RIOT Energy, an organic energy drink brand from Venice Calif., announced it secured a minority investment from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, Calif. Sierra Nevada will initially serve as an investor and will eventually produce and package RIOT Energy products at its new 85,000-square-foot facility, CanDo Innovation Center, which is slated to begin operations this summer.

Like Sierra Nevada pioneered a successful path for craft beer amongst mainstream audiences, RIOT Energy is challenging big energy drink brands with their better-for-you energy drinks.

“This partnership accelerates our planned disruption of the $12 billion traditional energy drink market” said Laura Jakobsen, RIOT Energy Founder and Chief Noisemaker, in a statement. “Consumers are underserved by the big beverage brands. We are creating a different, more crafted choice to be energized with the simpler, cleaner ingredients consumers are demanding, yet current category brand leaders aren’t trusted to deliver.”

Sierra Nevada is securing its strategy for sustainable growth by leveraging its longtime commitment to quality and innovation — even in partnerships.

“RIOT Energy differentiated itself with the high quality and great ingredients younger audiences are seeking,” said Jeff White, CEO and president of Sierra Nevada, in a statement. “For 42 years, we’ve built our business on our commitment to quality. We are uniquely situated to provide a springboard of growth for RIOT Energy to be more competitive in the space.”

Since its founding in 2016, RIOT Energy has seen explosive growth, nearly doubling its footprint in 2022 alone, the company says. In January, RIOT Energy expanded distribution nationwide in Kroger, Walmart and Costco and plans to scale this growth even further, thanks to this partnership.