California, United States
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale goes into production
A Chico brewery built a pale ale around Cascade, and in doing so defined what American hops taste like to the rest of the world.
1980
Why it matters
The most influential single beer of the American craft movement, still in production and largely unchanged.
How well this is established
| Certainty | Documented. Supported by contemporary records that survive and are agreed on. |
|---|---|
| When | 1980. Known to the year rather than to the day. |
| Where | California, United States |
Styles this shaped
Traditions
- American craft brewing — The post-1980 American movement built on intense hop character, reinterpretation of European styles, and rapid categorical change.
Either side of this
← 1978: Homebrewing is legalised in the United States · 1980: Southern Hemisphere hop breeding produces a distinct character →
See the whole sequence on the beer history timeline.
Last reviewed 2026-08-16.