Steve Grossman from Sierra Nevada (USA) and Paul Jones from Cloudwater Brewing Co (UK)
Let’s journey back to the exceptional night of June 1st, 2023, at the ICC Sydney—an event that has become a standout moment on the 2023 Craft Beer calendar. Our inaugural keynote speakers, Steve Grossman from Sierra Nevada (USA) and Paul Jones from Cloudwater Brewing Co (UK), graced the stage, immersing the audience in a captivating experience filled with unique insights and stories.
Steve Grossman, a key figure in the Sierra Nevada success story, transported us through time, recounting the brewery’s journey from a humble startup in 1980 to a global sensation valued at over 1 billion dollars today. With tales of trials and triumphs, Steve captivated our audience, offering a glimpse into the past while revealing Sierra Nevada’s plans for the future. Attendees had the privilege of gaining a deeper understanding of the industry’s next big trends from one of its true legends.
Paul Jones, the visionary behind Cloudwater Brewing Co, graced our event to share the secrets behind the brewery’s phenomenal success. Since its founding in 2014, Cloudwater has consistently secured a spot in the TOP 10 Breweries worldwide, reaching as high as #2 in the 2017 RateBeer awards. With over 1,000 unique beers released, Paul delved into the intricacies of their rapid ascent, offering profound insights into what makes their heavily hopped Double IPA’s some of the most coveted in the UK.
As we fondly look back on this extraordinary evening, we extend our gratitude to Steve Grossman and Paul Jones for enriching our craft beer community with their wisdom and passion. Stay tuned for more exciting events as we continue to celebrate the vibrant world of craft beer!
Steve Grossman
Global Brand Ambassador of Sierra Nevada, USA
Steve Grossman is the Brewery Ambassador for Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Steve grew up in Southern California, where he and his younger brother Ken learned about the art of home brewing. Steve continued to homebrew throughout college, and when Ken founded Sierra Nevada in 1980, Steve’s passion for craft beer was immediately put to good use.
In the early years of the brewery, he helped establish the Southern California distribution network, and was involved in direct sales. Today, Steve works with Sierra Nevada’s international export program, and serves as an ambassador and spokesperson for the brewery both domestically and abroad. Steve also serves as a director of the brewery’s wildly popular Beer Camp, which brings people to Sierra Nevada for a unique and intensive hands-on beer education.
Paul Jones
Founder & Managing Director, of Cloudwater Brew Co.
Paul Jones is the Managing Director and owner of Cloudwater Brew Co, an 8 year old craft brewery from Manchester UK that boasts not only more accolades than any other European Brewery, but one that has helped to consistently raise the bar in modern craft beer. Driven by a passion for realising human potential and the sense of community within beer, and widely recognised for straight talking and deep thinking, Paul has become one of the most visible and accessible brewery owners in the industry, well known for an interest in using beer as a force for good in the world.