Hordes of beer snobs gather at the birthplace of the nationally distributed Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and Schwarber, a Chico-only black ale. Also for sale are the ‘Beer Camp’ collaborations (www.beercamp.sierranevada.com), short-run craft beers brewed by über-beer nerds at invitation-only summer seminars. Free brewhouse tours are given regularly. True beerheads will want to book the three-hour tour ($25).
There's also a tour of the brewery's cutting-edge sustainable practices – their rooftop solar fields are among the largest privately owned solar fields in the US, and they extended a spur of local railroad to increase transportation efficiency. Recharge in the pub and restaurant .
