Beer Info

Beer News, Beer Releases and New Breweries

California

Temescal Brewing Is Now the No Jerks Ski Village

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OAKLAND, California – Back by popular demand, Temescal Brewing is transforming our taproom and beer garden into the No Jerks Ski Village from November through mid-February for warm, cozy, festive times.

Our goal is to bring aprés-ski vibes to the city. We give our space a floor-to-ceiling makeover for this pop-up. It starts at our front door with an eye-catching ski check. Indoors in the “Temescal Lodge,” we cover every inch with knick knacks, ski ephemera, floating presents, and lights, with a hearth as the centerpiece and plenty of places to take Instagrammable pictures with friends. Our outdoor heated and covered area, the “Festive Ballroom,” evokes a field of snow off the slopes and is available for party rentals for groups of 20-50 guests. All of this is a far cry from our usual pastel aesthetic that guests have enjoyed since we opened in 2016.

For the true ski devotees, we will offer a limited number of No Jerks Ski Village Season Passes. Pass holders get a personalized ID and lanyard, discounts on purchases and free rounds, plus beautiful and exclusive Ski Village merchandise. Pre-sales will be starting soon with details coming on our website.

The festive winter feel also make it onto our menu, with special seasonal beers like Cozy, a winter spiced ale; and our aptly named hazy IPAs: Festive Beverage and Fresh Powder. We’re also serving shotskis, along with hot beer toddies like our mulled version of Cozy. To top it off, we have non-alcoholic flaming hot cocoa and infinite pretzels.

P.S. Our biggest event of the year is right around the corner! Spooky Puppy is 10/29

About Temescal Brewing

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California Wild Ales Opens New Location in Point Loma

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POINT LOMA, San Diego— California Wild Ales announced the opening of its new brewery and tasting room at 3826 Sherman Street in Point Loma, California. The brewery moved to Point Loma from its original location in Sorrento Valley, operating since 2015 due to the demolition of its original location. The grand opening will occur on Sept. 15 from 12:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. PST.

The brewery will offer a wide variety of classic fruited sours, clean IPAs, and lagers, as well as seltzers and a non-alcoholic beer on its 20-tap system in its two-story tasting room overlooking the oak barrels. The Point Loma tasting room will also have food options from The Last Typewriter. Patrons can order gourmet burgers and fries, fusion-style fried chicken, toasted sandwiches, and more from a wall-mounted tablet, then have their food delivered to the tasting room.

Initially, the tasting room will be open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 8:00 p.m. Adjustments will be made when concerts and sporting events occur at nearby Pechanga Arena.

“We are thrilled to have found a new home in Point Loma,” said Bill DeWitt, co-founder of California Wild Ales. “The Sherman Street location provides the perfect space to serve our unique creations and offer an unforgettable experience with the exceptional flavors and craftsmanship that define California Wild Ales while immersing ourselves in the dynamic beer culture of Point Loma.”

Formerly occupied by Green Fix Green Juice and shared with Five Star Fish Processing, the 1,200-square-foot facility will be the new home for the California Wild Ales brewery facility and tasting room.. The brewery will make significant investments in new oak-foeders and all-new wine and spirit barrels for aging a wide variety of aged sour, wild and mixed-culture beers and guaranteeing exceptional quality and integrity.

The new space will follow the brewery’s tradition of featuring fun and funky creative design that exudes warmth and character and include reclaimed wood from Sorrento Valley repurposed to provide callbacks to the original tasting room. Similar to its Ocean Beach tasting room, located at 4896 Newport Ave, San Diego, which opened in 2021, the new venue will feature Legos, including a three-dimensional Lego sculpture of the brewery’s mascots Lacto, Brett and P.D.O., created by Mortarless Bricks representing the bacteria strains that are used to craft their sour beers.

One of the standout features of the new space is an impressive 18’x10.5′ movie screen, one of the largest of its kind outside of Petco Park. This colossal screen will be a centerpiece of the brewery, showcasing live sporting events such as the San Diego Gulls games, San Diego Padres games, NFL matchups, and more.

Additionally, like its OB location, the brewery will live-stream concerts, host live music, and have bar-top games, including ring-toss, landslide, roller bowler, rolo, washers and more, making it a hub for entertainment. In addition, the new location will house a 4-player retro arcade cabinet with 17,000 games and the brewery plans to add three more machines in the coming months.

