Last month was Ruhstaller’s first anniversary of brewing beer in Sacramento.
Coincidentally, it was also the brand’s 131st anniversary.
More than a century ago, Captain Frank Ruhstaller opened the Ruhstaller Brewery in Sacramento. Now, Sacramento resident J-E Paino has re-launched the beer to carry on the legacy of California’s first premium craft brewery.
The difference? Captain Frank’s products featured hops from the Pacific Northwest, while this revamped brew is made from all California-sourced ingredients.
To celebrate the milestone of the re-introduction of Ruhstaller, the brand held a hops party on a private ranch last week, where the styles of Ruhstaller brews flowed from custom taps, authentic Italian pizza sizzled fresh off the grill and attendees toured the ranch’s hop vines on the back of a tractor.
We sipped the two lagers on tap (served in oh-so-adorable mason jars), as well as tried their 1881 California Red Ale and Captain California Black IPA, all of which were crisp, refreshing and perfect for enjoying on a hot August evening. On display were numerous photos chronicling the history of Ruhstaller, which began producing beer “from farm to pint” in 1881.
It was a memorable evening, and I look forward to enjoying many more sips of Ruhstaller – here’s to 131 more years!