Visited: December 29, 1994

Opened: 1981

Annual Production: 500,000 bbl

Contributors: Diane Crawford, Justin Ainsworth

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. Chico's out in the middle of nowhere, but if you don't make the day trip from the San Francisco Bay area out to Sierra Nevada, you lose. Outstanding beers in the bottle...just wait until you have them brewery-fresh! Be advised they're closed Mondays; fortunately, I stopped by on a Sunday morning during my Beer Odyssey.

Directions: Highway 99 into Chico. (If you're on I-5, use Highway 32 to cut over to Highway 99, then head south.) Exit at 20th Street, go west. Sierra Nevada is a couple of blocks along on the left.

Updated: June 22, 2010

• 2010-06-02: Charlie, Fred and Ken’s Imperial Helles Bock released by Sierra Nevada (Examiner.com)
• 2010-05-16: Sierra Nevada unveils plans for beer camp this September (New Jersey Newsroom)
• 2010-01-21: Sierra Nevada at 30: Brewery to honor roots, pioneers (New Jersey Newsroom)
• 2009-12-15: Sierra Nevada celebrates 30th anniversary with a tribute (Beverage Industry)
• 2009-11-01: Sierra Nevada Brewing takes top sustainability honor (Food Engineering)
• 2009-09-01: An interest in shrinking the plant’s carbon footprint and a good neighbor attitude... (Food Engineering Magazine)
• 2009-08-17: Ballard on Beer: Sierra Nevada's Kellerweis (Charleston City Paper)
• 2009-06-22: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co does its part (Mother Nature Network)
• 2009-03-06: Sierra Nevada Introduces Kellerweis As Newest Year-Round Beer (BeerAdvocate)
• 2009-02-03: Sierra Nevada to turn beer yeast into fuel (Sacramento Business Journal)
• 2008-12-29: Sierra hops on recycling: Treated industrial water will be used to make more beer (Chico Enterprise-Record)
• 2008-10-23: New Glass Promises To Improve Beer Drinking (KHSL)

• 30th Anniversary Charlie, Fred and Ken’s Imperial Helles Bock
  German-Style Heller Bock/Maibock
  8.30% abv.
  • Date: June 22, 2010 (#8263)
    Package: bottled
    Place: Brix, Omaha NE
    Score: 19½ points
    Appearance (3)
    Bright amber. Big thick head.
    Aroma (3½)
    Loads of sweet malt and fruity esters.
    Mouthfeel (10)
    Big and chewy. Nicely malty with a mild grassy hop flavor. Mildly fruity. Some sulfur. Warming late.
    Overall Impression (3)
    Good beer, although I don't think the "Imperial" adjective is necessary.