Brewing More Than Just Beer

With an original business plan that included the statement “and all the beer one can drink”, you know Ken Grossman isn’t going to be business as usual.

Ken Grossman founded the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in 1981.  His original business location was a sheet rock warehouse in Chico, California. He had dabbled in craft brews for years and ran a home brew shop in the 1970’s. During those days there were no suppliers for craft brewers. Equipment consisted of second hand dairy machinery and old soda bottling gadgets.

Fast-forward to February 12, 2008 and you might find yourself listening to Ken Grossman’s presentation at Chico State.  Some attend for the business side, others the beer, and a few for insight on the environmental sustainability innovations the company has been making.

Grossman has proven himself to be a savvy businessman. The Sierra Nevada Brewing Company’s original annual barrel production was 1,500. The total now stands at 600,000 barrels a year. When Grossman started in 1981 there were 35 craft brew companies, today only 15 have survived.

The quality of the beer speaks for it’s self.  From day one the main focus has been on quality control and consistency. Sierra Nevada beer is a top style fermented ale. It’s made with cascade hops and the company refuses to use corn or rice in its product like much of its corporate competition. The beers taste is uniquely Chico.

The brewery is also famous for it’s actions towards a sustainable environment. Sierra Nevada brewing company has one of the largest fuel cell installations in the country. Methane gas from the breweries onsite wastewater treatment plant is also used to power operations. Spent grain from the plant feeds the cattle, which are used for beef in the restaurant. The cow manure from that herd is used to fertilize the company’s hops fields, and it goes on and on. Grossman is constantly making the Brewery more energy efficient and self sustainable.

For more information visit: http://www.sierranevada.com/environment.html