All Sierra Nevada beer is dated when it is packaged. This package date is printed on the exterior of our cans, bottles, packaging and kegs.
For most of our beers, including Pale Ale and the rest of our year-round and seasonal lineup, 150 days is our maximum recommended shelf life, assuming they’ve had optimal storage conditions (cool, dark, and dry). Certain specialty beers (e.g., Northern Hemisphere Harvest) have a shorter 100-day window. Some styles of beer, though, improve with a bit of age—not unlike a fine wine. Prime candidates include beers that are high in alcohol (e.g. Bigfoot Barleywine) and those with a moderate amount of roasted grains (e.g. Narwhal Imperial Stout). Their flavors will evolve in intriguing ways over time.
Use our Beer Finder to find retailers in your area who have our beer.
Unfortunately, we are not able to ship beer directly to consumers. Please use our beer locator to find a retailer in your area.
In the United States, we have distribution in all states. We also have limited distribution in the following locations: Australia, Brazil, Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario), Chile, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Norway, Puerto Rico, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates (UAE),United Kingdom, Virgin Islands, and on several cruise lines. Use our Beer Finder to find retailers in your area who have our beer.
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. uses the highest quality and most natural brewing ingredients while utilizing the very best brewing practices. This allows us to create ales and lagers with superior flavor, aroma, balance, and character. As a traditional brewer, Sierra Nevada currently uses water, malt, hops, and yeast for every brew. We will also use malted wheat and rye, oats, various fruit and more for some of our beers. If used, these ingredients are listed for each beer page online here.
Yes. We require that all of our ingredients used for our regular production beers are Non-GMO.
We brew with a variety of grains including barley, wheat and rye, all of which contain small amounts of naturally occurring gluten. The brewing process does notably reduce gluten levels, but the final beers don’t reach gluten-free status.
Please check out our individual beer pages here, or see the full nutrition list.
Please fill out our contact form and let us know specifically what you’re after.
The sediment evident in the bottom of a bottle of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and other naturally conditioned beers is the yeast we use for bottle conditioning. Typically, the yeast lies tight and flat to the bottom of the bottle. As the beer is poured, the yeast will re-suspend making the beer’s appearance cloudy or slightly particulate, but this will not adversely affect beer flavor. If bottles are stored improperly (e.g. upside down or on their side) the yeast may resettle into what looks like a drop of pancake batter or vanilla ice cream and will be more apparent, but it will still not affect the finished flavor of the beer.
Bottle conditioning is a time-honored method for naturally carbonating beer. We dose back a small amount of fermentable sugar and yeast into the beer right before we package it. This fermentation creates the finished carbonation and flavors unique to our beer.
We bottle condition our original five beers: Pale Ale, Porter, Stout, Celebration Ale, and Bigfoot. We also can condition our Pale Ale.
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. complies with California’s Proposition 65 as it relates to BPA regulations and notification. Beer packaged in bottles, Keg’s and Growlers do not, and have not contained BPA in their packaging materials. All canned beer produced after November 15, 2017 (16 oz. Sidecar packaged after December 20th 2017) is and will continue to be fully compliant with the same Prop 65 regulations regarding the exclusion of BPA.
Yes, for your safety and as a health precaution, some tours require closed-toe shoes since we’re moving in and out of production spaces. Please check the Chico Tours or Mills River Tours descriptions or give us a call for more details.
We have a few outdoor spots in Mills River where well-behaved dogs can tag along. The open-air spaces we call the Back Porch, Upper Park, and Lower Park all welcome canine friends. (We use our discretion to close these areas if weather is inclement.) We just ask that you keep your pup on a leash to avoid any surprise tiffs between dogs. We also want to respect guests who might not be dog fanatics.
When it comes to dogs indoors, we’re limited to ADA service animals due to the nature, size, and shape of our facilities. ADA service animals must either be trained or in training to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. We can’t allow other dogs, pets or animals indoors, including those whose function is to provide comfort, emotional support, companionship, or therapy.
ADA service animals must be under control of the handler at all times while visiting the brewery, and please note additional Brewery Tour policies for ADA service animals.
We have one outdoor spot at our Chico brewery called The Hop Yard where well-behaved dogs can tag along. The Hop Yard is open seasonally in the spring and summer. (We use our discretion to close The Hop Yard if weather is dangerously hot or inclement.) We just ask that you keep your pup on a leash to avoid any surprise tiffs between dogs. We also want to respect guests who might not be dog fanatics.
When it comes to dogs or other animals indoors—and this includes our Taproom patio—we’re limited to ADA service animals due to the nature, size, and shape of our facilities. ADA service animals must either be trained or in training to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. We can’t allow other dogs, pets or animals indoors, including those whose function is to provide comfort, emotional support, companionship, or therapy.
