1979: Ken Grossman and Paul Camusi hit up the latter’s family for a hundred large and founded Sierra Nevada brewery, so named because that was Grossman’s favorite place to hike and climb. They obtained whatever equipment they could find to use in the brewery. Much of it was repurposed dairy equipment.
1980: Sierra Nevada brewed its first batch—American Stout.
The flagship Pale Ale was first brewed in November 1980, but it was dumpe, along with several subsequent batches (at no small expense).
1981: The first batch that wasn’t considered dumpworthy. At this time, the brewery made Pale Ale, Porter, and Stout, and the output was 500 barrels.
Already growing in popularity with local college students, the brewery gained some popularity when Jerry Garcia became a fan of the Sierra Nevada Porter. Grateful Dead fans followed suit.
In the early 80s, features in the San Francisco Examiner and The Village Voice introduced the brew to much larger audiences on both coasts.
1983: Sierra Nevada brewed their first batch of Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale, one of the early “extreme” beers.
1987: Output hit the 12,000 barrel mark, and Sierra Nevada was being sold in seven states.
1987: Work began on the first significant expansion of the brewery.
1989: Output hit 30,500 barrels. The Sierra Nevada Taproom and Restaurant opened.
1993: Output exceeded 100,000 barrels.
1995: Output was 265,000 barrels.
1997: Built a second brewhouse, as well as a wastewater treatment plant.
1999: Camusi retired and sold his shares to Grossman. Output was 420,000 barrels.
2000: Sierra Nevada was available in every state in the U.S. The brewery opened a live music venue called The Big Room.
2005: “Installed four 250-kilowatt co-generation hydrogen fuel cells at the brewery.”
2010: Output exceeded 750,000 barrels. Also received the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2010 “Green Business of the Year.” Among the actions cited by the EPA was the Sierra Nevada’s implemention of a zero-waste policy. By reducing, recycling and composting, over 99 percent of the brewery’s solid waste was kept out of landills. (Source: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/5E1681FB08AEE271852577ED005E1FB6). The brewery also employs solar panels, a waste water treatment facility, and four 250kW co-generation hydrogen fuel cells on site.
2012: Sierra Nevada revealed plans to build a second brewery in Mills River, North Carolina. As of this writing in the Fall of 2014, construction is still ongoing.
As of 2014, Sierra Nevada is the seventh largest brewery in the U.S. and the second largest craft brewery in the U.S.