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INDEX 2002

• Haunted Brewery
• Beer Best and Brat-Wurst Hop Ottin' IPA Wins!
• Roll Out the Barrel
• AVBC Releases 22 oz. IPA and Redesigned Labels
• AVBC Expands Production Capacity by 20%
• 6th Boonville Beer Festival Announced
• AVBC Resurrects its Original Brew House
• AVBC Brews to Commemorate Horse Brass's 25th
• A Literary Brew

Archive Index:  Past releases and stories from AVBC

Get ready to be terrified!
Ghosts and Ghouls are Brewing Something Special for Hallowe'en Night

Since 1996 (with the exceptions of 1999 and 2000) Anderson Valley Brewing has offered their Hallowe'en tours to the fright and delight children of all ages. "It's just a fun thing we do for ourselves and the community," said Fal Allen, the brewery's General Manager. "Boonville's a small town. This gives the kids something to do after they trick or treat, besides egg houses and smash jack-o-lanterns."

AVBC Haunted Brewery
17700 Hwy 253, Boonvillle, CA
Scaring folks silly, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

BEER BEST AND BRAT-WURST

In honor of Labor Day, the Press Democrat, of Santa Rosa, California, sponsored a sausage and beer contest, pairing various IPAs and barbecued Italian sausages (okay, they weren't bratwurst, as the title indicates, but it was too good a title to pass up). The idea was to give readers an easy and exceptionally delicious way to celebrate the holiday, while laboring as little as possible. To judge the IPAs and sausages (as well as some dijon mustards) they enlisted the help of four noted Sonoma County chefs.

And the chefs agreed, of the IPAs sampled, our own Hop Ottin' IPA was awarded first place.

OPEN HOUSE FRIDAYS - Roll out the Barrel

June 10th, 2002 - Boonville, CA - Anderson Valley Brewing Company is rolling out the barrels. We will be opening our doors to friends and fans. On the third Friday of every month (from April through October) AVBC will be holding an Open House. From 4 - 8 pm we will be open to the public and have special offerings and events like specially priced beers (some limited release beers, as well as some from our regular award winning line up), an open barbeque (bring your own grillables), special brewery tours (every hour on the hour), exceptional deals on selected "Boonville Beer" items, snacks, games and even the occasional musical guest. Here is the perfect opportunity to come out and meet our brew crew and really get to know Anderson Valley Brewing and our full line of delicious beers. You can even score some deals on official Boonville Beer gear.So, mark your calendar, tell everyone you know, grab a friend and come on over to our Open House gathering. It's the perfect way to spend a Friday afternoon.

Dates - June 21, July 19, August 16, Oct. 18
    NOTE: the Sept. 20 Open House has been cancelled, due to scheduling conflicts.
     Sorry for any inconvenience.

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Anderson Valley Brewing Releases 22 ounce IPA and Redesigned Labels

May 21, 2002 - Boonville, California - Today, Anderson Valley Brewing Company announced the addition of a new product to their impressive line of fine craft-brewed products. For the first time, Anderson Valley Brewing will be offering their wildly popular Hop Ottin' IPA , in a twenty-two ounce bottle. First offered exclusively on draft, then introduced in the twelve ounce bottle in November 1997, Hop Ottin' quickly became Anderson Valley's second best seller, closely following their flagship ale, Boont Amber . After considerable demand from the market, Anderson Valley has decided to release Hop Ottin' IPA in the 22 ounce package.

The introduction of 22 ounce Hop Ottin' IPA coincides with the redesign of the entire label line. "The new labels are meant to jump out and catch the eye" said in-house designer Peter Suddeth. They feature the "Legendary Boonville Beer" enjoying a refreshing draught of pristine Boonville mineral water from one of the valley's streams. The new labels are also larger and easier to read. The new labels will be debuting throughout the year, so be on the look out for the new and improved Booville Beer.

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Anderson Valley Brewing Expands Production Capacity by 20% to meet soaring sales demand

April 24, 2002 - Boonville, CA - Anderson Valley brewing Company, the makers of the Award winning Boonville beers, have purchased two new 200 barrel fermenters to meet the additional demand for their beers. This addition follows the last year's purchase of three 100 barrel fermenters and the installation of their new 100 barrel copper brew house. These new brewing vessels will increase Anderson Valley production capacity by about 20 percent. President Ken Allen explains “The demand for consistent high quality beers has resulted in a steady increase in sales and market share for us. These new tanks will help us to meet that demand.” The new tank, made by Ripley Stainless, will be put into service in time to supply beer for the busy spring and summer months.

