The term “farm to table” is something that I hear almost daily. With today’s focus on health, sustainability and organic and natural products, it is no surprise that the movement is showing up in other industries such as farm to school (lunches), farm to feet (socks) and of course, farm to barrel (beer).
The farm to table concept is concerned with producing products sustainably and locally, and Almanac Beer Co. has embraced this idea with their Farm to Barrel® series. With a focus on beers inspired by the agriculture of Northern California, Almanac has a number of seasonal and unique beers that offer a wide range of styles and flavors.
With over 800 barrels and two 1,000 gallon oak foedres, oak aging beers is something they have made the foundation of their brewing program and the beers they are producing are exciting and complex.
“Farm-to-barrel brewing is about selecting the best in locally sourced fruit and blending it into beers inspired by the great brewing traditions of the world. We aim to create something special and uniquely Northern Californian,” say founders Jesse Friedman and Damian Fagan.
To ensure each beer in the series truly represents California and the local terroir, each harvest the brewery partners with a different Northern California farm to supply the fruit or vegetables used in their beer.
Almanac currently has 21 beers that are a part of their Farm to Barrel series. Although brewed in small batches with classic styles as the base for most of their beers, the addition of fruit and vegetables, herbs and spices and oak aging is what makes these beers unique.
Currently Almanac collaborates and brews their beer through other breweries. Without a brewery of their own (yet), there is no tasting room to visit, but their beer is now being distributed in a number of states across the country. Keep your eyes open for these beers in your local market and be ready for an experience that is “special and uniquely Northern Californian.”
Ben Zeller is a homebrewer, beer and food enthusiast, certified beer server and is the current Craft Beer Program Intern for the Brewers Association. He is also a new father, skier and currently a student at MSUD, anticipating graduation this December. He hopes to learn as much as he can during his time with the BA and continue his career in the craft beer world.
CraftBeer.com is fully dedicated to small and independent U.S. breweries. We are published by the Brewers Association, the not-for-profit trade group dedicated to promoting and protecting America’s small and independent craft brewers. Stories and opinions shared on CraftBeer.com do not imply endorsement by or positions taken by the Brewers Association or its members.
Share Post