Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

QuakeAttack

California

4.3/5  rDev -2.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co has been on my bucket list for a long time. I have been drinking their beer for 25 years, but never found the chance to visit Chico and check out the brewery. When my second son wanted to check out CSU Chico, I scheduled a tour on a Friday afternoon.

The tour was a lot of fun. You get an introduction while having a taste of pale ale and checking out different types of malts. Afterwards, you go on a tour to check out the hops (get to smell them) and follow the complete process of making beer! In the end, they give you a sample of about eight different beers (varies depending on the time of year). We got to try barreled aged Big Foot. Awesome! The tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable.

Afterwards, we went to have dinner at the restaurant. Not sure if they take reservations, but if they do, get them. We had to wait an hour to get seated. The food was good and the atmosphere was laid back, but nice.

05-20-2013 21:44:32 | More by QuakeAttack

Rand_ale_Thor

Wisconsin

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.5 | $$$

One of the best in the country. After seeing a few more breweries, it is amazing to me the size of this place. I love that they have top-notch food, and they always have a good selection. I will have to go back now that my palate has changed. Worth the visit.

01-31-2013 17:34:32 | More by Rand_ale_Thor

VegasBill

Nevada

3.93/5  rDev -11.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | $$

So I finally made it to Chico and SN Brewing. I love the atmosphere in the Taproom, dark wood everywhere and this place is so so clean. I was let down with the tap selection, I thought there would be a lot that I had never seen actually there were only two. I tried the Torpedo to see how much different it tasted on tap and there was a big difference, much better. The menu looked boring to me so no food. This was a Monday and they were quite busy, I was sitting next to a local and we started chatting and he said they are busy all the time. I should back up, this is a really first class operation, covered parking with like a mesh cover and security in the lot, everywhere very clean and kept up, first class.
I did go to the gift shop and bought two bottles of the Brux, a collaboration of SN Brewing and Vinnie at Russian River. When I got home I read the reviews here on BA and they are not good. Maybe I will give one bottle as a gift to my worst friend.

12-16-2012 15:37:43 | More by VegasBill

SanFranJake

California

4.64/5  rDev +5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | $$

I love this place more and more every time we go to Chico.
Always been a SNBC fan and was lucky enough to marry a woman who was raised in Chico, so "going home for a few days" is NEVER a bad thing.
Great beer served in the proper glass, great prices, even for growlers and just as many distributed beers available on tap as there are brewery exclusives, so a win-win! Bigfoot is on-tap always too.
So while you can get the Pale, Celebration Ale and Torpedo on-tap, they also have a bunch of not released beers like Barrel Aged Ovila Dubbel (Quad also available but in bottle only), Bigfoot and other specials.
Good gift shop as well.

11-26-2012 22:20:39 | More by SanFranJake

drewone

California

4.58/5  rDev +3.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5 | $$$

Chico is not convenient to anywhere - but I had wanted to visit for a long time and am glad I finally did as it did not disappoint. As you turn off freeway and drive down 20th you can not miss it.

Arrived on wed before thanksgiving around 11:45 - was able to snag the last spots on the 1pm tour (you can sign up ahead of time - but they always reserve half the spots for walk - in. Around holidays tours seemed to fill up fast.

Went and ate in the restaurant while waiting - super attentive staff, friendly to kids, quick service. Ordered pretzels, ham and bean soup, goat cheese salad, fish and chips, chicken curry (a special). All were very good, medium price. Also did 2 tater flights - $3 for 4 2oz tasters. As me and my wife were splitting 2 of them wish the size was a little bigger. Ideally in retrospect would have done tour than ate, but ended up not doubling up on many of the beers. Most all beers are all available as taster, half pints, pints or growler fills.

If you've trekked up here you better do the tour - and as it's free and they start you off first thing with a glass of SNPA you can't go wrong. Last about 1.5 hrs - highlights for me were the hop room and the packaging line. Ends in a tasting room where you get to try another 8 or so beers. Very awesome - guide was enthusiastic and knowledgeable.

No k ids under 12 allowed on tour - although there is a short self guided tour open to any one.

11-22-2012 07:22:42 | More by drewone

excalibur

Kentucky

4.33/5  rDev -2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

This is quite a place. Beautiful copper everywhere, hugh fermenation silos, impressively landscaped, solar panels covering the large parking lot and even an electric charging station for your car.

