Tom Nielsen

Director of Brewery Operations, Emberside Brewery

Tom Nielsen began his brewing career at Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in 2004 after earning a B.S. in Food Science and Technology from Rutgers University. As the inaugural hire in Sierra Nevada’s Research & Development department, he spent two decades driving brewing quality, process innovation, and product development, contributing to iconic brands including Torpedo Ale, Hop Hunter IPA, and Hazy Little Thing.

Tom went on to found Sierra Nevada’s raw materials program, playing a key role in advancing hop and barley innovation and helping introduce hop varieties such as Zappa, Ekuanot, and Loral. He also led beyond-beer initiatives spanning non-alcoholic beer, kombucha, hard seltzers, and hop waters.

In 2024, Tom joined Abstrax Hops as Director of Brewing and Beverage Innovation, helping establish the company as a leading supplier of authentic hop flavors. He now serves as Director of Brewery Operations at Emberside Brewery in Berkeley Heights, NJ, where he is leading the brewery from the ground up.

A respected industry voice, Tom has served in leadership roles with major hop and barley research organizations, delivered more than 60 industry presentations worldwide, and received the Master Brewers Association of the Americas’ Best Paper Award for his work on hop aroma quality. He also appears in For the Love of Hops—caught sampling beer straight from the fermenter.