Sierra Nevada Brewing has been introducing beer drinkers to citrusy, piney Northwest hops since 1981 and the brewery continues to act as a matchmaker between beer drinkers and hops. Sierra Nevada is also an industry leader in good environmental practice. It has commissioned the first phase of one of the the country's largest private solar installations, which will bring it close to its goal of generating 100 percent of its energy needs (Great Beers, 2008).