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6th Annual Boonville Beer Festival Announced for May 4th

February 14, 2002 - Boonville, CA - Boonters (local Boonville residents) and beer aficionados agree that the Legendary Boonville Beer Festival is …. Well , simply put, “the bahlest steinber hornin', chiggrul gormin', frattey seepin' tidrick in the heelch of the Boont Region”. That's Boontling (the local dialect) for a really good time. The 6th Annual Legendary Boonville Beer Festival is scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 4th at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds located in beautiful, downtown Boonville. More than fifty craft breweries will be on hand to pour their excellent and delicious beers. Plenty of good food and soft drinks will be available too. Musical entertainment will be provided by the band Souled Out, with possible special guests Tom Dalldorf and his “Rolling Boil Blues Band”. We've also invited back Greg Schindel, “The Train Singer,” from last years fest. Greg will be strolling the grounds and serenading beer sippers with his down home sounds.

The Celebrator Beer News says about the Boonville Beer Festival “Put this one on your list of ‘must attend' festivals”, and those who have experienced past Boonville Beer Festivals would certainly concur. The festival takes place from 1 to 6 PM, with beer being poured from 1 to 5 PM. Tickets are priced at $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the event, with half price tickets for designated drivers. Children twelve and under will be admitted free. Pets are not allowed into the fairgrounds. Proceeds from the festival will benefit non-profit groups in the Anderson Valley. Advance tickets may be obtained at local shops in Anderson Valley, or by calling the brewery at 707-895-2337. Updated information on the festival and ticket locations can be found on our website, WWW.AVBC.COM.

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AVBC Resurrects its Original Brew House

May 29th, 2001 - Boonville, CA - Like a phoenix from the fire Anderson Valley's original 10 barrel brewery has come back to life. After five years “on mothballs” the original brew house was brought out of its hiding place in a old storehouse so that the Anderson Valley brewers could start to work on a new line of ultra premium beers. To create the first of the new brews, Brother David's Belgian Style Double, the brewery elicited the assistance of Belgiophile and San Francisco pub owner David Keene. The result was a complex mahogany colored beer of depth and character that weighed in at 9% avb, and yet was deceptively easy to drink.

Anderson Valley plans to brew other unique styles that include an Organic Raspberry Wheat, a Bohemian Style Pilsner, the Horn of the Beer Barley Wine, and a Black German Schwartz beer and as well as several others. These beers will be available at discerning ale houses through out California.

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AVBC Brews Seepy Sike to Commemorate Horse Brass's 25th Anniversary

When Don Younger, owner of the Horse Brass Pub, in Portland, Oregon asked us to brew a special beer for The Horse Brass's 25th anniversary we really wanted make something that would match the event, something that would reflect the character of the man. Something unusual, maybe a little strange, a little scary, but smooth and with character. Something you don't run into every day.

We brewed this beer using mixture of pale barley, red wheat, rye, Carafa and aromatic malts. This unusal blend of malts gives the beer a round and toasty flavor with overtones of almonds and walnuts. We balance that with an abundance of hop flavors and aroma. Columbus and Centennial hops combine to create for some spicy citrus flavors and a good solid hop bitterness. This is juxtaposed with a delicate floral bouquet of the imported German Hallertauer hop. All these flavors are served up with a substantial dose of alcohol panache. This wily brew, drinkable yet stalwart, weights in at about 7.5% avb.

This is not a beer for the timid or weak of heart. If all this sounds a little weird and scary - it is. But then so is being in the tavern and pub business for 25 years. Here's to you buddy.

AVBC brew crew

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Boonville is a Literary Brew

To promote his new book entitled “Boonville” noted new author Robert Anderson has been doing readings around the west coast. To help bring people the flavor of the secluded hamlet of Boonville that the book is named after Anderson has brought along a few props. He has persuaded a friend to play songs between readings and they are tapping into kegs of the locally made brew; Boont Amber ale. "Boont" is the Boontling word for Boonville. What the heck's Boontling you ask? In the early part of the century the town of Boonville was so remote it developed its own local language called Boontling (short for Boonville lingo). The dialect was so perplexing to outsiders that the U.S. Army actually used it as code during World War One. If you happen to pass through Boonville you might still hear few old timers speaking the mysterious dialect (or harpin the ling as they like to say), but mostly today it is confined to place names and roadside attractions. The Book “Boonville” has been number one on the Bay Area bestseller list for the many weeks now and it will be released nationally this spring. If you can't make it to Boonville or to one of the readings look for a copy of "Boonville" at your local bookstore and take it home with a six pack of Anderson Valley's Boont.

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