objections, 26 acres of two-row barley went into the soil in January of 2009. By May, the waist-high green barley was waving in the Northern California wind, and by June, a healthy harvest was a foregone conclusion. The brewery never intended to release a 100% estate-made beer in 2009, but as in all things, Mother Nature dictates and we
react. The brewery found itself with thousands of pounds of the finest malting barley and acres of the world’s freshest wet hops: Estate Ale was born.

Sierra Nevada’s estate-made beer is a decades-long dream finally seeing reality. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. prides itself in environmental stewardship and responsible brewing practices. This “Hop Harmony” philosophy is part of a larger movement toward creating a natural and sustainable brewery. Efforts include recycling and composting, water treatment, bio-fuel production, and water conservation. In 2009, a recently completed solar array (one of the largest private installations in the country) combined with four fuel cell generators to produce between 80 and 90 percent of the brewery’s total energy needs on-site.

Founded in 1980, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. was one of America’s first microbreweries and remains highly regarded for using only whole-cone hops and ingredients of the highest quality. Sierra Nevada has set the standard for artisan brewers worldwide as a winner of numerous awards for its line of ales and lagers, including the flagship Pale Ale, Torpedo, Porter, Stout, Kellerweis, four seasonal beers, Harvest Ales, and a host of draft-only specialties.

**Zen_Brew** · 07-23-2009, 05:23 AM

Sierra Nevada Brewery is the schizzle.

Any idea if this new Harvest Ale will make it out of state? I'm pretty sure they do a Harvest Ale every year, but it has a real short period where it is available and is best drank extremely fresh as they use the first hop harvest to brew it.

Even the 2 years I lived in CA I missed it because I wasn't paying attention.

**humann_brewing** · 07-23-2009, 05:29 AM

mmm... I had a fresh hop ale from their harvest last year just a few months ago and it was still mighty tasty

**frolickingmonkey** · 07-23-2009, 05:31 AM

I want to go to there... If it means I have to make a friend in California and pay him to purchase and ship me a bottle of this stuff, I WILL taste it!

TwoHeadsBrewing · 07-23-2009, 05:56 AM

They have 3 different Harvest Ales, which are all fresh hopped: Southern Hemisphere Harvest Ale is made from New Zealand hops which are flown in the next day after harvest. Their normal Harvest Ale is made with fresh hops trucked down from Washington. The Chico Estate Harvest Ale is made with hops from Chico.

I don't know about the Chico Harvest, but all others should be widely available in 24ozers. If anyone wants to arrange a beer swap, I'd be happy to try out some new beers from abroad. Chico has a decent selection of the big name micros...but the small ones outside of California are poorly represented. Let's trade!

**Zen_Brew** · 07-23-2009, 06:32 AM

LOL If you consider Seattle abroad, tell me what I can send you in trade.

TwoHeadsBrewing · 07-23-2009, 06:57 AM

I'm not familiar with the Seattle micros, what's in the area? I'm down to make a straight up trade ounce for ounce of some good micros!

EDIT: if you can get some samples of Naked City's brew, that totally counts!

**Zen_Brew** · 07-23-2009, 07:42 AM

Let me give it some thought. Off the top of my head there is a brewery in Seattle called the Elysian. They sell most of what they make in bottles and a lot of it is pretty good. I'm not sure if their beer makes it out of the state of not.
Elysian Brewing Co. Capitol Hill

I'l see what else I can think of. I have been to naked city a couple times and met Don once or twice. I'm sure on a slower night he'd be happy to tap a couple into a bottle and cap them off. They keep a very exotic list of brews on tap and mostly higher ABV (7% and up)
Naked City Brewing
I'm not sure how accurate his web site is on his on taps as he moves rapidly through some of them. I do not think he has any of his own on tap yet. He is waiting on some sort of permit or some such to get his brew kettles on line. He has just been serving a very exotic sampling of beers that are not commonly found elsewhere.

MBasile · 07-23-2009, 07:52 AM

I've never had the estate harvest, only the southern hemisphere harvest, but I want to find this years estate! Or I might have to make the 3.5 hours each way pilgrimage to the brewery.

**Homercidal** · 07-23-2009, 01:17 PM

Wait, are they malting the barley on-site too? I mean, a winery will crush their own grapes, but that is about the extend of the processing needed to make wine. To make the beer, someone has to malt it. Seems like quite a chore for a facility that is not set up for malting.

And unless they do that, this beer is not 100% estate!