Sierra Nevada Brewing - Rain Check
It's no secret that Sierra Nevada recently opened their East Coast brewery just a few hours up the road from me in Mills River, NC. To celebrate the start of brewing in their new facility (as well as to poke fun as the ridiculous weather they dealt with during construction), they've released their Rain Check Spiced Stout in North Carolina and the surrounding states. For once, geography has been my friend, and I was able to pick up a 4-pack during a recent visit to The Charleston Beer Exchange downtown.
I've grown more fond of stouts over the past few months, so you could say I was excitedly curious to see what Sierra Nevada had crafted for such an occasion. I was not disappointed. It was extremely smooth, with nice chocolate notes and a very enjoyable, almost creamy, texture. It's brewed with both ginger and lime, and while I honestly couldn't pick out either specifically, there was nice spiciness on the finish. I found it to be much more drinkable that I expected, and I would be more than happy to have this beer on hand regularly.
The craft beer scene in and around Asheville continues to grow like wild, with Sierra Nevada just the latest addition to the area. I'm really hoping to get up there sometime this fall for a true beer tour, so stay tuned! Cheers!
Sierra Nevada Brewing