Microbrews and Food

"Steve's Beer Garden" is back again. Steve will be offering microbrews from Etna Brewing of Etna, California and Lost Coast Brewery of Eureka, California. Join Steve for fun conversation and bar seating.

Chef Shannon Lewis will be serving up yummy sandwiches off the grill.

Etna Brewing Company - Etna, California
(from Northwest Brewing News — June/July 2010)
Website: http://etnabrew.net/

Recognition for excellence has been an Etna Brewery constant since the 19th century. Charles Kappler, a German descendant, founded Etna Brewing in 1872. The first award came in 1909 when the U.S. Health Bulletin from New York City made the unsolicited announcement that Export Lager was one of the two top beers in the nationwide survey. But four years after Etna won first place at the 1915 World Fair in San Francisco, all breweries were shut down by federal decree.

Closed since Prohibition in 1919, the brewery reopened in 1990. Owners Dave and Marilyn Krell bought Etna Brewery in May 2001. Six years ago they hired brewmaster Bill Behm,and success has followed.

Sitting near the aromatic brewhouse kitchen, Marilyn says, "This is fun. We love the community, we love the history. The business has been an immense roller coaster ride. We feel that we have great products, and the awards we've won are a bit of validation of that — especially when we compete against so many larger breweries."

In all, Etna Brewing produces 18 different ales, lagers and stouts. Using six fermenters and 13 brite tanks, the brewery makes 400-500 barrels of beer annually. Among Etna's award winners are Kappler Stout, 10% ABV, which won a gold medal at the 2004 World Beer Cup competition. In '07, Mossback IPA, 6.5% ABV, won gold at the World Beer Championships. Old Grind Porter, 5.5% ABV, won first place at the World Beer Cup in '06. It also took silver in '05 at the Great American Beer Festival, and has done well at the California State Fair (first place in '05 and '07). Blackberry Blonde, 4.8% ABV, won second place at the '07 state fair. Classic Gold, 5% ABV, won silver at the same fair in '05. In the taproom, Pig Alley Pilsner, Ridge Runner Ruby Lager and Kappler Imperial Stout are unfiltered and pumped directly out of the brite tanks downstairs.

Lost Coast Brewery - Eureka, California
Website: http://www.lostcoast.com/

The Lost Coast Brewery and Café began with a common dream. In 1986 Barbara Groom, a pharmacist, and Wendy Pound,a family counselor, wondered what it would require to start their own brewpub. After years of experimental home brewing, planning and studying, which included visiting scores of pubs in England and Wales, Barbara and Wendy were ready to transform their dream into a reality.

With the 1989 purchase of the Pythian Castle, a 100-year-old building in Eureka, California, the café was ready to open. The building, a restored wood frame structure constructed in 1892, was purchased from the original owners, The Fraternal Order of the Knights of Pythias. After spending the winter and spring engaged in extensive remodeling, the Lost Coast Brewery and Café became a living dream in July of 1990.

The cool maritime climate of the Humboldt Bay region has proved to be very conducive to brewing quality ales. The year-round average temperature of 55º Fahrenheit is ideal for top-fermenting ale yeast. While embracing the rich tradition of English-style ales, Master Brewer Barbara Groom has added a distinctive West Coast flavor to her ales by brewing with Western Plains barley and wheat and the exceptionally clean water of Humboldt County.

Since its humble beginning in 1990, the brewery has outgrown the original facilities in the Pythian Castle and moved production to a larger site down the street. After a record-breaking year in 2005, producing over 24,000 barrels, Lost Coast Brewery has expectations of breaking the 30,000-barrel mark. Lost Coast Brewery is the 46th largest brewery in the United States and distributes its fine ales in 19 states.