Dust Bowl Brewing Company has found a way to stand out over the past 10 years in a state that has nearly 1,000 breweries, capitalizing on a pioneering spirit and beloved brews to keep both Turlock residents and visitors to the area alike coming back for more an entire decade later.
Dust Bowl Founder Brett Tate and Brewmaster Don Oliver brewed the company’s first beer on Mother’s Day of 2009, not knowing where that initial brew would take them. Two taprooms with a third on the way, 1.6 million patrons served and 157 recipes later, the brewery is celebrating its 10th anniversary this weekend and is inviting the community to join in on the fun.
The three-part celebration will kick off from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. May 4 at the Brewery Taproom Outdoor Beer Garden at 3000 Fulkerth Road, with an Anniversary Bash, where visitors can enjoy live music by the Blue Line Band starting at 6 p.m., an outdoor barbecue and three beer booths. The event is open to the public and there are no reservations required.
On May 10, both taproom locations (3000 Fulkerth Road and 200 Main St.) will be celebrating all day long with $5 pints of their flagship IPA, Hops of Wrath, and 10 percent off of all merchandise. At the Brewery Taproom, free tours will be held at 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis.
Lastly, an Anniversary Beer Dinner will take place at 5:30 p.m. May 13 in the Downtown Taproom. For $75, guests can enjoy a new can of beer upon arrival, a five-course beer and food pairing by brewmaster and taproom chefs and a commemorative 10th anniversary pint glass. Tickets for the dinner can be purchased at dustbowlbrewing.eventbrite.com.
Tate, who was joined in business partnership by Brett Honore in 2010, said the events are Dust Bowl’s way of celebrating the exciting, 10-year milestone with the Turlock community.
“We wouldn’t be where we are today if it wasn’t for the local support and evolution of the beer culture. The Bash is open to the public, so we’re hoping everyone comes out to help us celebrate,” Tate said. “We’ll have 15 beers on tap in our Beer Garden – nine are new specialty beers, including the release of our two Anniversary Beers, BIG IPA and our Barrel Aged Blend…We’d love to see everyone in their vintage Dust Bowl tees, too!”
Dust Bowl has come a long way since its first year, which saw the team produce 125 barrels in 2009. Today, the brewery produces over 12,000 barrels annually and is projected to hit 15,000 by 2020. The company has also since grown to sell its beer in Fresno, East Bay Area, the Sacramento region, North Bay Area, San Francisco, Southern California, Nevada and Oklahoma, and this June will open a third taproom in Monterey.
In honor of the anniversary, Oliver brewed two specialty releases: the BIG IPA offered in a 16oz. can and a Barrel Aged Blend packaged in a 22oz. wax-dipped bottle. The anniversary beers will be released at the Anniversary Bash on May 4 and only sold in the company’s two Turlock taprooms and through local distribution.
“When we look back on the first ten years, it’s hard to believe the growth. We’re really proud of the brand we’ve developed and the positive impact we’ve had within the community. We’re a large employer, we’ve supported countless local organizations, and infused the Central Valley with beer culture,” Tate said. “It’s a challenging industry today, yet we continue to grow and expand our brand into new regions. We’re excited for the future, especially our first satellite taproom in Monterey, California, slated to open this June.”
