Sierra Nevada Brewing Company is set to unveil Celly Drippins, a highly limited edition beer, on November 22, 2024, at their Mills River taproom in North Carolina. For years, this special variant of their renowned Celebration IPA remained a secret, only available in small quantities within the brewery.

Celebration IPA is cherished by beer enthusiasts for its unique taste; crafted with fresh hops, it symbolizes the arrival of the holiday season and celebrates the recent hop harvest. Notably, Doug Veliky, CMO of Revolution Brewing, has praised it as the greatest winter seasonal beer due to its robust 6.8% ABV and flavor profile that respects its predecessor, the flagship Pale Ale.

Celly Drippins stands out as an even rarer offering, produced from the residual “drippings” collected from the dry hop bags used in making Celebration. According to Technical Brewmaster Scott Jennings, the brewing process involves three people handling the hop bags, and during this procedure, some beer naturally drips into the fermenter. This is salvaged to create Celly Drippins, which has shifted from an employees-only release to a sought-after taproom offering.

Initially, Celly Drippins was shared with staff as a gesture of appreciation, but anticipation grew, prompting inquiries as early as late summer for the newest batch. Brian Grossman, Chief Brewer and co-owner of Sierra Nevada, recognized this demand and decided to publicly announce the release.

With only five to seven barrels produced each year—the equivalent of just one can for every 5,000 cans of Celebration brewed—Celly Drippins is Sierra Nevada’s most exclusive beer. The limited nature of its availability means that those who wish to try it often plan their visits to the taproom in advance, as it typically sells out quickly.

The 2024 release of Celly Drippins will be officially tapped at 3 p.m. on November 22 at the Mills River location. For more details about the event, you can visit Sierra Nevada’s website.