Bill DeWitt noted, “This screen is massive, and I think once people see it, it will become a major draw for this location. It will be a fantastic place to catch live games, enjoy a craft beer, and soak up the atmosphere.”

For example, all October, the brewery plan to run horror movies and even host a live podcast from one of our fellow industry members, Kelly Cashman. Her podcast B Movie And A Beer will be a live episode projected onto our giant screen. Mortarless Bricks will also host “Bricks and Brews” twice a month, where patrons have the chance to design, build, and race their own Lego creations.

The vision for the new location is to create a welcoming atmosphere and provide unique experiences that enrich the community and beyond,” said Zack Brager, co-founder of California Wild Ales. “Being situated near Modern Times Beer and Bay City Brewing, we aspire to create a destination for beer lovers to explore and enjoy.”

Strategically located near Interstates 8 and 5, the tasting room is poised to become a hub for locals and visitors attending nearby sports events and concerts. Additionally, with the anticipated completion of the Midway Rising project—a 16,500-seat arena, hotel, retail spaces, and thousands of homes—California Wild Ales will capture the attention of a vibrant and expanding community.

When the brewery opens, the new tasting room will offer a wide assortment of beers, including:

· Warzone West Coast IPA

· The Point West Coast IPA

· Up the Hill Hazy IPA

· Rainbow Weather Double Hazy IPA

· Pesky Parrot Pale Ale

· Bike Lane Lager

· Dragon Fruit, Blueberry, Blackberry and Raspberry Sour Ale

· German Chocolate Cake Dark Sour

· Oak Barrel-aged Saison (collaboration with OB Brewery)

· Mead Barrel-aged Flanders-style Red Ale (collaboration with 13 Point Brewing and Lost Cause Meadery)

· Super Cuvée Brewer’s Blend

· Buzzed Bee (collaboration with Hoppy Beer Hoppy Life and Lost Cause Meadery)

· Sour Quadrupel with Kakawa Cold-brew Coffee

· Peach & Raspberry Hard Seltzer

About California Wild Ales

In 2015, California Wild Ales originally found its niche in San Diego County’s craft beer scene by focusing exclusively on brewing barrel-aged sour beers, setting itself apart as a unique and innovative establishment. Since then, California Wild Ales has introduced several clean beers, including IPAs, lagers, seltzers, red ale, and barrel-aged Saison. The brewery’s signature sour beer is aged in American, French, and Hungarian oak barrels for at least nine months and uses fresh, seasonal produce from local San Diego farmers, resulting in a refreshing, tart flavor profile. In 2023, the brewery relocated its brewery and tasting room to Point Loma, and in 2021, had a successful expansion with a satellite tasting room in Ocean Beach.

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Anderson Valley Brewing Company, Anderson Valley Winegrowers Team Up

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BOONVILLE, California— Anderson Valley Brewing Company (AVBC) revealed its top-secret code phrase for harvest workers. Until recently this closely kept secret was known only to a select few individuals and antlered bears. The code phrase is used as part of a new initiative at the brewery to welcome those working harvest from the surrounding vineyards and cellars for a discount on draft beer at the AVBC Beer Park Taproom. The phrasing was of intense interest to at least one code breaker we spoke to (on the condition of anonymity) who described the discount code as almost preternaturally mundane.

“We see this sometimes in the coded language of more remote cultures. In this case it’s almost like the brewery wants the harvest workers to take advantage of the discount.” “I’m working harvest, that’s the harvest worker discount code. That’s it; that’s all,” said AVBC President Kevin McGee. “It’s not actually even a secret, I’m not sure why we’re calling it a code. Doesn’t matter if you’re in the vineyards or the cellar either.

Look, we know it takes a lot of beer to get through harvest season and with the hours and effort involved it certainly should be really good beer. For 35 years we’ve been a part of this community and we’d like to support those who are working these long hours. This is a small way of showing our respect and appreciation.” The harvest discount will run throughout September and October.

