Mad River Brewing
Blue Lake, California
Mad River Steelhead Pale launches in 12 packs
Mad River Steelhead Extra Pale Ale – first launched in 1989, ships in new packaging this month.
Mad River Steelhead Extra Pale Ale has been around for 35 years, a craft brewing milestone. The brewery announced this week the beer will soon be available in 12-packs for the first time.
While our brand has evolved, Steelhead remains a quintessential part with a huge platform. This new package exemplifies our dedication to quality while expanding our reach, spotlighting tribal self-determination and resilience with a product people have loved for decades,” says CEO Linda Cooley.
Nearly a year ago, Mad River Brewery was acquired by the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians.
Mad River is also upgrading brewery equipment, including the canning line that currently runs around 35 cans per minute. The brewery hopes to triple that capacity by the end of 2025.
Mad River Steelhead Extra Pale Ale is available in 12/6-packs, and 12oz bottle 12-packs, in addition to the new 12oz, 12 pack offerings.
Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians acquire Mad River Brewing
The Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians has acquired Mad River Brewery from the Yurok Tribe in Northwestern California.
Mad River Brewery has changed ownership hands this week- now officially owned and female-led by the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians. The deal closed this week.
In 2019, Mad River Brewery became one of the first tribal breweries in the United States and the first tribal-owned brewery to partner with a Major League Baseball team, the San Francisco Giants. In 2021, the Paskenta Band opened The Paskenta Brewery and Distillery, the first tribal-owned distillery in California. This week, the Band extended its brewing and distilling portfolio with the Mad River Brewery acquisition.
“We’ve enjoyed great community response since opening Paskenta Brewery & Distillery. Now, with the acquisition of Mad River Brewery, we’re honored to extend our expertise in blending tribal identity and craft beer to the Northern California community and tribes across the nation. As we continue to innovate, we proudly lead the way in crafting beers and spirits within Indian Country.” – Andrew “Dru” Alejandre, Tribal Chairman
Linda Cooley heads Mad River Brewery as the Chief Executive Officer. “It fills my heart to know the business will remain in tribal hands and continue supporting the tribal community. I have no doubt Mad River Brewery will continue its growth with this Paskenta Partnership,” she says.
Mad River Brewing was opened in 1989 by brewmaster Bob Smith in Blue Lake, California, using some of Sierra Nevada’s original brewing equipment.
Sierra Nevada West Latitude Session Rye, for Beer Camp
Sierra Nevada West Latitude Session Rye will be part of the new Beer Camp Across America mixed pack in May, 2016.
The last round of Beer Camp Across America in 2014 featured 12 hand-picked breweries that created their own unique beer. In 2016, 30 breweries come together to collaborate, paired by geographic locations.
Sierra Nevada West Latitude Session Rye features five Northern California breweries (plus Hawaii) – a collaboration with Bear Republic, Maui Brewing, Faction Brewing, Magnolia Gastropub & Brewery, and Mad River Brewing Co. The team has created a low ABV session ale brewed with hibiscus.
Sierra Nevada West Latitude Session Rye combines our Californian Left Coast love of fruity hops with a touch of Hawaiian “aloha” from the addition of hibiscus flowers, all anchor by robust malts and spicy rye. This session beer is light in body and looks large, like the long shadows of the western sun.
Sierra Nevada West Latitude Session Rye will be a 12 ounce bottle offering in May, a part of the brewery’s Beer Camp Across America 12 pack. The beer will also be featured at the special Beer Camp events across the country.
Style: Pale Ale (w/ Hibiscus)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft.
Release: May, 2016
4.5% ABV
READ MORE: Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Across America
Introducing Saison Du Humbolt (PR)
HUMBOLDT, CA – For the first time, all five Humboldt County breweries recently came together to create a collaborative beer: Saison Du Humboldt. The beer was crafted by brewers from: Eel River Brewing Company, Lost Coast Brewery, Mad River Brewing Company, Redwood Curtain Brewing Company, and Six Rivers Brewery. It will be unveiled at HumBrews in Arcata on Monday, May 14, to celebrate the kick-off of American Craft Beer Week.
The idea for the collaboration was born when Meredith Ripley, co-owner of Six Rivers Brewery, was with Mad River Brewing Company’s Brewmaster, Dylan Schatz, and Sales and Marketing Coordinator, Tera Spohr, at the Great American Beer Festival shortly after the two breweries released Wee Heavy Ale collaboratively, in honor of Mad River Brewing Company’s anniversary.
