Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in Chico, California

Happy American Craft Beer Week everyone! Here at BarBEERians, we are going to kick it off with a very special brew by some very special people: Fritz Maytag and and Ken Grossman. For their 30th anniversary, Sierra Nevada is brewing four special collaboration beers with the fathers of the modern american craft brewing scene. Fritz and Ken’s Ale is a dark, robust stout brewed in tribute to the dark ales that originally seduced its creators. This brew may be the one that seduces me into darker ales! It was absolutely delicious and  I plan on getting another one to keep around and age, maybe two.

I would recommend drinking this one with a few friends as it is fairly potent at 9.2%, and quite heavy. The stout poured a motor oil black, with a thick mocha head that lingered well into the end of the glass.  Heavy with roasted chocolate, hints of coffee, and an earthy burnt peat, the aroma rising from the glass was alluring, but couldn’t possibly prepare me for what was to come. Fritz and Ken’s creation had a monster body, but was smooth like liquid silk. It started off with a roasted nutty/coffee flavor that became a bittersweet chocolate finish. It also pack a bit of heat, but not quite as much as you would expect from a 9.2% brew. As the stout warmed, the flavor profile explodes, demonstrating the richness of the brew.

This year will  be the only time to get the Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary, and I’m guessing this particular brew, being the first in the series, is flying off the shelves and will not be available much longer. If stouts are your beer, Fritz and Ken’s Ale is a must, and I would suggest getting more than one bottle, as it should age incredibly well. If you have been thinking of branching out from ambers and lagers or even IPA’s this may not be the best place to start as it is an intense beer. Although that may be just what it takes to show the promise the darker ales hold. I can’t wait to see the other beers we’ll see out of this series!