About AVBC

About Anderson Valley Brewing Company Founded in 1987, Anderson Valley Brewing Company brews hand-crafted, authentic beers with balance, complexity, and an unwavering commitment to sustainably producing world-class beer. As the World’s First Solar Powered Brewery, AVBC leads the craft beer industry as pioneers in responsible brewing and innovators in environmental sustainability practices. Anderson Valley Brewing Company beer is available in 40 states and at its taproom in Boonville, California.

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Firestone Walker Launches Mind Haze Tropical Hazy Mixed Pack

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PASO ROBLES, California— From the minds behind Mind Haze comes the psychedelic new 2023 edition of the “Mind Haze Tropical Hazy Mixed Pack,” which includes the all-new Mind Haze Tropic Rocket IPA.

With this new mixed pack, Firestone Walker’s Mind Haze IPA experience now includes three spinoffs—Tropic Rocket, Tiki Smash and Citrus Cyclone, all of which feature exotic reinterpretations of the original Mind Haze.

“The Mind Haze canvas lends itself perfectly to different hops, fresh flavors and new ideas,” said Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. “This mixed pack gave us the opportunity to get creative and have fun reimagining the flavor possibilities. Each beer is built upon the main Mind Haze recipe, but they also come with their own tropical-inspired twists.”

The Mind Haze Tropical Hazy Mixed Pack is rolling out to all Firestone Walker markets in 12-pack (12-ounce can) formats and is also available at each Firestone Walker location. The Mind Haze Tropical Hazy Mixed Pack features the following three beers:

Mind Haze “Tropic Rocket” IPA

Blast into a psychedelic world of tropical hop flavor with Tropic Rocket—the latest addition to Firestone Walker’s family of Mind Haze IPAs. Tropic Rocket is dry hopped with Galaxy, Strata, Hüll Melon, El Dorado and Sabro, which creates explosive flavors of passionfruit, melon and strawberry. “Galaxy really drives the Southern Hemisphere passionfruit flavors of this beer,” Brynildson said. “Strata is the other star of the show—it’s really distinct from other Pacific Northwest hops, providing a strawberry note that plays well with Galaxy. The name ‘Tropic Rocket’ fits this beer because it’s super loaded with tropical fruit character.”

Mind Haze “Tiki Smash” IPA

Tiki Smash IPA delivers a tiki-inspired flavor combination born of pure hops and freshly toasted coconut. Original Mind Haze hops including Azacca are now joined by Motueka and Sabro hops. The Azacca portion has been increased to amplify the sense of pineapple tropical character, while Sabro delivers its complementary coconut qualities. “We use an elaborate system to introduce freshly toasted coconut for a smooth, subtle extraction,” Brynildson said. “The resulting beer showcases the special synergy of natural coconut with the tropical hop flavors of Mind Haze.”

Mind Haze “Citrus Cyclone” IPA

Citrus Cyclone IPA delivers a head-spinning taste of all the citrus flavors under the sun, finished with a kiss of real tangerine. The base beer is co-fermented with fresh California tangerines. This base is blended back with a separate lot of dry-hopped Mind Haze, then finished off with a final dash of tangerine to elevate the citrusy top note. Along the way, the Mandarina hop adds a distinctive orange character. The result is a remarkably refreshing Mind Haze experience.

About Firestone Walker

Founded by brothers-in-law Adam Firestone and David Walker in 1996, Firestone Walker Brewing Company is a California beer company with three innovative brewing facilities. Firestone Walker’s main brewery in Paso Robles produces a diverse portfolio ranging from iconic pale ales to vintage barrel-aged beers. The Barrelworks facility in Buellton makes eccentric wild ales, while the Propagator pilot brewhouse in Venice specializes in R&D beers and limited local offerings. Firestone Walker is also the brewery behind 805, one of the nation’s fastest-growing beers. Firestone Walker was recently named “Best American Brewery of the Decade” by Paste Magazine.

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Side Gate Brewery Releases Special Beer for Two-Year Anniversary

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CONCORD, California— Side Gate Brewery &Beer Garden, the premier beer garden in Concord, California, is celebrating its two-year anniversary on Saturday, August 26, 2023. The anniversary event will feature a special beer release of the Super Sucker for Succulents (DIPA), 20 percent off merchandise, food from Ofie’s kitchen, and a live performance by the Jr. DeVille Blues Band from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The celebration is free, open to the public (all ages) and will take place at 1822 Grant Street, Concord, CA 94520.

