Ken Grossman Is Born

Ken Grossman was born on November 11, 1954, in the Los Angeles area of California. Fascinated by fermentation from an early age, he began homebrewing in 1969 after learning the basics from a friend. After moving to Chico, California, he continued brewing, developed practical mechanical skills, and opened the Home Brew Shop in 1976 to sell homebrewing and winemaking supplies. Grossman co-founded Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. with Paul Camusi and began commercial brewing in 1980. The brewery grew directly from their homebrewing experience and self-built equipment. Its flagship Pale Ale, brewed with whole-cone Cascade hops, became one of the defining beers of the American craft-beer movement and helped establish the hop-forward brewing culture that later shaped American IPA.