Sierra Nevada, while not being Budweiser, is also kind of bottom of the barrel microbrewery wise. I’ll say the same thing about Deschutes, which is made in my own state.
I believe they got bought out buy a not so micro parent company early on, and they kinda mechanized the process. The first batch of Budweiser was a homebrew too lol. Both companies put out a decent beer, but there are breweries here in Eugene that make stuff I like more than anything from both.
And you’re right. Hops oil isn’t worth anywhere near the price of cannabis oil, and too much is needed to justify doing it in some kind of artisan manner. Cannabis oil in the right form can fetch the price of gold in some places at this point.
As far as how I became interested. I was born with spina bifida, and got a medical card at 18(I’m 33.) I moved into my first grow house not long after that, and from 18-25, I spent time in basically all aspects of the cannabis industry(that existed at the time) on one level or another.
Then I became homeless, and after 2 years of homelessness, I was diagnosed with cancer. I used RSO during my cancer treatment. My first real experience with extracts. Since then I’ve mostly been recovering from my 4 year illness and getting my life back in order, but I have a lot of friends with industry jobs, so I get to see the “inside” to a certain extent, though not quite like I used to.
I’ve since devoted my life to unlocking the most efficient way of using cannabis as a medicine, as it’s helped me cut my daily opiate intake in half. And I feel that extracts are the future of cannabis. Growing flower? They’ve got that down. So I’d much rather focus on the medical and extract sides of the industry. Though I would like to get into a living situation where I can grow again, just because I’m poor lol(I know I’m in Oregon. It’s complicated.)
Hang in there, I hope things work out better for you. You are smart to focus on the extract side of the business. The flower growing side is saturated.
You're right that Sierra Nevada isn't near the top of anybody's list anymore. In some ways, they help start the movement that would eventually leave them behind. They are a part of that first wave craft beer movement which might also include Pyramid, Widmer, and Anchor. They all got decently big and stop innovating.
I would definitely also include Deschutes on that list as well. I still like a Black Butte Porter, but mostly for nostalgia reasons. It’s not bad beer, but it’s not any better or cheaper than what I can get made in town.
Pyramid is harder to judge. For example, they own Lagunitas, who have managed to maintain my respect for 20 years. And a few other companies. But most of them do take a dive after Pyramid buys in.