It wasn't too crowded for our late lunch in the fall, but there were still a number of people eating and enjoying the beer. And there is plenty to choose from, at least 15-20. We took a tour and it was great. It was a pleasure to see the creatitivity, cleanliness and attention to detail everywhere. I was very impressed, especially since I prefer supporting the smaller breweries. Sierra Nevada is the largest craft brewer in the US and is getting ready to open another brewery near Ashville, NC. But this place is excellent with plenty of beer styles to choose from and I will continue to buy them.

If you are near Chico you must visit this place. Not only is the beer excellent but so is the food. This is a quality brewery.

11-07-2012 19:53:34 | More by excalibur

DrunkenMonk

California

4.28/5  rDev -3.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

Been here a couple times as I frequent the area visiting famiy. Plus I graduated from Chico State. Chiii Coooo!!

This place is top knotch. The dining room is huge with lots of room at the tables, plus a big bar. More restaurant than brewpub.

Great food, excellent beer. My fave is pale ale. And it pairs well with many of their dishes, like the sandwhich I ate.

The gift shop had the usual stuff, but it was set up as its own store away from the restaurant. The external windows on the brewery showcases the huge shiny copper tanks, which you can see as you drive by.

The garden at the adjacent corner lot is one of their garden/hops fields. And you can park right next to it.

07-22-2012 06:27:44 | More by DrunkenMonk

Zorro

California

4.3/5  rDev -2.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

I do not often get much farther north in California than San Jose. This last weekend I traveled to Redding California to view the Solar eclipse of May 20, 2012.

I had enough time to dash to Chico for lunch and get back with plenty of extra time.

First thing you notice the thing is very big! The brewery is attached to the gift shop and the restaurant and bar.

Parking is problematic, I ended up parking behind the place.

About 2 groups waiting for tables in the restaurant, but I was solo so I just headed for the bar. Inside is all copper and wood and very well maintained, no small thing with copper.

I had the Calamari and fries, technically an appetizer, but for $10 you get a pretty damn big plate calamari and fries. I almost couldn't finish the squid. The fries are of the fresh made variety, nothing from frozen.

Beer prices are VERY low for a brewery like $5 for a snifter of knock on wood and $2.50 for a 1/2 pint Best Bitter.

Service was reasonable for a very busy Sunday.

Checked out the bathroom and they have copper sinks and brass fixtures in there, very different.

I did not get to take the brewery tour they were sold out of all tours before 10:30 AM, plan ahead and get a reservation.

Clean and neat gift shop selling their beers and misc associated items.

Not much to complain about at all, but I do have two annoyances. Brewery tours were sold out and the Parking is problematic, it is a busy place.

I plan to return sometime.

If you are within about 120 miles with a car and have the time to make the detour this is worthwhile destination.

05-22-2012 03:21:43 | More by Zorro

arizcards

Arizona

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

Visited here earlier today. Made the 2.5 hour trek up from Napa. Figured it was time to pay homage to one of the biggest most consistent craft brewers in the world. My perspective is from the brewery tour Da Boss and i took as well as dining in the restaurant after the tour.

Atmosphere in the pub was very comfortable. Long bar area with seating for maybe 20 plus room to stand behind as needed.

Quality of the beers was quite good, you cannot beat fresh hops at the source. The tour was very imformative and definitely one of the top three i have experienced.

Service was very good on the tour and at the restaurant. John our tour guide was very enthusiastic and knowledgable for the hour plus tour and tasting. Jimi-Lynn our restaurant server was very sweet, kind, and timely on a early Monday afternoon.

Selection of brews was very good. I think there were 15 SN brews on tap and 4 bottles available for purchase including SN 30th anniversary brews. I enjoyed the flip side double ipa weighing in at 8.2 abv and about 90 ibu - very fresh and tasty.

Food was very tasty, I believe that the beef and veggies are grown on the SN estate. Da Boss and i split a bleu onion burger and a porter goat cheese salad - all very fresh and tasty.

Overall is was an execellent experience and a very reasonable day cost wise with the tour and lunch. Got to sample a Wee Heavy brew and purchase a bottle in the gift shop. Great place to visit if you happen to get in this remote neck of Cali!

03-27-2012 01:14:37 | More by arizcards

marshrat63

California

4.58/5  rDev +3.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

I don't know why it took me so many years to get here but I can safely say it won't be long before I return. Didn't get a chance to do the tour but will be back for it next time. Food was very good although we were there during the late afternoon when they have a shortened menu during the 3-5 pm period. The beer quality was excellent as expected.

The atmosphere is very warm with lots of wood. Though it was crowded the noise level was acceptable for conversation.

This is a first class operation.

01-07-2012 07:46:35 | More by marshrat63