Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. comes from Chico, California, and was officially started in 1980 by homebrewer Ken Grossman. The brewery is still independent and family-owned. It is known for its Pale Ale with Cascade hops and for hoppy beers like Hazy Little Thing.
- LocationChico, CA
- Founded1980
- TypeRegional brewery
- Untappd 3.7 · 7.8M ratings
- At Hoptimaal0 in stock · 6 in total
In stock now 0
Right now we have nothing from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. in stock. Below you can see what we had before; new beers from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. show up here automatically.
Previously at Hoptimaal 6
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From homebrewer in Chico to independent brewery
Ken Grossman brewed at home from a young age and opened The Home Brew Shop in Chico, California. There he perfected his own beer, until brewing wouldn't let go of him. In 1980 he officially started Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., with a brewhouse he had put together from discarded dairy equipment.
American beer was at a low point at the time. There were fewer than a hundred breweries and most of them only made light lagers. Grossman wanted more flavour and was especially taken with hops. He brewed a dozen batches of his Pale Ale with whole cones of Cascade hops. Only when he was happy with it did he go around every bar in Chico with a cooler, selling the beer bottle by bottle. According to him, ninety percent of people hated it, but the rest were wildly enthusiastic.
Thanks to those hop lovers, the brewery grew. Sierra Nevada now brews on both coasts, in Chico and in Mills River in North Carolina, and the beer is sold in all 50 states. Grossman chose to stay fully family-owned, so he could keep an eye on quality himself.
Hoppy beers with the Pale Ale as starting point
The Pale Ale is still the bestseller and the beer where it all began. According to FundingUniverse, Sierra Nevada also brews porter, stout and wheat beer, among others, plus seasonal beers like Summerfest, Celebration and Bigfoot.
On the brewery's own website you currently find, among others, Hazy Little Thing, a Pilsner and the alcohol-free Trail Pass. What you see at our shop is mainly the IPA side of the brewery: the Little Thing range, in which hops and fruity flavours take centre stage. The brewery itself names quality and independence as its constant line since the first batches.
Sierra Nevada at Hoptimaal
So far we have had six beers from Sierra Nevada at Hoptimaal, all of them IPAs, with a strength of 5 to 9.5 percent. These are the Little Thing beers: Citra, Hazy, Juicy, Mango and Hoppy Little Thing, plus Big Little Thing Hazy Imperial IPA. They come in sizes of 33, 35.5 and 44 cl. On Untappd they are rated highly, with Citra, Hazy and Juicy Little Thing at the top. Stock changes, so check the page to see what is available now.
Drink these beers as fresh as possible and cool from the fridge. That is when hops and fruit come through best. This goes double for the hazy IPAs, because their aroma fades quickly. The Big Little Thing Hazy Imperial IPA is heavier. Take it out of the fridge a few minutes earlier and drink it more slowly.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. come from?
Sierra Nevada comes from Chico, California, where Ken Grossman officially started the brewery in 1980. Today there is also a brewery in Mills River in North Carolina.
What kind of beer does Sierra Nevada make?
The Pale Ale with Cascade hops is the brewery's best-known beer. Sierra Nevada also makes hoppy beers like Hazy Little Thing, and according to its own website also a Pilsner and an alcohol-free beer.
How do you best drink Sierra Nevada Little Thing beers?
Drink them fresh and cool, so the hop aroma stays intact. A heavier Hazy Imperial IPA tastes best when you take it slower and not quite so cold.
