By Herr Mike
The first “Beer Camp” was released in 2014 and featured 12 different brewery collaborations with Sierra Nevada. Nothing on this scale had never been done before so it was pretty cool and the variety pack gave the consumer a chance to try 12 different and unique brews, some good and some duds.
Fast forward to 2016 and another “Beer Camp” variety pack hits the stores (Don’t know why they didn’t produce one in 2015) and another chance to try more collaborations with some of the country’s best breweries.
Now there are 31 breweries involved but only six unique beers are in the variety pack (2 of each beer).
Here is the list of collaboration breweries:
Norcal
Bear Republic Brewing (leader)
Maui Brewing
Faction Brewing
Magnolia Brewing
Mad River Brewing
Southwest
Beachwood BBQ & Brewing (leader)
Port Brewing/The Lost Abbey
Bagby Beer
Societe Brewing
Smog City Brewing
Pacific Northwest and Rockies
Bale Breaker Brewing (leader)
Barley Brown’s Beer
Melvin Brewing
Black Raven Brewing
Odell Brewing
Midwest
August Schell Brewing (leader)
Dark Horse Brewing
Sun King Brewery
Perennial Artisan Ales
Half Acre Beer
Northeast and Mid-Atlantic
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (leader)
Devils Backbone Brewing
Lawson’s Finest Liquids
Stoudts Brewing
Trillium Brewing
Southeast
Funky Buddha Brewery (leader)
Wicked Weed Brewing
Austin Beerworks
Bayou Teche Brewing
Creature Comforts Brewing
Kind of a bummer for me because I like to try as many different beers as I can get my hands on and if I wasn’t crazy for some of the styles (which there were some) I would be stuck with an extra of those beers.
I don’t understand why you need five or six different breweries to brew one beer, but whatever. Sierra Nevada is also doing beer festivals in 6 different cities which you can check out here : Beer Camp Across America festival
So I picked up the 2016 “Beer Camp” variety pack and gave each beer a review. I normally post all my reviews on the Planet Beer Beer Reviews website but I decided to do all six beers in one post.
So here is my reviews of the 2016 “Beer Camp” variety pack. I just listed them in the order they were printed on the box. The ratings are 1-10.
1- NorCal/Hawaii: West Latitude Session Rye
Style: Rye Beer ABV: 5.5% Overall Score: 8.2
Deep copper color. Nose was floral with some rye. Some pine and caramel up front with spicy rye and toasted malts kicking in about midway with a slight cocoa finish. Body was medium with medium carbonation.
2- Southwest: Stout of the Union Robust Stout
Style: Stout ABV: 7.3% Overall Score: 7.9
Ebony color. Coffee and cocoa on the nose. Burnt coffee, bitter chocolate and burnt toast with a slight tobacco finish. Body was medium with medium carbonation.
3- PNW/Rockies region: Moxee-Moron Imperial Session IPA
Style: Double?Imperial IPA ABV: 7.5% Overall Score: 8.4
Medium gold color. Nose was citrus and floral. Tropical fruit with some pine coming through at the end. Mouthfeel was medium dry with medium carbonation.
4- Family Values Imperial Brown Ale
Style: Brown Ale ABV: 8.5% Overall Score: 8.3
Dark brown color. Chocolate on the nose. Chocolate and vanilla up front with some nuts with a slight herbal aftertaste. Body was silky with medium carbonation.
5- NE/Mid-Atlantic: Pat-Rye-Ot Revolutionary Pale Ale
Style: Pale Ale ABV: 5.6% Overall Score: 8
Hazy pale golden color. Citrus, some grass and a slight herbal scent. Up front is citrus, pine, apple and a spicy rye finish. Body was medium with medium carbonation.
6- Southeast: Sweet Sunny South Southern Table Beer
Style: Saison ABV: 4.9% Overall Score: 8
Hazy straw color. Starts fruity and herbal with some corn and a slight tangy and peppery finish. Body was grainy with medium carbonation.
So there you have it. Is it worth the hefty price tag? (I’ve seen it in some stores at over $35) It is a one and done variety pack so once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Make sure to check out the hundreds of beer reviews done by Herr Mike here!