“We were talking about how fun it would be to get all the breweries together and brew a great beer in honor of American Craft Beer Week, which runs May 14-20. I put the idea out to the rest of the beer gang in Humboldt and everyone quickly agreed,” said Ripley.
Next, all the brewers met to discuss the style of beer to make and formulate a recipe. They decided on Saison Du Humboldt, based on the Saison style of a sometimes slightly sour, refreshing, and somewhat strong summer ale (5 to 8 percent abv).
“As far as we know, this is the first time such a brew has been collaborated on by five separate breweries. The brew day was quite an event and meeting of the minds among five brewers, each doing their part. I hope it brings the same joy and merriment to all as it did for all of us,” said Carlos Sanchez, brewmaster of Six Rivers Brewery.
The brewing group has fondly dubbed themselves the Six Mad Lost Red Eels to incorporate the name of each brewery and hopes to make the collaboration an annual event.
“I personally would look forward to making a Humboldt Collaboration brew an annual event for American Craft Beer Week, with each edition being a different style every year. This project was great fun and very inspirational to all who participated. We have an amazingly brilliant collection of brewing minds in our area, and it has been a true pleasure to work together with everyone involved,” said Schatz.
Saison Du Humboldt, a one-time edition, limited production run, will be on draught at Humbrews starting Monday, May 14, for the kickoff of American Craft Beer Week which started in 2006 as a national celebration of America’s small and independent craft brewers and their impact on American culture. Saison Du Humboldt will also be available while it lasts at each participating brewery, Blondie’s Food and Drink in Arcata and The Local in E
Two Brewers, 600 lbs, A Wee Heavy Ale
Mad River Brewing Company and Six Rivers Brewery just released a collaboration celebrating Mad River’s 22nd anniversary.
The beer is a wee heavy ale named for each of the brewery’s head brewers: Dylan Schatz of Mad River and Carlos Sanchez of Six Rivers. Together the 2 collectively weigh over 600 lbs. The brewery’s say it’s a beer for those who “appreciate a full-bodied, malty Scotch Ale.” The collaboration was thought up at the Craft Brewer’s Conference this past year in San Francisco.
“Wee Heavy is a style of beer similar to the Scotch Ale, yet stronger. It is dark amber in color and just over eight percent alcohol. This brew goes great with smoked salmon, oysters and cured meats. Try it with haggis for a genuine Scottish delight,” said Sanchez.
Other notables:
Six Rivers Brewery was involved with last year’s Los Angeles Fashion Week and their Six River’s Bluff Creek Ale was served at the Emmy’s last year. Their Chili Pepper Ale has been featured in Rachel Ray Magazine. [PressRelease]
Mad River Adds Barrel Aging Program
Mad River Brewing is based in Blue Lake, California. Just announced recently the official addition of a barrel aging program. From Mad River:
Our brewing team is very excited about the launching of the Mad River barrel program! February 25th, 2011 saw the filling of Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels with our Steelhead Extra Stout and our John Barleycorn Barleywine 2010 Cellar Reserve. These barrels will be aged 3 to 4 months for the stout and up to 7 months for the barleywine, with draft release dates to be determined. In addition, an extremely limited bottling of each will be made available at our tasting room in Blue Lake, California. This will be a self-funding and perpetual program in the many years to come
Website —> http://www.madriverbrewing.com/
Mad River Releases Jamaica Sunrise E.S.B.
Mad River Brewing is releasing/shipping a new beer dubbed “Sunrise E.S.B.”. The beer joins the Jamaican line of beers by the Blue Lake, California brewery. Looks like the distribution is fairly limited. Here’s the press release rundown:
Mad River Brewing Company Releases Jamaica Sunrise E.S.B.
Our third installment to our popular Jamaica line of ales (Jamaica Red and Jamaica Sunset IPA), Jamaica Sunrise E.S.B. is a tribute to the classic English style. Light and crisp, this refreshing session ale is brewed with majority Pale and Aromatic malts and a dash of Carastan.
Full malty flavor and mouth feel are balanced by a continental hop profile provided by Fuggle and Golding hops. 5.4% ABV and 46.3 IBU’s. Available March 1st for limited draft distribution in California, Oregon and Washington.
