Beer Me! — Anderson Valley Brewing — Boonville, California, United States

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Anderson Valley Brewing

17700 Highway 253
PO Box 505
Boonville CA 95415
Telephone: +1 707-895-2337
Hours: 11:00am-6:00pm.
Brewer: Fal Allen
[Contact] [Update]

Notes

Visited: September 9, 1995

Opened: 1987

Annual Production: 100,000 bbl

Contributors: Mario Kornmesser, Peter Suddeth

Neat place, good beers. Bahl hornin'! The newly-expanded brewery began production December 2, 1996. The Buckhorn Saloon is no longer a part of the Anderson Valley company, having been sold by the brewery, but their beers are still available there. The new facility features a tasting room, gift shop, beer garden, brewery tours (1:30pm-4:00pm), the first 18-hole disc golf course with its own craft brewery, Shire horse-drawn carriage rides, and available space for private events. It recently became substantially solar powered, generating 30-50% of its own power with a $860,000 state-of-the-art photovoltaic array; now they're the “Solar Powered Brewery®”

Anderson Valley was acquired by HMB Holdings in April 2010.

Updated: September 16, 2024

News

2024-09-10: Anderson Valley Brewing Up for Sale at $7.9 Million (ProBrewer)
2023-08-01: Anderson Valley Builds on Decades of Sustainability (ProBrewer)
2019-12-04: Anderson Valley Sells to McGee Family (ProBrewer)
2010-03-18: The New Anderson Valley: A Chat With Trey White (Brookston Beer Bulletin)
2010-03-16: HMB Holdings purchases Anderson Valley Brewing Co. (Draft Magazine)
2010-01-13: Anderson Valley Brewing Company is First Craft Beer Officially Imported to Brazil (PR.com)
2009-07-20: Anderson Valley Brewing Company Takes Home 6 Medals (PR.com)

Beer List

20th Anniversary Imperial IPA

Imperial or Double India Pale Ale

8.70% abv.
- Date: July 20, 2008 (#7195)
  
  Package: bottled
  
  Place: Liquid Solutions, Tigard OR
  
  Score: 16 points
  
  Appearance (3)
  Amber, hazy. Thick head, high carbonation.
  
  Aroma (3)
  Spicy, resiny.
  
  Mouthfeel (8)
  Big and chewy. Resiny and bitter and grassy.
  
  Overall Impression (2)

Anderson Valley Fall Hornin'

Garden (Vegetable) Beer

6.00% abv.

Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout

Oatmeal Stout

Awards:

Gold Medal, 2010 US Open Beer Championship
Bronze Medal, 2010 World Beer Cup
Bronze Medal, 2004 Great American Beer Festival
Silver Medal, 2004 World Beer Cup
Gold Medal, 2001 North American Beer Awards

Date: November 6, 2001 (#3976)

Package: bottled

Place: Sam's Wine and Spirits, Chicago IL

Score: 16 points

Overall Impression (3)
Black, thick brown head. Sweet, spicy, black, herbal aroma. Medium-big body, very roasty, very hoppy, very drying.
Date: April 18, 1996 (#1375)

Package: bottled

Place: Kamuela Liquor Store, Kamuela HI

Score: 18 points

Overall Impression (3)
Black, big brown head. Burnt black malt aroma. Big, black, smooth. Not quite as burnt as Wild Irish Rogue (18-1374).
Date: September 9, 1995 (#1183)

Package: draught

Place: at the brewery

Score: 13½ points

Overall Impression (2½)
Black, OK head. Smells like cold coffee. Black malty blast. Thin compared to Dark (16-1182).
Date: January 16, 1995 (#738)

Package: draught

Place: The HopYard, Pleasanton CA

Score: 16½ points

Overall Impression (3½)
Black opaque, thin head. Strong coffee aroma. Thick and black. Lots of very black malt.
Date: November 5, 1994 (#490)

Package: draught

Place: The HopYard, Pleasanton CA

Score: 18 points

Overall Impression (3)
Black, thick brown head. Coffee/chocolate aroma, burnt. Smooth, black, burnt flavors. Long black finish fades in and lingers.
Date: July 1, 1993 (#116)

Package: draught

Place: Pacific Coast Brewing, Oakland CA

Score: 19 points

Overall Impression (3½)
Quite Black Indeed. (QBI?) Aroma is Quite Burnt Indeed. (QBI?) This is Guinness without the sour beer. The oatmeal really smooths out the black malt. Very nice indeed!

