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.