“As home brewers, it was a dream come true to open the doors of Side GateBrewery & Beer Garden two years ago,” said Paul Culbertson and KevinWilson, co-founders and co-brewers at Side Gate Brewery. “It’s been such a fun adventure these past couple of years, and we are incredibly thankful to all our patrons, community members, industry partners and friends who have played an instrumental role in building Side Gate to what it is today.”

Since first opening its doors on September 10, 2021, Side Gate has become a pillar in both the local and beer communities. The brewery has had several collaborations with fellow breweries throughout the Bay Area, hosted brew competitions allowing home brewers the opportunity to collaborate and brew on a commercial scale, started canning and distributing beers with unique and custom art, and provided an outdoor experience where friends and family can gather over live music and a continuously rotating selection of craft beer.

The two-year anniversary is the first of two major Fall events for SideGate Brewery. Following the anniversary celebration, the brewery will be hosting an unforgettable Oktoberfest on Saturday, September 16, 2023, from 12pm to 9pm.Side Gate’s Oktoberfest will feature live music all day, a craft fair, stein holding contest, corn hole, brats/sliders/pretzels and shaved ice, andGerman-style beers on tap.

About Side Gate Brewery & Beer Garden

Side Gate Brewery & Beer Garden was founded by two Bay Area natives, Kevin Wilson and Paul Culbertson, who met as coworkers and bonded over their love of craft beer and home brewing. Located in ContraCosta County, Side Gate offers a diverse lineup of core beers, which are all brewed on-site, and maintains the largest beer garden in Concord, California.

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Dr Hops Moves into Hard Seltzer with New ‘Spiked Living Seltzer’

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CALIFORNIA – Leaning on their expertise in kombucha fermentation, Dr Hops (Dr Hops Kombucha Beer) is set to launch the world’s first hard seltzer containing live house-fermented cultures. This innovative new shelf-stable beverage line, branded “Dr Hops Spiked Living Seltzer™”, is being released this August/September in California and Chicago in 4-packs of 12oz “sleek” cans. A wider launch throughout California, Arizona, Florida, and New England is planned for spring 2024.

Designed for health-conscious alcohol consumers, particularly Millennial and Gen Z drinkers, “Spiked Living Seltzer™” brings the ancient natural wisdom of kombucha together with the easy drinkability of craft hard seltzer. As Dr Hops sees it, it’s an inspiring, authentic way for them to further fuel the trend toward recreational beverages with added benefits. 43% of the top fastest-growing hard seltzers in the U.S. are brands with added benefits! (IRI 52 weeks thru 7/9/23 TTL US Multi Malt and Spirits database $$ sales and calculated price per case.)

“It would be much easier for us to use industrially produced probiotics or prebiotic additives,” says co-founder and Chief Rabbit Joshua Rood. “But for my money, I’d rather bet on the wisdom of mother nature, and kombucha has evolved naturally for longer than you and I can even fathom. So we’ve developed a way to get many of our kombucha’s best qualities, including live cultures, fresh organic acids, and polyphenols, into a shelf-stable format.” Shelf stability enables widespread distribution, addressing a key challenge in reaching a broad audience.

Just like their legacy Real Hard Kombucha™ products, Dr Hops’ Spiked Living Seltzers are made with real fruit and without any artificial sugars. They boast 6% ABV, 140 calories, and just 4 grams of sugar per 12 fl oz serving. And true to their namesake, they all have a hint of aromatic and soothing hops to enhance the drinking experience.

The Spiked Living Seltzer™ range includes four tantalizing flavors: PINEAPPLE PUNCH (Pineapple Tangerine), STRAWB’RY SMASH (Strawberry Watermelon), GUAVA GLAM (Guava Orange Passionfruit), and ROSÉ RUSH (Peach Rosé). The packaging showcases Dr Hops’ original enlightened rabbit, a symbol of their commitment to love, community, and recreational awesomeness.

As the beverage industry evolves, Dr Hops continues to push the limits and create original, cutting-edge products. Spiked Living Seltzer™ is a testament to their dedication to crafting beverages that give consumers the best that nature has to offer in a format that can be widely distributed.

