Firestone Walker Brewing of Paso Robles announced today that it will be assuming stewardship of the Trumer Pils brand, which is currently brewed in Berkeley, in the old Golden Pacific brewery on Fourth Street.
Trumer is owned by the Gambrinus Company of San Antonio, Texas, which also owns Shiner Beers, and previously owned BridgePort Brewing of Portland, Oregon and Pete’s Wicked Ales, both of which have since been discontinued.
The original Trumer brewery is located near Salzburg, Austria, and has been brewing there since at least 1601. In 1775, the Sigl family bought it and has continued to run it, a family operation now in its eighth generation.
In 2004, the Sigl family worked with the Gambrinus Co. to open Trumer USA in Berkeley, where brewmaster Lars Larson, who was trained as a brewer in Germany, dialed in the brewery’s pilsner recipe to create the world’s most-awarded pilsner in beer competitions.
Beginning in early summer, most likely around the middle of June, brewing will transition from Berkeley to Paso Robles, where brewmaster Matt Brynildson will take over brewing the beer to exacting specifications.
“Trumer Pils is a beer I have admired for many years, and our responsibility is to protect the balance and drinkability that have always defined it,” Brynildson said in a press statement.
I spoke to Firestone Walker CEO Nick Firestone this morning, and he stressed that Firestone Walker is not acquiring the brewery but will instead be taking over production at its Paso Robles facility, helping to keep this great beer alive.
It’s no secret that rising prices have hit California breweries especially hard with manufacturing costs, and particularly in the Bay Area, those costs have skyrocketed. Beer lovers are still reeling from the loss of Anchor Steam Beer (which hopefully is on its way back) — so at least fresh Trumer Pils will still be available and in capable hands.
“Trumer Pils is a sensational beer with a deep lineage,” Firestone said in a press statement. “Our job now is simple: protect what makes it special and make sure this great beer continues to reach American drinkers.”
Firestone Walker, which was founded by brothers-in-law Adam Firestone and David Walker in 1996 before leadership passed on to the second generation, will continue to brew its own Pivo Pils, which is essentially an Italian-style pilsner, whereas Trumer Pils a German-style version of the lager. Packaging may be refreshed slightly, but distribution and availability should continue seamlessly through the summer transition.
The Gambrinus Company will be decommissioning the Berkeley brewery. At least that’s the plan for now, though that could change as they explore other options between now and when things wind down there around June.
Contact Jay R. Brooks at BrooksOnBeer@gmail.com.
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