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Sierra Nevada Brewing Company

From Alfawiki
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Company typePrivate
IndustryBrewing
Founded1979
FounderKen Grossman, Paul Camusi
Headquarters
Chico
,
United States
Area served
United States
Key people
Ken Grossman (founder)
ProductsBeer (Pale Ale, Porter, Stout, IPA, Hefeweizen)
Number of employees
450 (2011)
Websitesierranevada.com

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. was established in 1979 by homebrewers Ken Grossman and Paul Camusi in Chico, California, USA. In 2010, the brewery's production reached 786,000 barrels, and by 2016, it had become the seventh-largest brewing company nationwide and the third-largest privately held brewery in the United States.

Acknowledged for its commitment to environmental responsibility, Sierra Nevada earned the title "Green Business of the Year" from the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 2010. To broaden its operations, the company launched a second brewery facility in Mills River, North Carolina in 2014.

As an early leader within the American craft beer movement, Sierra Nevada wields considerable influence in the market and maintains a robust competitive position among craft breweries.

History

Founded in 1980 by Ken Grossman and Paul Camusi, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. originated from their shared enthusiasm for homebrewing in Chico, California. The company’s name pays homage to Grossman’s love for hiking in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Launching with $50,000 borrowed from friends and family, they rented a modest 3,000-square-foot warehouse and fashioned brewing apparatus from repurposed dairy equipment and salvaged metal. Subsequently, they sourced used copper kettles from Germany before moving to a larger facility in 1989.

Their inaugural brew was Pale Ale, produced onsite in November 1980. The following year introduced Celebration IPA, which has since become a seasonal winter offering. During their first year, sales reached 950 barrels and doubled by the next year.

Steve Harrison was their initial hire, overseeing marketing and sales efforts. In 1983, head brewer Steve Dresler joined when weekly production stood at 25 to 30 barrels; he continued until his retirement in 2017. Facing financial hurdles early on, the brewery managed self-distribution while gaining visibility through media exposure and placement on menus at prominent establishments like Berkeley’s Chez Panisse.

By 1987, distribution extended to seven states with annual output hitting 12,000 barrels, necessitating expansion. The following year brought an upgrade to a 100-barrel brewhouse equipped with modern fermenters. In 1989, Sierra Nevada opened its Taproom and Restaurant along with a gift shop. The year 2000 saw the debut of "The Big Room," a live music venue within the brewery designed to enhance visitor experience.

Paul Camusi retired in 1998 and sold his ownership share to Grossman.

In 2010, Sierra Nevada collaborated with the Abbey of New Clairvaux to brew Trappist-style beers beginning in 2011; however, these products are not officially classified as Trappist beers by the International Trappist Association.

By 2011, the workforce numbered around 450 employees.

In January 2012, Sierra Nevada revealed plans for a second brewery and restaurant located in Mills River, North Carolina. This LEED-Platinum-certified facility opened in early 2014 near Asheville Regional Airport and incorporated sustainable construction elements such as reclaimed wood and rainwater harvesting systems.

Between 2013 and 2022, Sierra Nevada operated the "Torpedo Room" tasting venue in Berkeley—its first location outside Chico—before closing it.

In January 2017, the company voluntarily recalled certain batches of 12-ounce bottles distributed across 36 states due to a manufacturing flaw that could lead to glass contamination.

Influence

Sierra Nevada, together with the now-closed Anchor Brewing Company and New Albion Brewing Company, is acknowledged as a trailblazer that played a crucial role in igniting the craft beer revolution during the 1980s and 1990s. Ken Grossman, the founder, is widely regarded as a key innovator within the American craft brewing sector.[1]

Distinct from many microbreweries of its time, Sierra Nevada endured to become one of the nation’s largest independent brewers, celebrated for producing beers noted for their unique "character and complexity." Grossman attributed the early struggles faced by many microbreweries to a lack of adequate preparation for the financial and operational challenges inherent in commercial brewing.[2]

To commemorate its 30th year in 2010, Sierra Nevada introduced collaborative brews paying tribute to seminal figures in the industry such as Charlie Papazian, Fred Eckhardt, Fritz Maytag (Anchor), and Jack McAuliffe (New Albion).[1]

In November 2010, Stansbury Publishing released Hops and Dreams: The Story of Sierra Nevada Brewing Co, authored by Rob Burton, a professor at California State University, Chico, who undertook comprehensive research on the brewery.[3]

The company has consistently maintained a politically neutral position. This was reaffirmed in 2010 after an erroneous association with opposition to California Proposition 19, which sought to legalize marijuana.[4]

Environmental record

In 2010, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. was honored with the US Environmental Protection Agency’s "Green Business of the Year" award.[5]

The brewery harnesses significant solar power through an array of 10,000 photovoltaic panels that generate 2.6 megawatts onsite. Additionally, it offers an electric vehicle charging station for visitors.[6][7][8]

