Sun Valley Brewing Company - Sun Valley Gold Lager

A two-time Silver Medal winner at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) and numerous additional accolades at varied judged events, Sun Valley Gold has proven to be one of the best American interpretations of a German style lager being produced in the U.S. today. Brewmaster Gordon Gammell uses 80% pale malts with the majority of the remaining malts a combination of Carapils and Munich in this Munchner (accent with two dots above the 'u' in Munchner) Helles German style lager. A small percentage of malted wheat is also used to add body and head retention to White Cloud. Cascade and Tettnanger hops are added during the boil for bittering and Liberty and Tettnanger hops are poured into the whirlpool for aroma. Gordon also uses a hybrid ale/lager yeast strain developed and fine-tuned at the brewery over the last ten years. White Cloud is lagered for 30 days before being bottled.

Notice a golden pale, clear appearance and good head retention as well as a pleasant malty-sweet and hop-floral nose in this medium-bodied lager. A very flavorful beer with both a nice pale maltiness and hop-bitterness evident and nicely balanced. Overall, an excellent American lager deserving of its many awards.

Founded in 1985, The Sun Valley Brewing Co. is Idaho's largest brewery at a capacity of only 4000 barrels per year. Nestled in the Wood River Valley in Hailey Idaho, south of the nation's oldest ski area, the brewery also hosts a pub and restaurant. Founder and brewmaster Gordon Gammell and partner Michael Kraynick brew an average of five seasonal and 3 flagship beers per year with their in-house designed 40-barrel brewing system. In addition to the two beers that we are sending you this month, Sun Valleyalso produces a Blonde Ale, ESB, Marzen, Honey Weizen, Porter, Octoberfest and Holiday Ale. Sun Valley's track record of six different medals at the Great American Beer Festival exemplifies their exceptional product line.

The brewery currently employs 3 full-time assistant brewers and 3 full-time pub employees, all of whom make a concerted effort to hit the slopes on the non-brewing powder days! Tours of the brewery are held January through May on Wednesdays at 5:00 p.m. and on Saturdays at 11:00 am and 5:00 p.m.

For more information about the brewery and scheduled tours, call (208) 788-5777.