SID ROBINSON
CRAFT BEER
Greetings wine appreciators. With Gino Filippi taking a week off from his column, let’s change glasses and take a look into the expanding world of craft beer.
Along with news about a host of new breweries that have recently
opened or that are planning to open soon, we’re thrilled to share news
that the local region’s pioneer craft brewery, Dale. Bros Brewery in
Upland recently captured a bronze medal at this year’s Great American
Beer Festival, the most prestigious and important beer competition in
the U.S.
To put the honor in perspective, the
GABF competition drew a total of 6,647 entries from 1,552 U.S.
breweries. The Dale Bros. entry of “Nuff” was third behind two entries
from mega-brewery Pabst in the popular American-Style Cream Ale
category.
sale in 2003, Dale Bros. has become a local craft beer
institution. Earlier this year, it was named “Small Business of the
Year” for the 41st Assembly District by Assembly majority leader Chris
Holden, D-Pasadena.
The industry has come a long way over the past 12 years. While the Foothills region is still in its craft beer infancy, there is plenty to be excited about.
Dale
Bros., Claremont Craft Ales and Upland’s Rök House Brewery form a
“triangle” of popular craft breweries. Others may be on the way to that
area soon if rumors are true about new openings in Montclair and Upland.
Old Stump Brewery recently opened in Pomona, joining established Sanctum Brewery and Cal Poly Pomona’s Innovation Brew Works.
Rancho Cucamonga stands to grow at a more rapid pace.
The
city’s two established breweries, Hamilton Family Brewery and No Clue
Brewery, will soon be joined by Solorio Brewing Co., Rowdy’s Brew Co.,
Grabrewski Beer Co. and Sour Cellars.
Lagunitas
is building one of the largest craft brewery facilities in the United
States in Azusa, reportedly covering 178,000 square feet.