ADA service animals must be under control of the handler at all times while visiting the brewery, and please note additional Brewery Tour policies for ADA service animals.
Our guided brewery tours weave in and out of production spaces, so as a safety and health precaution, we’re unable to host dogs or other animals.
If you plan on visiting with an ADA service animal, please contact us before your visit so we can arrange your tour. ADA service animals are also welcome on our self-guided tours, which you can take at your own pace.
ADA service animals must either be trained or in training to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. We can’t allow other dogs, pets or animals indoors, including those whose function is to provide comfort, emotional support, companionship, or therapy. ADA service animals must be under control of the handler at all times while visiting the brewery.
No, we don’t host weddings in our brewery venues.
There’s a lot going on at Sierra Nevada—artisan food, brewery tours, live music, and more. Check out our Locations page to plan your visit.
Yes, when space is available, during normal business hours.
We host select private events in our Big Room as we’re able. Give us a call to see what’s available.
We host private events in our High Gravity venue, and we have a private dining space in our Taproom. Email our on-site events manager to see what’s available at TaproomEventsNC@sierranevada.com.
Yes, we are. Feel free to bring the family. Note that all of our Guided Brewery Tours in Chico and Mills River, have a minimum age, either 12+ or 21+. Please check the tour descriptions or give us a call for more details.
Yes, visit our Gift Shop page for directions to purchase gift cards.
Head to our Gift Shop page where we detail how to make an exchange with us.
Our self-guided tour doesn’t require a reservation. Our other Brewery Tours do require reservations. Visit our Brewery Tours page for details and booking directions.
No, our self-guided tour doesn’t require a reservation. Our other Guided Brewery Tours do require reservations. Visit our Chico Brewery Tours or Mills River Brewery Tours pages for details about the self-guided tour or to book a guided tour.
Yes, if you’re on a guided tour, we do require closed-toed shoes since we’re moving in and out of production spaces. It’s for your safety and it’s a health precaution.
Yes, send an email to our Tour Coordinator at MillsRiverPrivateTours@sierranevada.com to see what is available.
Most of our guided tours require participants to be at least 12 years old, while several tours are 21+. (You have to be 21+ to do any beer tasting.) Please visit our Brewery Tours page to explore tour options and check age requirements.
There are no age restrictions for our self-guided tours.
Yes! Here’s your link to our Gift Shop page.
Visit our Big Room page to see what bands are on the books.
We have free live music each Saturday and Sunday. Visit our Events page to see who’s performing and to check out other special events.
We don’t have gluten-free options in our current beer lineup.
Use our Beer Locator to search your nearby stores. Keep in mind this tool shows what’s been shipped, but it’s still best to call your favorite shop before making the trip.
Check out our Release Calendar.
Most every beer we include in a variety pack is designed to only be part of that sampler. Now, we do usually include one staple Sierra Nevada beer in our variety packs (e.g. Pale Ale) which you can find by itself.
We’re about a 30-minute drive from downtown Asheville (13 miles). From Asheville Regional Airport, we’re a quick 10-minute drive.
We have a nature trail that leads to the French Broad River. When river access is open, you can stroll with your beer. We also have a trail in the front of the brewery that winds through the forested front yard, but beer’s not allowed out front.
We open river access on the weekends between April-October, weather permitting.
Our French Broad River access is dependent on whether Lower Park is open. If it’s closed, you’ll have to hang out elsewhere on the brewery grounds. Lower Park is open seasonally on weekends (roughly April-October). If you want to double-check Lower Park hours, head to our Contact page to give us a call.
We’re about a 25-minute drive from the Biltmore Estate (14 miles).
Please review the Big Room event descriptions to confirm whether shows have age restrictions.
No, we sell meal tickets seperately. Please visit our Big Room page to be sure you purchase the ticket(s) you’d like.
Our packaging line typically runs Monday-Thursday. You can use our enclosed catwalk to get a bird’s-eye view of the action.
We’re unable to sell kegs directly to customers.
We have a different food menu on the Back Porch. We’re limited by our outdoor kitchen size and the volume of visitors, so we customize the outdoor menu to offer variety without sacrificing speed of service.
Dogs are the only type of animal we can host in the open-air spaces we call the Back Porch, Upper Park, and Lower Park. We just ask that you keep your pup on a leash to avoid any surprise tiffs between dogs. We also want to respect guests who might not be dog fanatics.
