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salad
climber
San Diego
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jun 6, 2007 - 06:29pm PT
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So over the last couple of months I kept getting these damn 12'ers of Pale Ale that were IMPOSSIBLE to twist off. I didn't think much of it and would just pry em off with an iron file I had laying around in the garage. It was intermittant as the occasional sixer would find its to my fridge that would twist off just fine.
It happened again last week and I decided to actually inspect the bottle cap.
There in little tiny font were the words 'pry off'.
I was horrified. I sent a letter to SN begging for the return of twist offs. I'll lose my callouses(sp) on my thumb and index finger! My shirts will no longer all have little holes on the left side from opening bottles!!
Anyway, they replied back with the letter below. Also said they would send me a check for a few 12'ers and a bottle opener. Cool, but I still want my twisties back...
In March 2007, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. quietly embraced a new technology with the
introduction of an innovative barrier crown that actually helps keep beer fresher;
blocking oxygen ingress longer without using oxygen-absorbing compounds. Initially,
the Chico, California brewer switched its crowns as the final phase of a multi-year
test by limiting the new crown to its Summerfest beer. Now, Sierra Nevada is
committing fully to the switchover, and has begun the process of utilizing the new
barrier crown technology with all its brews, including Sierra Nevada's flagship Pale
Ale.
The new pry-off crown offers an increased oxygen barrier due to its density and
oxygen barrier properties. The bottle cap or "crown" that is used to seal most beer
and other carbonated beverages has been in existence for over a hundred years. Cork
was originally used as the crown sealing liner material for its good resiliency and
sealing abilities. Synthetic materials were developed to replace cork due to
shortages and processing challenges of using natural cork. Additional benefits also
include being more environmentally friendly as these new crowns are produced PVC
free.
"We are always looking for new ways to ensure our beer reaches our drinkers as fresh
as possible," said brewery founder Ken Grossman. "It took a lot for us to give up
the convenience of our twist-off cap. But we've researched and tested oxygen ingress
through crown lining material since 1991 and continued until we found a new material
that substantially reduced it."
Oxygen is the enemy of beer as it causes beer to lose a significant amount of flavor
compounds that are essential to taste. Minute amounts of oxygen can pass through
the lining of a crown over time, even with a carbonated beverage, affecting the
flavor of the beer. While it may be tough to notice this flavor degradation to the
average consumer, it is essential to artisan brewers like Sierra Nevada whose
drinkers are more discerning and expect a full range of flavor in every bottle.
"We are one of the few brewers in the world who go to the trouble and expense of
using nothing but whole cone hops, and hops are one of the first things to lose
flavor when oxygen hits the beer," said Grossman. "If the beer doesn't reach the
consumer in the freshest state possible, all of our time and efforts are wasted."
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. was founded in 1980 and is one of America's first
microbreweries. It is regarded as the standard of quality for American craft brewers
and has won numerous awards for its beers and ales. Its flagship product, Sierra
Nevada Pale Ale, has been the number one selling craft beer brand in America for the
past five years according to IRI scan data. The brewery is still 100% owned by Ken
Grossman.
In addition to Pale Ale, Sierra Nevada makes a Wheat, Porter and Stout year-round, a
host of draft-only specialty beers, and offers five seasonal beers including their
Anniversary Ale, which will be bottled for the first time this August.
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Rock!...oopsie.
Trad climber
pitch above you
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There's a way to open a pry-off in EVERY room... get creative.
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marky
climber
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That explains much. I damn near killed myself trying to twist off some SN bottle caps recently. After the third bottle I just said f*#k it and made the effort of tracking down an opener.
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
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Wow, that's pretty cool. Actually giving you the science behind the new caps. Still one of the best beers in the world, now for more reasons than before.
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Jude Bischoff
Ice climber
Palm Springs
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This is devestating news. When I win the lottery I will now have to hire a camp site beer and wine stewerd besides the camp chef.
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WBraun
climber
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Just see the insanity.
This mans beer cap is so important .........
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salad
climber
San Diego
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 6, 2007 - 06:44pm PT
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sierra nevada is the fifth nobel truth
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Joe Metz
Trad climber
Bay Area
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Isn't a bottle opener one of the Ten Essentials?
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Phil_B
Social climber
Hercules, CA
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or just keep a beer stick around. Any thumb sized stick will do as long as it isn't too soft. Just place the end under the cap, use your thumb as a fulcrum and lever the dang thing off.
Works better than keys and it's fun to watch people with weak fingers try it.
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dirtbag
climber
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SIERRA NEVADA is OVERRATED.
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caughtinside
Social climber
Davis, CA
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SNPA is a fine beer, but with so many great ales, pale or otherwise, I don't know why anyone would limit themselves to one kind.
variety... the spice of life!
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Off White
climber
Tenino, WA
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Humph, I thought this was going to be a trundling thread.
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John Moosie
climber
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At least my Swiss Army knife will now have a use again. It was feeling lonely after being replaced by light weight knifes and leathermans.
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nature
climber
Flagstaff, AZ
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so alls I gots to do is send a bitch letter to Sierra Nevada and I get free beer and a bottle opener?
BEST BETA ON THE TACO FOR THE DAY HANDS DOWN!
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mojede
Trad climber
Butte, America
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Cheers to SN for joining the ranks of quality brew products by offing the twist.
Now all of the twisty-domestic "water" beer bottles will have to stand on their own.
Go Sierra Nevada!
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klinefelter
Boulder climber
Bishop, CA
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" SIERRA NEVADA is OVERRATED."
Obviously a troll.
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Gary
climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
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Nah, dirtbag is right.
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Jude Bischoff
Ice climber
Palm Springs
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Dirtbag must drink coors light. It's like screwing in a canoe, it's right next to water.
SN is the reference point all beers should aspire to.
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marky
climber
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the truth lies in the middle: SN is good -- not bad, not great. Just an all-around servicible beer.
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mark miller
Social climber
Reno
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Well after a year away from my beloved SNPA ( switched to Hienekens to lose weight) I have come back. Well I fought with a few, got some open and resorted to openers when my hands were bloodied, I thought a year away had gotten me out of shape. But recently a freind ( whose eyes are better then mine) noticed the little pry note and I have happily been using an opener on my beloved little greenies since... I'm glad I wasn't the only beer aficionado a little bemused by this inconvenience.
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