AVBC at 35
On this date 36 years ago, the first Anderson Valley Brewing Company beer (a Boont Amber Ale, of course) hit the taste buds of a thirsty patron at the Buckhorn Saloon here in Boonville.
Throughout this year, as part of our 35th anniversary, we’ve highlighted some of big moments in the history of the brewery, but that first sip is no doubt the biggest. Craft beer wasn’t even a thing at the time. By and large Americans had no idea what beer could – and in our humble opinions should – be. That was all about to change and AVBC would help lead the charge.
35 years later, Boont Amber is still our flagship beer; a testament to the timeless quality of a well-made ale. We proudly print “family owned” on our packaging, but the truth is that AVBC is – and always has been – community owned, built, and brewed by a rural valley with a passion for producing really good beer.
Together, we’ve accomplished a lot in 35 years:
- As The World’s First Solar-Powered Brewery, AVBC showed that sustainability and profitability are one in the same, an idea that’s now shared by many of our fellow craft breweries.
- We introduced the U.S. to gose – a beer style that Americans didn’t know they would love – and one that’s now found on the shelves of most bottle shops.
- Heck, we even made contact with what was once thought to be a mythical tribe of Antlered Bears.
But perhaps most importantly, through our own growth and the growth of the craft beer industry, we’ve stayed true to that first beer and the qualities that made it special.
Happy Birthday, Barkley, and cheers to the next 35 years of sustainable, delicious craft beer.