Sierra Nevada utilizes a BioPro™ biodiesel processor that converts used cooking oil from its onsite restaurant into fuel powering its delivery trucks. In 2009, it collaborated with a local ethanol producer to transform spent yeast into premium ethanol fuel.[9] The brewery sells its spent grain as feed for livestock; wastewater undergoes onsite treatment and is primarily reused for irrigation purposes. Over 99.5% of solid waste generated is diverted from landfills.[10]

The company owns a one-mile stretch of railroad track in Chico utilized for intermodal freight transport. This shift from road to more fuel-efficient railcars significantly reduces its carbon emissions.[11]

As the largest purchaser of organic hops nationwide, Sierra Nevada also grows its own organic hops and barley used in specialty brews such as the Chico Estate Harvest Ale.[12]

The Mills River facility in North Carolina achieved LEED Platinum certification in June 2016—making it the only brewery in the United States with this distinction—and also holds Platinum Zero Waste certification from the US Zero Waste Business Council.[13]

Sierra Nevada Core Selections

Among the brewery's permanent offerings are its signature Pale Ale, Porter, Stout, Torpedo 'Extra' IPA, Kellerweis Hefeweizen, and Hazy Little Thing.

The Pale Ale is distinguished by its harmonious blend of assertive hops and robust malt character, utilizing Cascade hops that impart a grapefruit scent and a fruity flavor profile. This beer undergoes bottle conditioning and was recognized as the top-selling pale ale in the United States as of 2012.

Beer connoisseur Michael Jackson has commended Sierra Nevada's Porter and Stout for their "subtle coffee notes" and "exquisitely roasted" qualities, respectively. Both styles have been part of the brewery’s portfolio since its inaugural year.

In 2009, Torpedo—an American-style India Pale Ale—and Kellerweis, a classic Bavarian hefeweizen, were introduced as year-round national offerings.

Seasonal Beers

The brewery’s seasonal collection features Beer Camp Hoppy Lager, Summerfest Lager, Oktoberfest, and Celebration Ale. Celebration Ale, crafted since 1981 as a winter seasonal beer, is a malt-forward amber ale with pronounced hoppiness and has earned accolades in the IPA category. Former seasonal brews include Tumbler Brown Ale, a rich malt-heavy brown ale for autumn months, and Ruthless Rye IPA, which incorporates rye malt and whole-cone hops for spring release. Summerfest is brewed as a Czech-style pilsner.

Special Releases

Sierra Nevada’s annual specialty releases encompass Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale, Hemisphere Harvest Ales, and Chico Harvest Estate Ale. Bigfoot is a barleywine-style ale with an alcohol content of 9.6% ABV, brewed using two varieties of malt and three types of hops. First introduced in 1987, it is released each January or February. Due to U.S. regulations regarding alcohol labeling, it is marketed as a "barleywine style ale."

The brewery also produces Northern and Southern Hemisphere Harvest ales made from fresh wet hops sourced from Washington state and New Zealand, respectively. Launched in 1996, the Northern Hemisphere Harvest Ale was the pioneer fresh-hop beer brewed in the U.S. The Chico Estate Harvest Ale utilizes organic wet hops alongside barley cultivated on the brewery’s premises.

Old Chico Crystal Wheat pays tribute to the historic Chico Brewery and is available exclusively in northern California. The limited-edition Resilience Butte County Proud IPA was developed to aid recovery efforts following the 2018 Camp Fire near Sierra Nevada’s Chico base; more than 1,500 breweries collaborated to produce this beer, generating substantial funds for relief initiatives.

Awards

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See also

External links and further reading

Name Style Year Event Award
Barrel-Aged Narwhal Wood-Aged Strong Stout 2013 Great American Beer Festival Silver
Bigfoot Barley Wine 2012 World Beer Cup Silver
2005 Great American Beer Festival Gold
1997 Great American Beer Festival Silver
1995 Great American Beer Festival Gold
1992 Great American Beer Festival Gold
1988 Great American Beer Festival Gold
1987 Great American Beer Festival Gold
Celebration India Pale Ale 1994 Great American Beer Festival Silver
1990 Great American Beer Festival Bronze
Estate Homegrown Ale Fresh Hop Ale 2012 Great American Beer Festival Gold
2010 Great American Beer Festival Silver
Imperial Stout Imperial Stout 2012 Great American Beer Festival Silver
IPA India Pale Ale 2005 Great American Beer Festival Gold
Kellerweis Hefeweizen 2012 World Beer Cup Silver
Kolsch Kölsch 2009 Great American Beer Festival Gold
2008 Great American Beer Festival Silver
Ovila Dubbel Dubbel 2012 World Beer Cup Bronze
Pilsner Pilsner 2010 World Beer Cup Gold
Porter rowspan=3 | Porter 2009 U.S. Open Beer Championship Bronze
2000 Great American Beer Festival Bronze
1983 Great American Beer Festival Silver
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