Handcrafted ale. Purest ingredients. Finest quality. Family owned, operated & argued over. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale sparked the American craft beer revolution. Bold and complex with pine and citrus notes from whole-cone cascade hops, this pale ale was first brewed in 1980, and introduced a generation to the glory of hops. Pale ale is still a classic and Sierra Nevada Brewing CO. is still 100% family owned, operated, and argued over. Ken Grossman Circa 1975. Frequent climbing trips to the Sierra Nevada mountains inspired founder Ken Grossman to trade the city for the great outdoors. When he opened his brewery in 1980, naming it was an easy decision. Enjoy outdoors. Please recycle. True: Made in a certified zero waste facility.