Craft beer in Chico
Sierra nevada's hometown
Chico, California — a college town of about 100,000 — punches dramatically above its weight in craft beer thanks to Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., founded here in 1980 by Ken Grossman and Paul Camusi. Sierra Nevada's continuous operation under Grossman family ownership is one of the longest unbroken stories in American craft beer. The brewery's massive Chico campus, Big Room music venue, and on-site farm have made Chico itself a craft beer destination.
Breweries Tracked
2
Specialty
American Pale Ale, IPA, performance lagers
Hub Neighborhood
Chico campus / downtown Chico
How Chico shaped American craft beer
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, first brewed in November 1980, is widely credited with defining the American Pale Ale style. The signature Cascade hop profile became the template for what 'craft beer' tastes like to a generation of American drinkers. Sufferfest Beer, acquired by Sierra Nevada in 2019, focuses on lower-calorie performance-oriented craft. The Chico campus tour is one of the best-preserved windows into the early days of American craft brewing.
Where to visit in Chico
Tasting Room HighlightsSierra Nevada Chico Taproom and Restaurant, the Big Room concert venue, the on-site organic farm, and the original 1980 brewhouse (preserved on the campus tour).
Common date code formats from Chico breweries
DDDYY + facility
1 brewery
DDDYY
1 brewery