Pioneering brewers collaboratively brew 30-year celebration for Sierra Nevada Brewery

Pioneer brewers left to right: Charlie Papazian, Fritz Maytag, Ken Grossman, Fred Eckhardt and Jack McAuliffe
ready themselves to brew a series of collaborative beers to celebrate 30th Anniversary of Sierra Nevada
Brewing Company.  Image courtesy of Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company will celebrate its 30th anniversary this year and for the celebration there are some special beers about to be brewed.

Co-founder of Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Ken Grossman came up with the idea of celebrating their 30th anniversary with the help of both home craft and professional craft brewing by brewing collaborative beers with some of the craft beers pioneering brewers. 

Jack McAullife is considered the “original microbrewer” who inspired the American microbrewery movement.  Building the nation’s first microbrewery from the ground up in the mid 1970s.  New Albion Brewery in Sonoma, California did not succeed as a pioneer brewery, but Jack’s inspiration and legacy will forever live in the minds of those who know and respect his spirit.  Jack and Ken will brew an American-style barleywine   available in mid July 2010.

Fritz Maytag (Photo right by Charlie Papazian) is considered the godfather of American craft brewing scene.  In 1965 he bought and took over the struggling Anchor Brewing Company in San Francisco.  His passion and perseverance have since represented the defining traits of all successful pro and amateur craft brewers.  Fritz and Ken will brew a “Pioneers Stout” available in mid March 2010.

Fred Eckhardt was a pioneering hero for homebrewers beginning in the late 1960s and early 1970s.  He is a tireless better beer advocate, writer and author of several books on beer including the quintessential Treatise on Lager Beer.  He continues to be involved in the beer world from his home in Portland, Oregon.

Charlie Papazian (that’s me) is also included in the collaboration with Fred Eckhardt with a significant toast to homebrewers and what they helped achieve throughout America and the world.  My original edition of Complete Joy of Homebrewing  was a self published 76 page book in 1976.  The book has been revised four times and has provided a jumping off point for untold numbers of homebrewers.  I’ve always said “The nice thing about my book is that there are more homebrewer and I don’t simply have to drink my own homebrew all the time.”

Ken, Fred and Charlie will brew an Imperial Helles Lager available in mid May 2010.

The final beer in the four beer 30th Anniversary series will be “Our Brewers Reserve.” Check out the preceding link for details what it is and when it will be released.

Watch in introductory video featuring Ken Grosssman, Fritz Maytag, Jack McAuliffe, Fred Eckhardt and Charlie Papazian.