Firestone Walker Brewing Co. has acquired the U.S. operations of Trumer, the longtime Berkeley offshoot of a centuries-old Austrian brewery, the company announced Friday. It will close the Trumer taproom on May 29, confirmed longtime brewmaster Lars Larson.
Firestone will move brewing operations for Trumer Pils, the crisp, German-style pilsner recognizable by its bright green bottle and white and red label, to its Paso Robles brewery. Firestone Walker said in the announcement that customers can expect “uninterrupted availability of Trumer Pils going forward.” Larson provided the closing date in a text message.
“Our priority has always been to grow and steward Trumer Pils and ensure its future here in the
United States,” said John Brozovich, CEO of the Gambrinus Co., which operates the brewery, in the announcement. “Entrusting the brand to a family brewery that understands this responsibility was very important to us. Firestone Walker approaches brewing with the same respect for tradition and quality, and we are confident they will carry Trumer Pils forward with great care.”
Trumer Pils first came to Berkeley in 2004, when Carlos Alvarez of the Gambrinus Co. started brewing the beer, whose roots date back to 1601 at Trumer Privatbrauerei in Austria. For years, the Berkeley brewery had a tasting room that was only open to those touring the brewery, and it served just one beer: Trumer Pils. But in 2023 the brewery opened its Fourth Street taproom to the public and for the first time offered pours of other beers.
Firestone’s acquisition of Trumer comes at a time when Americans are drinking less and U.S. craft beer production is down — declining by 5% in 2025, according to the Brewers Association. A number of Bay Area craft breweries have closed in recent years, including 21st Amendment.
Adam Firestone and David Walker founded Firestone Walker Brewing Co. in 1996 on the Central Coast. It’s best known for its 805 Beer, a blonde ale.
“Trumer Pils is a sensational beer with a deep lineage. Our job now is simple: protect what makes it special and make sure this great beer continues to reach American drinkers,” Firestone, the CEO, said in a statement.