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BarrelHouse Brewing Takes Ownership of Historic Sherwood Field Hangar

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PASO ROBLES, California— BarrelHouse Brewing Co. is proud to announce its expansion in Paso Robles, CA, through their purchase of THE HANGAR. This historic property is on the corner of Niblick Road and Creston Road. The plans for THE HANGAR Project will bring excitement and variety to this expanding area of Paso Robles.

BarrelHouse Brewing Co. is excited to write the next chapter in their history with the creation of THE HANGAR. This legendary 10-acre property, nestled within East Paso Robles, will become the home to their all-new production facility.

“We are bringing the Good People, Good Times and Great Beer that started in Tin City and expanding it to this amazing new location,” stated Jason Carvalho, BarrelHouse Brewing Co. Owner/Founder.

THE HANGAR project consists of 100,000 square feet of conditioned space on 10 acres of property, which will house a larger brewhouse, new packaging equipment and will allow for the much-needed expansion of production. This updated brewing facility will be even more efficient, utilizing state-of-the-art equipment and eco-friendly solar, water and CO2 technology.

“BarrelHouse Brewing Co. strives to be good stewards of our environment while crafting high-quality, balanced beers,” stated Jason Carvalho.

The 5-year vision for THE HANGAR includes an open market concept utilizing the 1940s hangar and surrounding grounds to service the growing population on Paso Robles’s east side. The dream is to partner with the very best local purveyors and artisans, showcasing the premium foods, beverages, and services the area has to offer while locals can enjoy community with family and friends.

The charm of THE HANGAR’s legacy stretches back to the golden age of aviation. Built in 1940 by the Army Corp. of Engineers, the original hangar was the Central Coast base of operations for the US Army Air Force and Navy during World War II. After the war, multiple generations of working families were employed by the Ennis Paper Company on these grounds, creating a unique history in Paso Robles that needs to be shared.

BarrelHouse’s design vision will showcase this colorful history (including actual vintage airplanes and printer presses) while creating a spectacular new community experience. THE HANGAR Project is a unique tribute to local history, deepening the roots of BarrelHouse Brewing Co. in the community that it calls home.

BarrelHouse Brewing Co., the largest American family-owned Brewery on the Central Coast, is dedicated to producing premium quality craft beer while bringing the community together. THE HANGAR is an exciting new opportunity to further build BarrelHouse Brewing Co.’s promise of bringing together Good People, Good Times and Great Beer, where everyone is welcome.

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AleSmith Brewing Company Extends .394 Line with Session .394

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SAN DIEGO, California – AleSmith Brewing Company is proud to announce the release of Session .394, a light, sessionable beer in cans and draft throughout San Diego. Following in the footsteps of their original .394 beer, collaboration with Hall-of-Famer Tony Gwynn, this rendition has a lower alcohol content while still packing all of the hop character you love. The light, easy-drinking beer is sure to be a hit with those looking for a lower alcohol option without sacrificing flavor.

This new release speaks to Tony Gwynn’s original vision of creating a beer that was both easy-drinking and full of flavor – one that could be enjoyed by everyone. It is this same vision that has guided AleSmith Brewing Co. since 1995 as they have grown into one of San Diego’s most beloved brewers who continue to honor Gwynn’s legacy through their .394 line.

Session .394 is a San Diego-style Session Pale Ale brewed with Mosaic and Citra hops giving it lovely notes of citrus and pineapple for an enjoyable drinking experience that transcends style boundaries. This crushable .394 embodies Tony Gwynn’s original vision of a beer that is “light with a kick.” Weighing in at 4.9% ABV, Session .394 will provide relief from heat during long summer days without sacrificing taste or quality.

“We are thrilled to extend our popular .394 product line with this lighter version,” said Brandon Richards, President of AleSmith Brewing Company. “As always, we believe in creating beers that represent the highest quality standard so drinkers can enjoy them no matter what their lifestyle or taste preference.”

“I am so proud of our ability to continue honoring Tony Gwynn and his legacy with this new version of .394,” said Peter Zien, Owner and CEO of AleSmith Brewing Company. “This version is an easy-drinking rendition that embodies Tony’s original vision of a full-flavored beer with a light body. It’s the perfect way to celebrate America’s favorite pastime in our hometown – San Diego!”