Belk's Bitter ESB

English-Style (Extra Special) Strong Bitter

Awards:

Gold Medal, 2010 US Open Beer Championship
Gold Medal, 1995 Great American Beer Festival

Date: April 18, 1996 (#1373)

Package: draught

Place: Kamuela Liquor Store, Kamuela HI

Score: 15 points

Overall Impression (2½)
Yellow-amber, OK carbonation and head. Crystal malt, pretty big hop nose. Tastes much like it smells. Good crystal flavor, with a creeping bitterness all the way to the finish.
Date: September 9, 1995 (#1185)

Package: draught

Place: at the brewery

Score: 14½ points

Overall Impression (3)
Golden, low carbonation, OK head. Clean aroma. Good body, good malts...not particularly bitter.
Date: April 27, 1995 (#893)

Package: draught

Place: Pacific Coast Brewing, Oakland CA

Score: 17½ points

Overall Impression (3)
Gold, a bit of haze. Very low carbonation, good head. Slightly perfumey. Good body...good balance...good bitter finish.
Date: March 1, 1993 (#1928)

Package: draught

Place: Pacific Coast Brewing, Oakland CA

Overall Impression
Good bitter! Aftertaste sticks with you. Still has that Anderson Valley house flavor.

Boont Amber Ale

American-Style Amber/Red Ale

Awards:

Silver Medal, 2003 Great American Beer Festival
Bronze Medal, 1995 Great American Beer Festival

Date: April 18, 1996 (#1372)

Package: bottled

Place: Kamuela Liquor Store, Kamuela HI

Score: 14½ points

Overall Impression (3)
Red-amber, very high carbonation, very big head. Subtle hop aroma, not much else. Nice body and balance. Slightly peppery. Big carbonation bite. Mild hoppy finish.
Date: September 9, 1995 (#1181)

Package: draught

Place: at the brewery

Score: 13 points

Overall Impression (2½)
Red-amber, low carbonation and head. Citrus aroma again, but not as strong as others (16-1179, 16-1180). Good balance, caramel flavors. Some bitterness in finish.
Date: February 11, 1995 (#774)

Package: draught

Place: The HopYard, Pleasanton CA

Score: 17 points

Overall Impression (3)
Nice amber, good head, very low carbonation. Caramel malt aroma, touch o'hops. Great caramel flavor and balance. Tastes and feels a lot like Centennial, but not as bitter.
Date: November 5, 1994 (#496)

Package: draught

Place: The HopYard, Pleasanton CA

Score: 13½ points

Overall Impression (2½)
Amber, good fizz. Pacific Northwest hop aroma. Malty, not real bitter. Sweet.

Date: August 15, 2005 (#5762)

Package: bottled

Place: Liquid Solutions, Tigard OR

Score: 18 points

Appearance (3)
Deep dark red. Low head.

Aroma (3)
Rich dark caramel. Raisiny and roasty.

Mouthfeel (9)
Medium-big body, real smooth. Lots of raisiny dark caramel malt. Good spiciness. Big malty sweet raisiny woody finish. A little bitterness

Overall Impression (3)
Pretty tasty beer.

Date: March 4, 2005 (#5586)

Package: bottled

Place: Liquid Solutions, Tigard OR

Score: 16½ points

Appearance (3)
Deep golden, high carbonation, some haze. Thick head.

Aroma (3)
Malty, spicy, hint of banana.

