2016 BEER CAMP ACROSS AMERICA

In 2008, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. launched Beer Camp and invited brewers and bar owners to its brewery in Chico for a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration experience. The result was an exceptional Imperial Pilsner, and the rest, as they say, is history. In 2014, Beer Camp took to the road—finally!—with a travelling tour of beer festivals and a half-case variety pack with collaborations from all over the country. In 2016, Boston is the regional host for the festival, and come June 18, there will be 150+ beers from California to Delaware rolling into City Hall Plaza to celebrate yet another hoppy campfire. Yeah beer!

I’m not a fan of variety packs in general but I was intrigued by the idea of tying in regional collaboration beers as part of the festivals, so I grabbed the last 12 pack at my local beer shop and was told, “That’s it. They only gave me four of those.” I became a little more intrigued after that, and I’m glad I did. All of these beers are fantastic. If you can still find a Beer Camp Variety Pack, pick it up and make special note of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic collaboration Pat-Rye-Ot Revolutionary Pale Ale. My thoughts on all of them below.

STOUT OF THE UNION Robust Stout, 7.3% abv; Collaborators: Bagby Beer Co., Beachwood Brewing, Port Brewing Co./The Lost Abbey, Smog City Brewing Co.

A malty, sweet, drinkable flavor. It tastes clean and far less than the stated abv, which makes this super smooth and creamy stout a nice pour. This should be year-round.

WEST LATITUDE Session Rye, 5.5% abv; Collaborators: Bear Republic Brewing Co., Faction Brewing Co., Mad River Brewing Co., Magnolia Brewing Co., Maui Brewing Co.

4.5% is my cap for a session beer, but this is very easy to drink and not a big beer. The hibiscus is tucked into the fruity tang but barely noticeable. Good, not great.

MOXEE-MORON Imperial Session IPA, 7.5% abv; Collaborators: Bale Breaker Brewing Co., Barley Brown’s Beer, Black Raven Brewing Co., Melvin Brewing, Odell Brewing Co.

This is a very interesting beer. It’s not the hop bomb they allude to and the ironic twist in the name is weird. But it’s a hoppy, not session beer, imperial that works. Love it.

FAMILY VALUES Imperial Brown Ale, 8.5% abv; Collaborators: August Schell Brewing Co., Dark Horse Brewing Co., Half Acre Beer Co., Perennial Artisan Ales, Sin King Brewing

Minnesota rice, Indiana honey, Missouri oats, Michigan hops, and cocoa nibs from Illinois? I’m not a brown ale guy, but this was a fantastic beer. Sweet, malty, big.

SWEET SUNNY SOUTH Table Beer, 4.9% abv; Collaborators: Austin Beerworks, Bayou Teche Brewing, Creature Comforts Brewing Co., Funky Buddha Brewery, Wicked Weed Brewing

Oh so good. I love the sweet tea hints in this. Table beers are underappreciated—light and easy to drink, they become forgotten. Not here. Hands down my favorite of the bunch.

PAT-RYE-OT Revolutionary Pale Ale, 5.6% abv; Collaborators: Devils Backbone Brewing Co., Dogfish Head Craft Brewing, Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Stoudts Brewing Co., Trillium Brewing Co.

This is “our” regional collaboration, and there’s a lot going on. Milky, wheaty body and finish make it a nice ale. A super tasty beer that would be perfect for a summer clambake. Need more please!

BEER CAMP ACROSS AMERICA. 6.18. CITY HALL PLAZA, BOSTON. 1PM/21+/$50. BEERCAMP.SIERRANEVADA.COM