Sierra Nevada Brewing Company was founded in 1979 in Chico, California, as the vision of passionate homebrewer Ken Grossman, with the support of his friend Paul Camusi. Their first beer - a stout - was released in 1980, but the true breakthrough came shortly after with the launch of the iconic Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, which laid the foundation for the American pale ale style and became one of the most recognizable craft beers in the country.