Mouthfeel (8)
Big creamy body, moderately fizzy. Lots of sweet malt, lots of spicy esters. Not very warming for 10% alcohol. Finishes malty, spicy, and a little bitter.

Overall Impression (2½)

Date: February 2, 1995 (#746)

Package: draught

Place: The HopYard, Pleasanton CA

Score: 19 points

Overall Impression (3½)
Red-amber. Malty, spicy hop aroma. Bitter, but clean. Great balance and carbonation.

Date: January 23, 1995 (#740)

Package: draught

Place: Pacific Coast Brewing, Oakland CA

Score: 18 points

Overall Impression (3)
Amber, moderate carbonation, thick head. Nice balanced aroma, hops strong and pleasant. Good body, bitter. Long finish. More bitter than I remember.

Date: April 25, 1994 (#312)

Package: draught

Place: Pacific Coast Brewing, Oakland CA

Score: 17 points

Overall Impression (3)
Red-amber. Fine carbonation. Thin head...probably the glass. Transparent. Smells "big". Diacetyl and (mostly) caramel. Spicy hops. Tastes big but not overwhelming. Heavy. Very malty and extremely well-balanced. Warming. Soft finishing hops and alcohol in finish. Could use a little more carbonation.

Date: January 27, 1995 (#727)

Package: draught

Place: The HopYard, Pleasanton CA

Score: 14 points

Overall Impression (2½)
Very deep red. No head. Faintly roasty aroma. Nice balance. Coffee/chocolate flavor. Carbonation a little high.

Date: November 30, 1996 (#1893)

Package: bottled

Place: Kamuela Liquor Store, Kamuela HI

Score: 16 points

Overall Impression (3)
Pretty dark, big tan head. Hoppy, chocolatey aroma. Roasty, sweet. Long burnt finish.

Date: September 9, 1995 (#1182)

Package: draught

Place: at the brewery

Score: 17 points

Overall Impression (3)
Deep red opaque. Good head. Roasty aroma. Thick, roasty, big.

Date: April 25, 1995 (#880)

Package: draught

Place: The HopYard, Pleasanton CA

Score: 20 points

Overall Impression (3)
Black. Thick brown head. Burnt and malty nose. Very nice indeed! Thick, black. Finishes smooth and clean. Chocolatey.

Date: September 6, 1997 (#2224)

Package: bottled

Place: Willow Glen Liquors, San Jose CA

Score: 15½ points

Overall Impression (3)
Golden, some haze, low carbonation, good head. Very fruity aroma. Thick, low carbonation. Pretty smoky wheat flavor. Much more interesting than Anchor Wheat.

Date: September 9, 1995 (#1179)

Package: draught

Place: at the brewery

Score: 11½ points

Overall Impression (2½)
Golden, OK head and carbonation. Citrus aroma. Citrusy flavor, like oranges. Sweet.

Date: April 6, 2002 (#4306)

Package: draught

Place: Benno's, Milwaukee WI

Score: 19 points

Overall Impression (3½)
Bright amber, low carbonation, thick head. INTENSE fresh Centennial hop aroma. Medium-big body, hugely bitter, lots of spicy Centennial flavor on a nice caramel malt background.

Date: September 9, 1995 (#1186)

Package: draught

Place: at the brewery

Score: 13 points

Overall Impression (2½)
Golden, very nearly flat. Citrusy aroma, some vegetal. Big hoppy bitter flavor. Bitter bitter.

Date: April 8, 1995 (#856)

Package: draught

Place: The HopYard, Pleasanton CA

Score: 12½ points

Overall Impression (2½)
Red, pretty much opaque. No head or visible carbonation. Smells and tastes like Centennials. Centennials, followed by Centennials, with a long Centennial finish.

Date: May 7, 1994 (#329)

Package: draught

Place: Pacific Coast Brewing, Oakland CA

Score: 17 points

Overall Impression (3)
Beautiful red. Good head. Perfectly clear. Typical Anderson Valley nose. Big bitterness...maybe too much. Perfect body. Good carbonation.

