It was awesome hanging out with Ken Grossman Founder of Sierra Nevada yesterday. He’s an amazing man to put up with the likes of me! He attended the last Sierra Nevada Alpha Hops Society (SN beer club) in Mills River, NC (Asheville).
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The whole of SN’s leadership is generally pretty awesome.
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I don’t know many at Chico, but I would have to agree that the leadership at the Mills River brewery is second to none!
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The only Sierra Nevada associated person I’ve truly met/spoken to was Dr. Charlie Bamforth, and he was wonderful. In addition to the Pope of Foam being an incredible wealth of beer knowledge, he was so kind, humble, generous, and patient with all of us.
One of these days I’ll actually get to visit a Sierra Nevada location…hopefully…eventually…
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Charlie is a prince indeed! He made a surprise appearance once when I was included at a Sierra Nevada Brewers party. It was awesome! We shared a pint of Sierra Nevada Celebration Hop Drippin’s! Charlie & Hop Drippin’s …a memorable day indeed!
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You will be awed, Amy. I have been to Chico and was planning on Mills River but Hurricane Helene wiped that trip out. The brewery and tasting room at Chico is beautiful and I have heard Mills River is the same.
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Well, I’ve never been to the SN Chico facility, but I hope to visit one day.
Mills River is simply stunning …the locals call it “malt disney world” but don’t say that to Ken …he doesn’t like the phrase.
Indeed. We spent time with Ken’s brother Steve at brewery events, and were always treated like family. Our homebrew club (Zymurgeeks) also did an event with Charlie years ago that was fun.
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I’ve met Steve once at the Rare Beer event at GABF, but I’ve not had enough of a conversation to know him that well.
Have you ever met Terence Sullivan? He’s awesome. He’s SN’s experimental brewer and just a great guy!
I’ve been to Chico 4 times. It is an amazing place that grew organically with increasing demand. The Oktoberfest party there was an absolute blast.
Mills River is what Ken Grossman could do with a clean sheet and substantial funding. It is a destination brewery, built for the ages. Was there again recently, for the 4th or 5th time. Used to stop more often when we would go to see Susan’s uncle in Gainsville FL before he passed. We need to get back more often.
Terance is a super guy, saw him again at the Rare Beer Tasting this fall.
Is SN providing samples at Chico, CA brewery yet? My only brewery tour which didn’t have samples at the end of the tour. They told us to go buy a flight in the restaurant, and we did. This was 17 years ago, too.
They did on my last trip there.
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Yes, he was part of the industry Beer Camp (not Beer Camp Across America) that we attended. Our group brewed a batch (El Stouterino!) on the pilot system. After it was packaged, we received some kegs at our restaurant. Very cool! The people at the brewery are some of the nicest in the industry.
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