Life And Limb Returns, Canning Line Installation Begins At Sierra Nevada

Sierra NevadaCHICO, CA – Sierra Nevada Brewing Company confirmed today that Life and Limb, the collaboration beer with Dogfish Head, will make its return this August.

The initial release of Life and Limb was in November of 2009, and has not been brewed since. According to Sierra Nevada Communications Coordinator, the beer should make its return to retailer shelves sometime in the middle of August.

“We felt that last time it actually could have used more time in the bottle to mellow before the release,” Manley said. “That is why we brewed it a bit earlier this year and hung on to it.”

In addition to further aging in bottles, the brewery also confirmed that 1000 barrels of Life and Limb was produced this year, compared to 300 in 2009. Sierra Nevada has also moved away from the original 24oz packaging for the 2009 release and will instead release the 2011 beer in 750ML cork-top bottles, the same used for the Ovila Abbey and 20th Anniversary beers.

All specifications for the beer will be the exact same – an American Strong Ale that checks in at 10.2% ABV.

In keeping with tradition, the brewery did a “second-running” through the wort and produced a limited quantity of Limb and Life, which checked in at just 4.8% in 2009. This year, the beer will age on wood chips taken from both Sam Calagione and Ken Grossman’s properties. Calagione is contributing maple chips from Delaware and Grossman will contribute Bay chips.

“It will be draught-only,” Manley said. “I don’t think we even made 100 barrels, so it will be super limited.”

Manley also confirmed that pieces of their canning line have started to trickle into the brewery.

“We have received about a third of the system,” Manley said. “We expect to have cans in all markets by spring of next year, but we are hoping to have some here in Northern California for ski-season this year.”

Sierra Nevada will initially package Torpedo IPA in 16oz cans and 4-packs while their Pale Ale will make it to 12oz cans in 12-packs.