I stopped in at the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in Chico, California with a good friend for a brewery tour.  Being one of the largest craft breweries in the U.S. and also one of the oldest it was quite a privilege to visit.  And, Chico, California is quite a drive from San Francisco, making the trip a very intentional commitment.  The tour was well worth the trip.  We saw the entire operation.  Sadly, I have very few pictures.  The one of the hops reminds me of the stickiness on my hands from handling them, but the smell was oh, so worth it.  We also enjoyed lunch in the taproom.  The turkey melt was delicious and it washed down smoothly with a Pale Ale.  I also enjoyed a No. 4’s Pale Ale to support Ales For ALS.  Another dear friend lost a family member to ALS, which has likely claimed a friend or family member of most folks these days.  I am glad the craft brew movement is supporting research into this disease.