Sierra Nevada Adding Friends Of The Family Barrel-Aged IPA Collaboration

This morning, I have a new collaboration beer coming soon from Sierra Nevada Brewing in Chico, California, and Mills River, North Carolina. This is Friends Of The Family Barrel-Aged IPA, and it will be brewed in collaboration with St. George Spirits. This beer is actually a St.George Whiskey barrel-aged version of Ruthless Rye, and it will roll in at 9.8%-AbV. This beer will be packaged in 16.9oz bottles, and stay tuned for release details.

This 24 Nov 2025 update from Sierra Nevada:

Barrel-Aged Ruthless Rye IPA
A Friends of the Family Exclusive
Our friendship with St. George Spirits goes back 30 years, beginning when we provided the first wash—a base liquid used in distilling—for their whiskey program. Back then, we were both trailblazers in our respective industries and were excited about the chance to collaborate.
 
“I think they’re some of the most talented and creative distillers in the world,” said our owner, Ken Grossman. A friendship soon formed between our two companies, and many years of washes and bottles later, St. George distilled a whiskey from our Ruthless Rye IPA.
 
Now, the story comes full circle with Barrel-Aged Ruthless Rye IPA—the first release of our Friends of the Family program, exclusively available to club members.
JOIN THE CLUB
We aged our Ruthless Rye IPA in those same Ruthless whiskey barrels, giving the beer a depth of flavor only possible through years of patience. It’s rich with notes of orange peel, vanilla-oak, and caramel, flavors that become more complex and nuanced with time—a true celebration of lasting friendship.
 
“In the 30 years that I’ve had the pleasure to work with Ken and the team at Sierra Nevada, my respect and admiration have only grown,” said St. George Master Distiller Lance Winters. “To whoever said, ‘Never meet your heroes,’ I say get better heroes.”
 
Want to experience this beer and others like it?
BECOME A MEMBER
Friends of the Family is pick-up only, no shipping. You (or a proxy) pick up each release at our Chico, CA, or Mills River, NC brewery.

This 22 Jan 2026 update from Sierra Nevada:

Some friendships only get better with time.

Our relationship with St. George Spirits began 30 years ago, rooted in shared values, mutual respect, and a love for craft. Today, that friendship comes full circle with Barrel-Aged Ruthless Rye IPA, a limited collaboration created exclusively for Friends of the Family.

This beer is a natural evolution of a decades-long partnership, a celebration of craftsmanship, collaboration, and the people who feel like family along the way. Cheers to friendships that stand the test of time

zzubreebym

About Sierra Nevada Brewing:

Our founder, Ken Grossman, made a habit of chasing curiosity. His early years of backyard tinkering and covert science projects set the stage for the ultimate discovery: homebrewing.
 
Fascinated by the alchemy of fermentation, Ken opened The Home Brew Shop in Chico, slowly playing with more hop-forward flavors at a time when American beer wasn’t known for taking chances.  

When he finally started a brewery, Ken scoured salvage yards and defunct dairies to find the tanks, pipes, and valves he needed to hand-build Sierra Nevada’s original brewhouse.
 
On November 15, 1980, he put his first batch of craft beer to the test. That heady stout was a 13-hour labor of love, and after one sip, he knew he had a keeper. The Pale Ale that followed sparked a true craft beer revolution. The adventure’s never stopped, and our curiosity’s still brewing.

We brew and do business like the planet’s future depends on it. We’re committed to operating sustainably, from slashing our environmental impact and producing alternative energy to farming onsite with regenerative agriculture.

Visit
Mills River, NC100 Sierra Nevada Way, Mills River, NC 287321 (828) 681-5300
Chico, CA1075 East 20th Street, Chico, CA 959281 (530) 893-3520

Inspired by frequent trips to the Sierra Nevada Mountain range, Ken Grossman founded Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. in 1980 and it remains family-owned and operated. Highly regarded for using only the finest quality ingredients, Sierra Nevada has set the standard for craft brewers worldwide with innovations in the brewhouse and in its sustainability efforts. The pioneering spirit that launched Sierra Nevada now spans both coasts with breweries in Chico, California and Mills River, North Carolina. Sierra Nevada is famous for its extensive line of beers including Pale Ale, Hazy Little Thing®, Torpedo® and a host of seasonal, specialty and limited release beers. Learn more at www.sierranevada.com.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is a craft brewery in Chico, California that was founded in 1980 by Ken Grossman and Paul Camusi. It’s the longest-running craft startup in the United States.

Features
Known for: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, which is the best-selling craft beer in the country
Other beers: Bigfoot, Celebration Ale, and Resilience Butte County Proud IPA
Brewing techniques: Uses premium ingredients and time-honored brewing techniques
Environmental initiatives: Pioneering new environmental initiatives


History
The original brewhouse was hand-built by Grossman
Grossman found tanks, pipes, and valves for the brewery at salvage yards and defunct dairies.

The name comes from Grossman’s love of hiking in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is a highly influential and popular craft brewery in the United States, founded in 1979 by Ken Grossman and Paul Camusi. They are known for their quality, integrity, and commitment to sustainability. Sierra Nevada is a family business, with Ken Grossman still involved in the brewery’s operations. They have a flagship beer, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, which is a top-selling craft brand.

Founding and Early Years:

Sierra Nevada started as a homebrewing passion for Ken Grossman, who eventually opened a homebrew shop and then founded the brewery. He hand-built his first brewhouse, utilizing salvaged equipment.

Growth and Expansion:The brewery grew rapidly, expanding its production and opening a second location in Mills River, North Carolina in 2014.


Focus on Quality and Sustainability:

Sierra Nevada emphasizes quality in its brewing process, using premium ingredients and time-honored techniques. They are also known for their commitment to sustainability, having earned the “Green Business of the Year” award from the EPA.

Key Products: Besides their flagship Pale Ale, Sierra Nevada produces a wide range of beers, including Torpedo Extra IPA, Kellerweis, and various seasonal and limited-release brews.

Impact and Influence:Sierra Nevada is considered one of the earliest and most influential American craft breweries, playing a significant role in the craft beer movement.

Community and Philanthropy:Sierra Nevada is involved in community outreach and has partnerships with organizations like the National Park Foundation.

Visit and Experience:Sierra Nevada has a taproom and restaurant in Chico, California, where visitors can sample their beers and enjoy farm-to-table fare. They also have a live music venue and offer brewery tours.