The shareholder is the Grossman family.
But SN has no shareholders (or just the family as Mike points out). As to why they want to grow, why not? Increased wealth aside, they might have motives like serving more customers better, or being able to provide more benefits to more employees. I’m just speculating, but that’s the kind of company they seem to be.
Nah, when I was talking with Steve Dresler a few months ago, he mentioned that they are fully on RO at the Chico facility. They build all their brewing water up from RO. I suggested that they do want to try and find a location with decent water anyhow to reduce the loading on the RO membranes. He was not concerned with that. They are looking for the local that will give them the best deal.
PS: the firm I work for does SN’s wastewater and energy reduction engineering.
Thanks, Martin. I was aware of that, but they also mentioned to us that they were looking for similar water. Could be that the person who told us that was misinformed, or maybe just a matter of interpretation. But you provided valuable info here!
And having seen their wasterwater and energy reduction efforts, let me say GOOD JOB to you and your company!
Damn them shareholders! Occupy Chico!
(just messin with ya euge).
Water chemistry can be whatever you want it to be. It just may add expense to make it that way.
Reminds of True Grit when Ned Pepper says, to Rooster Cogburn, “I call that mighty bold font…”
[quote=“The Professor, post:39, topic:8661, username:The_Professor”]
Whaaaaa???
Sierra Nevada IS a “true craft brewery”.
In truth, it’s one of the better ones.
And if they are committed to maintaining the quality (as I’m certain they are) they’ll still be a great “craft” brewery even if they eventually build five new plants
They are no where near as good, not even remotely close to a dozen “craft” breweries in San Diego alone. While they do make decent beer, they are big time macro and approaching 1 million barrels a year. While I thoroughly enjoyed them 20 years ago, there were only a couple alternatives, unlike today.
I was just assuming that they were incorporated. Is the company owned by a single person?
Another thing they’re looking for in the water is consistency year round. If in the summer time the water jumps to 80 degrees F and in the winter it’s 50F then they have some major obstacles they have to deal with.
Err…as a native of this locality, I have to say Major is mostly correct.
From what I understand it’s pretty much the Grossman Family that has full control. They may not own 100% but they have control. Denny can add if he knows more, I can’t remember everything 
Water temperature is not a problem. It is easily adjusted. Unless they build in a location where only brackish or seawater is available (concentrate disposal issues), water quality will not be a major factor. Water chemistry can be whatever you want it to be. Some water is more expensive than others, that’s all.
Yeah. I thought it was a compliment! :
I did too. We have a long line of heritage to uphold 
DFH has pubs in Gaithersburg MD, Falls Church VA, and Chantilly VA. And you’re right Tom, those are just pubs (they call them "Alehouse"s) and not brewpubs
I’m with you on this, even if it means I never get to have a Yellowhammer. Although I’m sure I will at some point.
‘Craft’ is not a descriptor of quality, simply of style. It is true that there are lots of breweries out there making better, or at least more interesting, beer than SN but they are still WAY better than shocktop or blue moon and more craft at that rate.
AFAIK, Ken Grossman is the single owner. They kept stressing to us that the reason he could go out and buy a composter with a 20 year payback, for instance, was because he didn’t have to answer to a board or stockholders.
This is a really good point. It’s not so much the expansion of the business that endangers quality as the expansion in the number of people with a say in things. If you have a single owner who is dedicated to certain ideals then it is much less likely to see a degredation in quality. In that case another brewery should actually increase the quality of the product in the (now closer) areas that brewery serves. But all to often, in order to expand, a company will take on more investors who want to see return on that investment and corners get cut to materialize that return.
That, and Ken and his team aren’t going to be able to do a good job of overseeing production in two plants on opposite sides of the country. As long as he puts the right people in charge in NC, with the same vision, it will be easier to do so.
Maybe I should apply for a job 8)