(Courtesy Sierra Nevada Brewing)

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is one of America’s most iconic craft breweries, but even its diehard Pale Ale fans might be surprised by some of the stories behind this Chico, California legend.

Founded in 1980 by homebrewing pioneer Ken Grossman, Sierra Nevada helped spark the American craft beer revolution — yet the brewery’s history is packed with quirky milestones, wild experiments, and a stubborn devotion to doing things the hard (and right) way.

Here are 10 things you may not know about Sierra Nevada Brewing…

It All Started in a Backyard
Before Sierra Nevada became a household name, Ken Grossman was welding together homemade brewing equipment in his garage. He literally built the original brewhouse from recycled dairy tanks and scrap metal. The first batches were brewed on this DIY system in a rented warehouse in Chico.

The Brewery’s Name Came From a Road Trip
Grossman named the brewery after the Sierra Nevada mountains, inspired by backpacking trips through the rugged California wilderness. He wanted a name that reflected adventure and natural beauty — and “Sierra Nevada” just stuck.

Pale Ale Almost Didn’t Make It
The now-legendary Sierra Nevada Pale Ale—the beer that helped define American craft brewing—was initially a tough sell. Bars didn’t want to carry a hoppy, bitter beer in the early ’80s. But Grossman stuck to his guns, hand-delivering kegs until people started catching on. The rest is history.

They’re Solar-Powered (and Then Some)
Sierra Nevada isn’t just green in color. The Chico brewery is one of the most sustainable beer operations in the world, powered by over 10,000 solar panels. They also treat and reuse wastewater, compost spent grain, and recycle just about everything that moves.

Their Hops Are Hand-Selected Every Year
Every year, Sierra Nevada’s brewers head to Yakima Valley in Washington to personally pick the hops that will go into their beers. They crush cones in their hands, sniff them, and argue passionately about aroma. It’s a tradition that’s all about craftsmanship.

The Torpedo Changed Everything
Sierra Nevada’s Torpedo Extra IPA was born from a piece of homemade equipment called the “Hop Torpedo” — a steel cylinder packed with whole-cone hops that circulates beer through for massive hop flavor without the bitterness overload. The invention helped revolutionize dry-hopping techniques across the industry.

They Have an East Coast Twin
In 2014, Sierra Nevada opened a second brewery in Mills River, North Carolina, complete with its own taproom, restaurant, and forested beer garden. Built with the same eco-friendly mindset, it allows the brewery to serve fresh beer coast-to-coast.

Sierra Nevada Once Made Its Own Barley
For years, the brewery cultivated its own estate-grown barley near Chico, producing a beer called Estate Homegrown Ale. It was one of the first true “farm-to-glass” beers in the U.S., highlighting the brewery’s deep agricultural roots.

They Threw One of Craft Beer’s Biggest Roadshows
In 2014, for Sierra Nevada’s 30th anniversary, they organized the Beer Camp Across America tour — a multi-city traveling beer festival featuring collaborations with dozens of other breweries. It was like a rock tour for craft beer geeks.

Ken Grossman Still Shows Up to Work
Even after more than four decades at the helm, founder Ken Grossman remains deeply involved in the day-to-day operations. He’s known for quietly walking the brewery floor, chatting with employees, and keeping that old-school homebrewer’s curiosity alive.

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From DIY beginnings to global recognition, Sierra Nevada has managed to grow without losing its soul. It’s still the kind of brewery where innovation meets integrity — and where a love of beer (and the people who drink it) comes first.

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