Sierra Nevada

When Ken Grossman started Sierra Nevada Brewing in 1980, there were just 44 breweries in the U.S. The industry was so new in fact that he had to build his own brewing equipment out of recycled dairy equipment he’d foraged from scrapyards along the Pacific Coast. Fast forward to over 40 years later, Sierra Nevada is now America's largest private craft brewery that is family-run, and produces nearly 1 million barrels of beer a year. Their signature Pale Ale has made an impact on the craft beer industry like no other, and has fuelled the American craft beer revolution. Sierra Nevada also pioneered ultra-hoppy ales, sustainable brewing practices, and an enviable dry-hopping mechanism called the Hop Torpedo.