And you are correct. Sierra Nevada in Mills River is the Taj Mahal of breweries in the US.
We have been to Chico about 4, maybe 5 times, so I know how the 2 compare. Impressive what you can do with a clean slate and full funding. I give the Grossman family credit for their vision on what a brewery should be as far as presentation and experience. The Taproom will have the 20 bbl pilot system as a focal point, along with the pilot beers on tap.
The brew house is also a little different from Chico. I think the whole place has a little more technology. It also should be pointed out that they have the large square open fermenters like they do in Chico, and some really pretty open round fermenters with troughs to top crop. The later can be seen from the bar used at the end of the tour.
There are also some 1600 bbl fermenters, those are on the right when you are in the parking lot, the "small" ones are 800s.