Anderson Valley Brewing Company
A California Original Going 35+ Years Strong
Anderson Valley Brewing Company (AVBC) has been at the forefront of California’s, and the USA’s, independent craft brewing scene/industry/movement since 1987. They support watershed preservation efforts. Solar power is used to brew their beer. A beer festival, a disc golf course on their property, and road cycling hill climbs abound in the Booneville area, all made possible and/or supported by AVBC.
It is likely that if you’re heading up to the Mendocino coast, you’ll probably end up on Route 128 so that you can see the redwoods in the Navarro area. If that was not part of your plan, now you know. You really do want to drive 128. The twists and turns deliver to your windshield view a forest scape you can’t find anywhere else on Earth.
AVBC has their flagship beers that I’ve had many times over the years. Their Amber and Oatmeal Stout are two that are absolute classics of the styles, both having won numerous awards over the years. On the newer side of things, as of now/2023, there is AVBC’s Coastal Ale, a collaboration with Surfrider Foundation. Five percent of the gross profit of Coastal Ale goes towards Surfrider’s programs “to directly support their mission to protect the world’s ocean, waves and beaches for all.” Who can’t drink to that, if you do drink beer?
While hanging out at the tasting room, a steady stream of people flowing in and out and Christian pouring beers with the cheeriest of personalities possible by a human being, my wife decided that she wanted to try a gose/sour taster or more. It didn’t take long for her to realize that maybe she does like beer! The Peach Gose and the Briney Melon Gose (watermelon) taught her that German-style gose beers are light, refreshing beer offerings that can hit the spot, as we say, on a warm afternoon.
We picked up a few of those and others from the fridge, 6-packs packed into the car for the drive up 128 to the coast. We had the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens on our afternoon agenda, which was everything we expected it to be and more. If you’re up that way, check out the gardens.
One for the campfire:
Anderson Valley Brewing Company: https://avbc.com/
Mendocino County Botanical Gardens: https://www.gardenbythesea.org/