Bear Republic Brewing Company Explained

Bear Republic Brewing Company
Location City:Cloverdale, California
Location Country:United States
Locations:1 Pub & Restaurant
Production: (2013)[1]

The Bear Republic Brewing Company is an American microbrewery located in Cloverdale, California. The company was established by the Norgrove family in 1995, with Richard G. Norgrove as brewmaster.[2] The name refers to California's 1846 Bear Flag Revolt.[3] In 2006, Bear Republic was named Small Brewing Company and Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year at the Great American Beer Festival.[4]

Bear's best-selling product is Racer 5, an India Pale Ale which accounted for about three-quarters of the company's 2009 sales.[5] [6] Their other brews include Thru the Haze, Further thru the Haze DIPA, Bear Necessities, and Bear Republic IPA. They also have several rotating beer series, including the Challenge Series, Brewmaster Series, Hop Shovel DIPA Series, and Imperial Stout Series, featuring both Old Baba Yaga and Spawn of Yaga.[7]

The company’s original location was a brewpub in Healdsburg, California.[8] In 2005 Bear Republic broke ground at their Factory 5 Production Facility in Cloverdale, CA and in 2017 opened up their Lakeside Brewpub in Rohnert Park, CA.[9] Bear Republic closed its 24-year-old Healdsburg brewpub on November 22, 2019.

In February 2023, Drake's Brewing Company acquired the recipes, formulas, and intellectual property of Bear Republic, with plans to merge operations within the next year.[10]

Notes and References

  1. News: Brewery tackles drought with tech . Loralee . Stevens . North Bay Business Journal . January 24, 2014 . January 31, 2014.
  2. Book: Hampson, Tim . 2008 . The Beer Book . London . . 22 . 978-1405333016.
  3. Book: Myers, Benjamin. Best American Beers: An Enthusiast's Guide to the Most Distinctive Craft Brews of the Us and Canada. 24 November 2012. October 1999. CLB. 9781841001371.
  4. Web site: 2006 Brewery and Brewer of the Year Awards. Great American Beer Festival. 24 November 2012.
  5. News: The Beer Nut: Bullish on Bear Republic's beers. Miller. Norman. July 15, 2009. Metro West Daily News. February 22, 2019.
  6. Book: Hampson, Tim. Great Beers: 700 of the Best from Around the World. 24 November 2012. 2010-07-19. Penguin. 9780756672584. 53–.
  7. News: Old Baba Yaga. Untappd.com.
  8. Web site: Bear Republic to close Healdsburg brewpub in November. 2019-10-22. SFChronicle.com. en-US. 2020-02-06.
  9. Web site: Bear Republic Opens New Brewpub in Rohnert Park. 2017-09-18. thefullpint.com. en-US. 2020-02-06.
  10. Web site: Bear Republic Brewing Co. to be acquired by Drake's Brewing Co.. 2023-02-16. pressdemocrat.com. en-US. 2023-02-21.