Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. has officially launched the 2024 release of Celebration Fresh Hop IPA. The fan-favorite beer is all about celebrating the hop harvest season and showcases the intensely aromatic and flavorful characteristics of freshly harvested hops. It is available starting mid-October through December, or while supplies last.

“Freshly harvested hops have an unbeatable depth of aroma and flavor and that’s part of what makes Celebration so special,” said Brian Grossman, Chief Brewer and second-generation brewery owner at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. “It starts at the hop farms each year when members of the brewing team make the trek to the Pacific Northwest to hand-select lots of whole-cone Cascade, Centennial and Chinook. The select lots are then expedited to the brewery to begin brewing Celebration as soon as possible. It’s important to capture the freshness of the season’s hop harvest, an iconic characteristic of the beer. The whole process is a tradition that my father started decades ago, and we’re proud to continue.“ 

First brewed in 1981, the beer is released annually between the end of hop harvest season and the beginning of the holiday season in the US. Hop-forward flavors and aromas in Celebration Fresh Hop IPA are well-balanced with the slight biscuity sweetness of caramel malt. It clocks in at 6.8% ABV and 65 IBU.   

“When we start brewing and pouring the first pints of the beer in our Taproom there’s a palpable sense of excitement and celebration among the brewery team. In that way, Celebration Fresh Hop IPA truly lives up to its name,” said Grossman. 

Celebration Fresh Hop IPA began shipping to wholesalers in mid-October. It will be sold primarily in 6-and 12-packs of 12-ounce cans, with limited availability of 12-pack bottles sold in select markets (6-pack MSRP $12.99, 12-pack MSRP $21.99), and draft. As the style name alludes, a Fresh Hop IPA is recommended to be enjoyed during the same season in which it was produced to experience the full depth of flavor and aroma that the brewers intended. 

Western North Carolina Recovery Efforts

Sierra Nevada has announced support of the long-term recovery of the craft beer industry in Western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene, which hit the region in late September. This year, the company will donate $1 of every barrel brewed of Celebration Fresh Hop IPA to the newly formed NC Craft Brewers Foundation, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to the growth and resilience of Western North Carolina’s craft brewing community. The company has encouraged its wholesaler and retailer partners to contribute to the effort, as well. The brewery is also supporting immediate community food needs in the region through contributions to MANNA FoodBank and Food Connection.

“We know that it takes all members of a community, supporting how they can after a disaster,” said Chief Sustainability and Social Impact Officer Mandi McKay. “We appreciate that we can contribute to our Western North Carolina community in the wake of Hurricane Helene.”

Learn more about Sierra Nevada’s efforts and contributions following Hurricane Helene’s impact in Western North Carolina.