We took 1st place in two categories.

The Baltic Porter held on to 1st Place in the Robust and Baltic Porter category for the 2nd year in a row.

It was joined by the Siamese Twin Ale, which claimed a surprising 1st Place in the Belgian Blonde category.

It’s a day for a little celebration.

On the upside it does mean that there’s a lot of beer and brewery news. The brewery’s plans for expansion were approved by the City, and so we’ve begun moving forward with the installation of our new brewhouse and cellar. Finally there’ll be less of a reason for other brewers to walk into our place and ask, “Wait, you make that beer here?”

We’ll miss the old bits of junked-together spare parts that make up the current brewhouse, from the bulletproof Navy-surplus kettle, to the industrial butter churn/mash tun… but not that much.

Some new beers are in the pipeline, so keep an eye out for those.

We’re also happy to report that things are going well out on the East Coast with Paleewong Trading Co, our new partners out in New York. They’re currently selling cans of the Siamese Twin Ale, and should be able to begin draft sales of the Twin within the near future.

On top of the brewing, construction, and expanding distribution, we’re also facing a peak in the festival season. This coming weekend, June 4th-6th, will find Uncommon Brewers at no less than six events.

On the 5th our Head Brewer, Alec will be at the Redwood Mountain Fair, as well as at the Scotts Valley Farmers Market “Griller’s Delight” earlier in the day. 

Fans of the brewery can also meet our Brewer, Reed at the Monterey Beer Festival on the 5th.

And chat with some of our old friends helping out at The Beerfest in Santa Rosa that same day.

Then on Sunday the 6th, Alec will be pouring up in the Sonoma Plaza for the annual Ox Roast.

And finally, since all of our beer is unfiltered and unpasteurized Real Ale, two kegs of Bacon Brown will be making an appearance at the Port Brewing Real Ale Festival, which starts Friday afternoon.

It’s a hell of a weekend for the brewery, on top of what’s already been a crazy first five months to the year. It’s June already?

The website will be updated with photos from our construction, as well as an update to our woefully out-of-date list of available locations, later this week.

cheers

First off, 21st Amendment will be hosting Can-A-Palooza on the 8th of February. Check out the great offerings of canned beer, including our Siamese Twin Ale.

Two days later we’ll be over at the SF Beer Week “Beer-in” at Cobb’s Comedy Club. There’ll be jokes and beer the night of the 10th.

We’ll be back in our home territory in Santa Cruz for a Can Beer Chicken Night and Canned Beer, where our Brewmaster, Alec, will be talking canned beer with the crowd.

Then it’s back up to San Francisco Friday evening for a night of beer from Uncommon Brewers as we’re hosted by the fine folks at The Church Key. We’ll be doing our San Francisco release of the Bacon Brown Ale, and have a few of our other offerings on tap at the bar.

We’ll finish out the week by traveling over to visit our neighbors in San Jose. The Tied House is hosting Meat the Brewers from 1-5pm. There’ll be a whole pig roasted, and we’ll be bringing our best and latest.

We’ll be bringing our Rubidus Red Ale, Baltic Porter, and first public tapping of our much anticipated Bacon Brown Ale.

Yes, it’s really brewed with bacon.

… and it’s delicious.

That fun starts tomorrow morning.

Except for us right now. We have video proof of us working, thanks to the guys at Tallcan TV. They tracked down our Head Brewer, Alec, at the recent Canfest in Reno, Nevada. Check out what they had to say about the beer.

We keep getting asked when the Porter and Golden are going to be released in cans. We’re asking the same questions around here. The good news is that the artwork is finished. The bad news is that we’re still working out the details on matching our ink colors on the cans.

The brewery’s expansion is also moving ahead. We’re on track to take possession of our new location on the 1st of December, with construction starting almost immediately afterwards. We’ll be installing a monster 30bbl system, which means that we’ll be able to help out all of you outside of California asking for our beers.

Please also check out the most recent issue of Celebrator. We’re proud to have been featured in an article, and can promise that the Bacon Brown Ale is just a few weeks away from its first commercial-scale batch.

In other release news, the Rubidus Red Ale is kegged and conditioning. It’ll be available for release in just a few weeks.

cheers.
uncommon brewers

We’re definitely feeling like celebrating on this Fourth of July. As of the end of June, Uncommon Brewers is operating at full capacity. One year into release we’re selling as much beer as we can make, and there’s now a wait list for new draft accounts. Plans for a major expansion are under way. If you like our beer now, just wait until we replace our piecemeal bits of used dairy tools and Navy surplus kettle with real brewing equipment.

The goal for August is to start providing a regular weekly update on what we’re doing around the brewery.

In the meantime, we’re well overdue in mentioning that our beer can now be found down in Southern California. The fine folks at Artisan Ales are now distributing Uncommon Brewers products in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties.

Closer to home, we’re excited about the upcoming release of the Golden State Ale and Baltic Porter in 16 oz. cans. Those two are expected to be joining the Siamese Twin Ale on retail shelves within the next two months.

Availability on retail shelves is growing rapidly. We’re being carried in nearly all of the Santa Cruz-based New Leaf supermarkets, as well as in many Bay Area Whole Foods locations.

Two new beers will be joining the lineup in the coming weeks.

Our Rubidus Red Ale is quickly becoming a favorite around the brewery. A deep copper red, brewed with maple sugar, and the most uncommon addition of Candy Cap mushrooms. If you don’t know what Candy Caps are, ask someone who does. The smile on their face should explain everything. This beer is a savory red ale with a bloom of maple aroma, 7.8% ABV.

It will be joined by the Sinister Twin Ale, a beast born out of a double-strength batch of the Siamese Twin Ale. The Sinister falls into that rare category of Belgian-style quadrupels. It remains eerily drinkable at 12.5% ABV.

Both of these will be available to draft accounts just as soon as the kegs are ready.

cheers,
Uncommon Brewers

It will be taking place at the Red Restaurant and Lounge just a block from downtown Santa Cruz on Friday the 6th of February at 6:30pm.

We’re really excited about the event. It will be four courses pared with our beers, prepared by Chef Tod Williamson of Nepenthe in Big Sur.

First:
Gulf shrimp with a salsa verde cruda and Tobasco-butter sauce
paired with Golden State Ale

Second:
Braised pork belly in Cola, star anise, and tamarind with coriander apple chutney
paired with Siamese Twin Ale

Main:
Short ribs in Baltic Porter and apple juice with parsnip puree and a gratin of endive and prosciutto
paired with Baltic Porter

Afters:
Pickled red flame grapes under shaved chocolate with blood orange syrup
paired with an unreleased Sinister Twin Ale

At this time we haven’t planned for a vegetarian option, though it is being considered.

Seating is limited to 12 tables. The price will be $65 per plate.

Reservations may be made by emailing info (at) uncommonbrewers (dot) com, or by calling the brewery at (831)621-6270.

Also look for our beers appearing during SF Beer Week at The Monk’s Kettle, Millennium Restaurant (where there certainly will be a vegetarian option), and during the cheese tasting at the Rogue Ales Public House on the 11th.

The Baltic Porter (7.8% ABV) is brewed with Star Anise and Black Licorice.

All of our beers are certified CCOF organic.