Date: December 12, 1993 (#2504)

Package: draught

Score: 13 points

Overall Impression (2½)
Nothing really stands out except the sweetness. Not dark malts, no hops, no spices.

Date: March 8, 2022 (#10933)

Place: Wine, Beer, and Spirits Grand Island, Grand Island NE

Score: 20 points

Appearance (3)
Very dark red-black-mahogany. Low head.

Aroma (4)
Oak, coconut, alcohol, malt, and a little coffee and chocolate in the background. Real pleasant.

Mouthfeel (10)
Thick and smooth. Intense oak and bourbon with a fair bit of alcohol. Malty and chocolatey. Mild grassy-grainy note. Just bitter enough. Tremendous balance.

Overall Impression (3)
The ideal sitting by the fire beer.

Date: September 4, 1997 (#2176)

Package: draught

Place: The HopYard, Pleasanton CA

Score: 11 points

Overall Impression (2)
Dead black. Smells like stale coffee. Thick, oxidized, sweetish. Not impressed.

Date: February 26, 1996 (#1324)

Package: bottled

Place: Long's Drugs, Kailua HI

Score: 13 points

Overall Impression (2½)
Gold, good head, low carbonation. Smells like Cascades right out of the bag. Major hop flavor. Background maltiness tries to smooth it out, but fails.

Date: September 9, 1995 (#1180)

Package: draught

Place: at the brewery

Score: 13 points

Overall Impression (2½)
Golden, low carbonation and head. Citrus aroma. Bitter, good carbonation bite.

Date: March 13, 1995 (#794)

Package: draught

Place: The HopYard, Pleasanton CA

Score: 17 points

Overall Impression (3)
Gold, clear, medium carbonation, good head. Fresh and citrusy aroma. Good body for "light" beer. Good balance, long fruity finish.

Date: August 8, 1994 (#403)

Package: draught

Place: The HopYard, Pleasanton CA

Score: 17 points

Overall Impression (3)
Very pale. Good head. Nice Cascades, but not overpowering. Bitter. Floral. Body OK, kind of light. Long bitter finish OK.

Date: September 9, 1995 (#1184)

Package: draught

Place: at the brewery

Score: 13½ points

Overall Impression (2½)
Red, very low carbonation and head. Very citrusy aroma. Citrus flavor quickly replaced by alcohol, followed by big blast of caramel. Very warming.

Date: May 9, 1993 (#49)

Package: draught

Place: Pacific Coast Brewing, Oakland CA

Score: 15 points

Overall Impression (2½)
On the yellow side of amber. Lots of Cascades. Good body. Wheat sweetness with crystal smokiness. Surprisingly good beer from Boonville.

Date: July 23, 2008 (#7203)

Package: bottled

Place: Liquid Solutions, Tigard OR

Score: 16 points

Appearance (3)
Red, with some haze. Moderate head.

Aroma (3)
Black pepper, and a hint of butter.

Mouthfeel (8)
Medium body. Big graham cracker malt flavor. Big grassy hop flavor, especially in the finish.

Overall Impression (2)

Date: November 24, 2002 (#4536)

Package: bottled

Place: Festival Foods, Oshkosh WI

Score: 18 points

Overall Impression (3)
Deep red, thick dense head. Malty aroma, bready like light rye. Medium-big body. Excellent smooth maltiness with a touch of roast. Spices are very subdued…maybe some nutmeg? Juniper? Big lingering malty dry finish.

Date: November 11, 1994 (#492)

Package: draught

Place: The HopYard, Pleasanton CA

Score: 17 points

Overall Impression (3)
Nice amber, off-white head. Crystal aroma. Nice body and carbonation bite. Lots of caramel flavor and outstanding balance.

Date: December 12, 1992 (#2501)

Package: draught

Score: 15 points

Overall Impression (2½)
Big creamy head. Spicy like Marin's was, but not as pronounced. Good beer.