What do you do with a pile of adobe soil? Tony Magee, founder and owner of Lagunitas Brewing Co., had an idea…

“The dirt needed to go somewhere,” he said. “All of a sudden it became apparent to me. It was exactly the right amount of material to create an amphitheater. In my mind, a stage appeared. There were no architectural plans at first; it was very impromptu.”

An estimated 300 people filled the venue as Tony Magee took the stage as the opening act for  Texas-based singer-songwriter James McMurtry.

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ol’ Republic Brewery of Nevada City is looking forward to opening their doors sometime in the next two months.
Thanks to the passing of the CSBA sponsored AB1014, a bill to make it easier for breweries to install tasting rooms, their road just got a little less complicated and a lot less costly.

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Up until recently, the three year old Hangar 24 Brewery has operated its beer making and distribution out of a 4000 sf hanger at the Redlands Municipal Airport, in Redlands, California. But now, Ben Cook, founder and Master Brewer for Hanger 24 is expanding operations and has landed distribution operations across town in a new 22,000 sf facility.  Ben Cook and Hanger 24 Brewery like to stay local; and the town of Redlands likes that.  Tom McCormick, Executive Director of the California Small Brewers Association gets a bit of air time in this article as well.

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Ladyface Alehouse and Brasserie, located in the Conejo Valley,  will have a week long celebration for their first anniversary January 23rd to the 29th. Ladyface will release two new brews, including their First Anniversary Ale.  The celebration includes a Quarterly BREWMASTER’S DINNER- Anniversary Special and ends the week on Saturday with live music featuring Mid-Life Crisis.

LadyFace Ale Companie was named for the mountain it’s restaurant’s patio faces. They are the only microbrewery in the Conejo Valley and believe in handcrafted and artisanal products.

LadyFace Ale Companie
29281 Agoura Road
Agoura Hills, CA 91301
(818) 477-4566

Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company is making their mark in the Santa Ynez Valley. The Dietenhofer family’s Bavarian heritage and focus to create high quality beers with the best ingredients,  incorporates not only hops but oak leaves which are indigenous to the area.  Jaime Dietenhofer, co-founder and owner of Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company, grew up in the Santa Ynez Valley. He went for a rustic feel, using the local area as an inspiration in developing their brewery. Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company opened November 2010.

See full story about Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company here

Do you know what makes Friday October 8th, 2010 so special?

Well today is the 34th anniversary of the incorporation of New Albion Brewery , the first California brewery to obtain a new license after prohibition.

Previously located on Eighth Street East in Sonoma, New Albion Brewery was launched in 1976 and reportedly was built from scratch using old dairy equipment and junkyard parts.

Founder Jack McAuliffe, an engineer by trade, launched New Albion and was one of the first pioneers in the craft beer revolution.  Jack had been in the Navy and spent time in Scotland and when he returned to California he found “a paucity of good beer” and set out to do something about it.  The brewery closed around 1982-1983.

Many consider New Albion to be “the first modern craft brewery” and hold it’s memory in high esteem.
Happy Anniversary New Albion Brewery!