Session .394 will be available in cans and draft throughout San Diego beginning this month. Fans can look forward to enjoying the new offering at AleSmith’s tasting room in Miramar as well as other locations throughout San Diego County. Find the retailer nearest you by visiting AleSmith’s Beer Finder.

ABV: 4.9%

About AleSmith Brewing Company

Forged in 1995, AleSmith has been recognized by consumers and critics alike as one of the world’s foremost craft brewing companies behind accolades that include medals won at prestigious national and international beer competitions. In addition to being well established within its hometown of San Diego, AleSmith was acknowledged by the RateBeer community as the Top Brewer in California and the 4th Best Brewery in the World in 2017. AleSmith also received the Champion Brewery Award for the past three years at the San Diego International Beer Competition and was named Small Brewing Company of the Year at the Great American Beer Festival in 2008. AleSmith is celebrating its 23rd year in business and occupies a 109,942 square-foot facility with a state-of- the-art brewery. AleSmith is currently ranked #9 out of 33,000+ breweries worldwide.

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Alpine Beer Opens Taproom at Petco Park in San Diego

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San Diego, California – Alpine Beer, the iconic Southern California craft brand from SweetWater Brewing Company, announces that it will serve its West Coast-style craft brews to baseball fans this season at its new taproom opening at Petco Park – named the No.1 Major League Baseball ballpark by USA Today. Located on the ballparks upper level, section 309, Alpine Beer’s new taproom is a space where fans can enjoy both Alpine Beers classics and latest craft brew innovations, while experiencing baseball at one of the top-ranked baseball stadiums in the country, now open during gamedays and special events.

Ty Gilmore, President, U.S. Beer, Tilray Brands, Inc. said, “We couldn’t be more excited to open an Alpine Beer taproom at iconic Petco Park in the brand’s hometown of San Diego, California. Fans have waited all winter for the return of baseball, and we are proud to welcome them on opening day with a cold pint of our refreshing, hop-forward beers. Petco Park has done a fantastic job making Southern California’s world-class beer scene a part of the fan experience and opening this taproom is an invaluable opportunity for us to connect deeper with the community.”

The expansive rooftop bar and patio features beautiful scenic views of San Diego Bay and Coronado Bridge. Fans can enjoy draft pours of Alpine Beer’s most popular brews, like Nelson IPA, Duet IPA, as well as the new Infinite Haze Hazy IPA, which has quickly become a best seller in Southern California since it was released late last year.Along with the famous brews making its debut at Petco Park, local fan favorite food items join the taproom menu as the latest additions to the stadium’s award-winning venue options. This includes house made Smoked Hot Links and Smoked Choripan Sausage Sandwiches from Grand Ole BBQ, based out of North Park, San Diego.

As part of the Alpine Beer experience at the Petco Park, fans can also check out the Alpine Beer concession stand on Craft Row, located in the main concourse behind home plate. Further, the brand will participate in all Petco Park Beerfest events throughout the season. These pregame, tailgate-style parties feature live music and limited Alpine Beer specials. The first event will be on March 31, 2023, with additional events coming this summer in May, June, July and August with beers for sale through the “Beer Me” digital ordering app.

About Alpine Beer:

Founded as a small-town brewery in Southern California with a passion for great beer and a thirst for adventure, Alpine Beer has been crafting high-quality ales since 1999. Known as the “Home of Pure Hoppiness,” people have traveled from near and far to get ahold of our special beers. Today, Alpine Beer remains committed to brewing hop-forward beers and bringing them to beer lovers from coast-to-coast.

Alpine Beer is a part of the SweetWater Brewing Company’s family of brands.

About SweetWater Brewing Company:

One of Atlanta’s original craft breweries, founded 26 years ago, SweetWater Brewing is now the 10th largest craft brewery in the U.S. With two flagship breweries in Atlanta, Georgia, and Fort Collins, Colorado, SweetWater’s award-winning craft beers and ready-to-drink cocktails are available coast to coast and in more states than ever before. Inspired by the outdoors, SweetWater is a passionate advocate for healthy waterways and conservation initiatives. Through its annual Save Our Water campaign, SweetWater continues to raise funds to support nonprofit organizations fighting for clean water and habitat conservation, including the Waterkeeper Alliance, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, and Trout Unlimited.

