Boulevard, Sierra Nevada Recreating Terra Incognita for Wider Distribution

KANSAS CITY—Boulevard Brewing Co. and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. today announced that Terra Incognita, their first commercial collaboration, will appear on retail shelves in June. The beer was originally brewed in very limited quantities for patrons of SAVOR, a Brewers Association event held last June in Washington D.C. Terra Incognita was so well received that the two companies decided to bring it back.
“We tried to create a beer that would highlight the strengths of each brewery – for us, our use of wild yeast and barrel aging, and for Sierra Nevada, their hop-centric talent and homegrown ingredients,” said Boulevard Brewmaster Steven Pauwels. “It turned out so well we felt it was only right to make more and share it.”
“The synergy between the two breweries was just too great to stop at SAVOR, “ said Sierra Nevada Head Brewer Steve Dresler. “This is a tough beer to dial in, but we have a lot of fun with the challenge and can’t wait to hear people’s take on round two.”
Terra Incognita, or “land unknown,” celebrates the unique terroir of Boulevard and Sierra Nevada, located at opposite ends of the California Trail (an overland wagon trail in the early 1800s of about 2,000 miles across the western half of the US from Missouri river towns to what is now the state of California). The dark brown ale has an ambitious grain bill, is assertively hopped, and is aged – one portion in old wooden wine foudres and another in used whiskey barrels – for nearly three months. The roasty bitterness blends with subtle notes of herb and spice to create a dry, balanced beer. Barrel aging adds aromatic accents, while bottle conditioning with Brettanomyces yields a uniquely funky, earthy finish.
This year the limited release beer was brewed and packaged at Boulevard. Approximately 5,200 cases of Terra Incognita will be released throughout the company’s 25-state distribution territory. The two breweries are already planning the 2014 version, which will be produced at Sierra Nevada and made available through its distribution network.