When it comes to dogs or other animals indoors, we’re limited to ADA service animals due to the nature, size, and shape of our facilities. ADA service animals must either be trained or in training to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. We can’t allow other dogs, pets or animals indoors, including those whose function is to provide comfort, emotional support, companionship, or therapy.
ADA service animals must be under control of the handler at all times while visiting the brewery, and please note additional Brewery Tour policies for ADA service animals.
Yes, several nearby hotels offer shuttles. Please contact them directly to confirm those services.
Yes, please head to our Contact page where you’ll find information about donations.
Here are several options for hotels in Chico, CA.
Here are several options for hotels in Mills River, NC.
No, we don’t have TVs in our Taprooms.
If you’re interested in hosting a private event in the Big Room, please email onsiteevents@sierranevada.com to learn more.
We host private events in our High Gravity venue, and we have a private dining space in our Taproom. Send our on-site events manager an email at TaproomEventsNC@sierranevada.com to see what is available.
No liquor or outside beer is allowed, but you may bring wine or champagne, and we charge a $15 corkage fee.
No, we don’t take reservations, but we do appreciate when large groups call ahead to help us plan for space.
No, we don’t take reservations, even for larger parties. If you’re on the wait list, you can check out our Gift Shop or take our self-guided brewery tour. We’ll buzz or text you when your table is ready. Give the Taproom a call to ask about wait times: 828-708-6242
We don’t have a full bar at the Chico Taproom, but along with a big selection of beer, we also have a few wines on our menu.
We don’t have a full bar at the Mills River Taproom, but along with a big selection of beer, we also have a few wines on our menu.
No, we only serve our own beer at the Torpedo Room.
On rare occasions we have cider on tap. Visit our Taproom page to see the tap list in real time.
We don’t currently have cider on our tap list.
We don’t currently have cider on our tap list.
No liquor or outside beer is allowed, but you may bring wine or champagne, and we charge a $15 corkage fee.
No, We don’t allow any outside alcohol on the brewery grounds.
No, we don’t allow any outside alcohol at the Torpedo Room.
We only allow takeout from our Taproom.
We take reservations at the Chico Taproom Monday-Thursday for parties of 8-16 guests. (Certain times and dates may be unavailable.) Give us a call to make your reservation: 530-345-2739.
Outside food is limited to takeout from the Back Porch menu or the Lower Park menu.
Our Lower Park space alongside the French Broad River is open seasonally on weekends (roughly April-October). If you want to double-check Lower Park hours, head to our Contact page to give us a call.
We update our menu in real time on the Taproom page.
Please visit our Chico Brewery Tours and Mills River Brewery Tours pages to see the range of tours we offer—different topics, lengths, and beer samplings.
Please visit our Chico Brewery Tours and Mills River Brewery Tours pages for times and online booking directions.
Please visit our Brewery Tours page to see which tours have openings and to book your spot.
Yes, depending on availability. Please visit our Brewery Tours page to see which tours have openings and to book your spot. You can also call the Brewery Tours team directly at 828-708-6176.
We include educational tastings in many of our Chico and Mills River Brewery Tours. You can always visit our Chico or Mills River Taprooms for a flight, where we have lots of beers on tap.
No, you don’t need tickets to spend time at the brewery. We have a self-guided tour or you can book an in-depth Brewery Tours led by our team. If you just want to kick back with a pint, head to our Taproom.
No, you don’t need tickets to spend time at the brewery. We have a self-guided tour or you can book an in-depth Brewery Tours led by our team. If you just want to kick back with a pint, head to our Taproom.
Yes, but we aren’t able to store it because of health codes.
Yes, bring that cake to celebrate. Note that we cannot store your cake due to restaurant health codes.
We like your enthusiasm, but you have to physically be at our Taproom to get on the waiting list.
We update our menu in real time on the Taproom page.
We update our menu in real time on the Torpedo Room page.
We’re limited by our outdoor kitchen size and the volume of visitors on our Back Porch. We customize the outdoor menu to offer a variety without sacrificing speed of service.
We do have ways to modify our menu items so they’re gluten-reduced, so please chat with your server to learn what’s possible.
We do have ways to modify our menu items so they’re gluten-reduced, so please chat with your server to learn what’s possible.
Yes, we do. Check out our Taproom menu online or chat with your server about our vegan and vegetarian options.
We do have ways to modify our menu items so they’re vegetarian or vegan, so please chat with your server to learn what’s possible.
Yes, it’s an all-day menu, but be sure to ask your server if we have any specials for the day.
Yes, a flight on our patio is a great idea.
You can order one at our main bar, or in High Gravity when it’s open, and take it outside.
Yes, a flight on our patio is a great idea. Order at the bar, then head outside.