SACRAMENTO —
Sacramento beer enthusiasts are saying their city is undergoing a Beer Renaissance. The pre-prohibition hop capital of the world is ressurging as a microbrewery hot spot.
Sacramento Beer Week festivities kicked off Thursday. And many local breweries are hoping this year’s event is a success.
“Not even five or six years ago, there were only three to five breweries in the area,” Owner of Rubin Brewing Company, Glynn Phillips said. “We counted the other day, in Sacramento County, and every county that touches Sacramento, [there were] 40-plus breweries.”
27-year-old Rubicon is one of the oldest functioning breweries in the region. They are one of dozens of local companies showcasing their brews during the special celebration.
“Beer is a story,” Phillips said. “You meet at the local brewery, hopefully the Rubicon, have a pint, talk about whatever the days issues may be, it’s the story. Beer really adds to the community.”
Taking that idea of community to the next level is relative newcomer, four-year-old brewery, Ruhstaller Sacramento. They have taken the Farm to Fork concept to beer. They grow, brew, and sell locally.
“That connection is what is unique about Sacramento,” J-E Paino, manager of Ruhstaller Sacramento said. “We, unlike any other place, have an opportunity to actually grow hops. They can’t do this in SF, it’s hard to do it in San Diego.”
But with the severe drought conditions, beer makers have had to adjust their operations to conserve California’s precious water. Instead of getting bigger vats, Rubicon has added CO2 to their current ones, and dramatically increased temperatures for purification.
“Instead of using greater volumes we just use half as much for the same result,” Phillips said.
Meanwhile at the Ruhstaller farm in Dixon, hops are grown with drip irrigation from a well.
“Rather than us flooding the field with water, because a lot of the water evaporates, or going where it is not being drunk by plants, we are putting drops of water directly on where the roots can absorb it,” Paino said.
Despite the challenges presented by Mother Nature, it looks like there is no slowing down these beer makers.
“Competition is good. You just have to keep on your toes and keep doing it right,” Phillips said.
“There’s a lot of people doing it and I think it’s here to stay. I’m very encouraged,” Paino said.
All Sacramento Beer Week events and information can be found on the event website.
