Sierra Nevada Brewery

Sierra Nevada Brewery
California
Winter 2017

The first time I drank a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale was September 9, 1996.  It was my sister's 40th birthday party and it was the day I never wanted to drink a Budweiser again.  I loved this new beer.  And I have become a beer snob ever since.

So, it was high on my bucket list to go to this brewery some day. I knew it was in California but I was never sure where it was in relation to my California friends.  When Sam suggested we take a three-hour drive from San Jose, to go there I was thrilled.  I could hardly wait.

We got a late start and did not pull in to town until late evening.  By this time, the place was packed.  And just as we pulled in to the parking lot, Sam got a phone call from a man who was struggling with their relationship.  This was going to be a potentially long call.  So I got out of the car and told Sam to join me when she finished the call.

The place was packed even tough it was a week night.  But it didn't seem as if anyone was going home any time soon.  Every table was taken as was every seat at the bar.  I stood at the end of the bar, hoping to grab the attention of a bartender but was having no damn luck.  Finally, a seat opened up and I jumped on it.  A bartender came over and I ordered 8 samples.  These samples came in 2oz glasses and each beer was delicious.

I quickly drank the 8 beers and sat at the bar for a bit.  Sam was still on the phone.  It was impossible to talk to the bartender because he was so busy.  And I couldn't even talk to the people sitting on either side of me because it was so noisy.

After 15 minutes, I left.  There was nothing more for me to do.  I went back to the car and Sam was just getting off the phone.

"What? You're finished", she wanted to know.

"Yea, I had 8 beers but it was too crowded," I tell her. "It was really noisy and packed. Let's go."

She couldn't believe it but then neither could I .  I wanted to go here for so long but this place is so popular, that it is no longer the type of brewery I like to visit.  I like to sit at the bar and meet the beer master and talk about beers.  But this place is just too big, too popular, too well-known to satisfy my needs.  But I am still glad I visited here and crossed another thing off my bucket list.