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Knee Deep Brewing Announces Launch of This Year’s Perfect Fit IPA

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AUBURN, California – “The first thing that surprised me was how happy they were to be here.”

That’s what Jerry Moore, owner and CEO of Knee Deep Brewing Company in Auburn, California, said about the employees with autism that the company hired in its canning and packaging operations in 2020.

But Moore didn’t set out to hire people with autism out of charity.

“We were having trouble finding reliable, hardworking employees to do the work,” he said. Moore acquired Knee Deep Brewing Company a few months after it was founded in 2010. Initially using a contract brewing facility in South Lake Tahoe, the brewery shipped kegs to bars and restaurants just over the Nevada border in Reno. Fast-forward to 2013, when operations moved to its current home, a 37,000 square-foot, 40 BBL brewhouse with multiple 120 BBL fermenters.

Today Knee Deep cranks out kegs, cans, and bottles and expects to hit 15,000-16,000 BBLs in 2023. Knee Deep beer is shipped throughout the country and to Japan, China, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Australia, and for the first time this March, Singapore—with a tap room on site where visitors can taste beers as the brewing happens.

Call it a brew with a view.

2020 was also about the time Knee Deep’s hiring woes threatened to slow down production. Moore reached out to PRIDE Industries, a Sacramento area social enterprise that recruits, trains, places, and supports people with disabilities to provide a wide variety of manufacturing services. It turned out to be a great match for Knee Deep’s needs.

“We’ve been extremely pleased with our PRIDE Industries team members,” Moore said. “They show up on time, work hard, are a lot of fun, and have turned out to be a perfect fit.”

Such a great fit that when Knee Deep launched its first special brew to call attention to Autism Awareness Month in April 2022, they named the beer Perfect Fit, complete with a PRIDE Industries logo on the cans to call attention to autism and promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in the workforce. The brewery made 10 barrels and sold out in a few weeks.

“It was an English style IPA which people liked,” said Brewmaster Dean Roberts, “but I think people also liked the cause of autism awareness, and it gave them a reason to choose that beer.”

This year’s Perfect Fit will be a classic west coast IPA with Cascade hops, 5.5 ABV, and an IBU of 30. Knee Deep is making 30 barrels this time around in anticipation of the demand. The company will be donating a portion of proceeds to The Michael Ziegler PRIDE Industries Foundation, which provides programs to help people with disabilities, veterans, and foster youth become job-ready, and to Autism Rocks, a local foundation promoting acceptance and inclusion of neurodiversity in schools, communities, and workplaces.

“Awareness is great, but we want to do more,” Moore said. “We see the power of acceptance and inclusion and we want to spread to the news.”

Should other breweries consider hiring people with autism or other disabilities? “It’s not that different from hiring anyone else,” Moore said. “It’s finding the right person for the right job. This job happens to work for these individuals, and they love it.”

Take Zach, for example. He’s one of three PRIDE Industries employees at Knee Deep. Ask him if he likes his job and he’ll answer immediately: “I love it.”

“They’re happy to be here, and that’s contagious,” said Brewmaster Roberts. “We’re all one team and everyone enjoys working together. You don’t even think about the disability part anymore.”

It helps that a PRIDE Industries job coach is on hand to make sure everything runs smoothly.

“I love working with this team,” said coach Aaron Cartwright-Vasquez. “They’re great workers—I have to make sure they take their breaks.” Cartwright-Vasquez provides transportation for those that need it, and makes sure everyone understands their schedules, which can vary from week to week. “They’re waiting for me every morning with a smile on their faces.”

PRIDE Industries provides contract manufacturing services for consumer-packaged goods, electronics, and medical devices. Services include manufacturing, supply chain and logistics, and packaging and fulfillment. Customers range from local businesses like Knee Deep Brewing Company to global powerhouses like Hewlett Packard.

“Knee Deep Brewing has always been proud to have the best people working for it,” the company says on its website. “Without them, we would not be where we are today. With great people, comes great beer!”

Cheers to that!

For More Information:
https://kneedeepbrewing.com/

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