Sierra Nevada Brewing Company

Founded: 
1980
Brief History and Information: 

We set out with a simple goal: brew the beers we wanted to drink. We started small, with a homebrew shop, a love of American hops and plenty of passion. In the process, we changed the beer world forever. Decades later, we’re still at it, and the passion burns brighter than ever.

There’s a lot going on at Sierra Nevada. If you want to see it all, we’ll pull back the curtains for you. We’ve designed several tours whose durations and content vary, so one of them is bound to fulfill your curiosity—or try them all! Common among them is a dose of history that underscores our role as a craft beer pioneer. Depending on the adventure, you’ll get your hands on our ingredients, peer into brewhouse vessels, stroll beneath fermenters, overlook our packaging facility, and take in our sea of solar panels. If you’re over 21 years old, a guided beer tasting of new and limited release beers is in the cards, or sample brews fresh from the tank if you take our brand new Beer Geek Tour.

Choose your destiny. We can’t wait to show you around.

Our tours fill up quickly! We highly recommend making your reservations in advance. (Provided by brewery)

Location: 
Chico, California
Map: 
Tap Room Hours: 

Chico:
Sunday – Thursday
11:00am – 9:00pm

Friday – Saturday
11:00am – 10:00pm

Brewery Website: 
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

What They Brew...

  • Sierra Nevada Summerfest
    Czech Pilsner
    Looks:
    2.666665
    Smell:
    2.666665
    Taste:
    3
    Overall:
    2.666665

    Since their invention in the 1840s, Pilsener-style beers have become the world’s most popular style. With a nod toward the original Czech tradition, Summerfest is brewed to feature the best of...

  • Sierra Nevada Tumbler
    American Brown Ale
    Looks:
    4
    Smell:
    3.5
    Taste:
    3.5
    Overall:
    3

    Tumbler is our take on the classic brown ale – full of roasted malt flavor but delicate on the palate and perfect for crisp fall days. Layered with notes of chocolate and toasted bread and a hint...

  • Sierra Nevada Vienna
    Vienna Lager
    Looks:
    4
    Smell:
    3.5
    Taste:
    4
    Overall:
    4

    Vienna-style beers are among the world’s first light-colored lagers and were on the brink of extinction until American craft brewers helped revive the style; it’s a good thing they did. These...

  • Stout of the Union
    American Stout
    Looks:
    4
    Smell:
    3
    Taste:
    3
    Overall:
    3

    This stout hails from the land of sun, sand, and surf and proves that beach beer doesn’t have to be light colored and delicate. Stout of the Union is rich, roasty and full of deep malt flavor,...

  • There and Back
    English Bitter
    Looks:
    4
    Smell:
    5
    Taste:
    4
    Overall:
    4

    Brewed in collaboration with New Glarus Brewing Company, New Glarus, WI.

    For beer folks, Chico, CA, and New Glarus, WI, are must-see capitals on the U.S. brewing map, but getting between...

  • Torpedo Extra IPA
    American IPA
    Looks:
    3
    Smell:
    4
    Taste:
    4
    Overall:
    4

    Sierra Nevada and hops go hand in hand. What began as a crazy idea scribbled in a pub eventually became our newest year-round hop bomb, Torpedo Extra IPA. The first beer to feature our “Hop...

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