USA: Pyramid Brewery celebrates 10 years in Berkley

The Pyramid Brewery and Alehouse celebrates its 10th year of hoppy, frothy operations in Berkeley, marking another milestone in the city’s long history with breweries, The Daily Californian published March 2.

Since 1997, the Washington-based company has made wheat beers and operated a pub under the same roof in its location on Gilman Street in West Berkeley.

Brewpubs, which combine a brewery with a bar and eatery, were pioneered in Berkeley, said Mayor Tom Bates’ chief of staff Cisco DeVries.

Following Prohibition, beer could not legally be brewed and sold on the same premises, but this was repealed in California with legislation Bates wrote in 1983 during his time in the state Assembly.

“That law that he wrote became replicated all over the country,” DeVries said. “That’s what started the whole brewpub industry.”

In 1986 the Roaring Rock Brewpub opened in Berkeley. Now known as Triple Rock, it claims to be the fifth brewpub in the United States and the one running longest under its original ownership.

Although it does not distribute outside of the West Coast, Pyramid’s beers have been successful in major tasting competitions, winning a gold medal in the American-style wheat beer category at the 2004 Great American Beer Festival.

Like other Berkeley breweries Bison Brewing and Trumer Brauerei, Pyramid has become locally known for its specialty beers, including an apricot-flavored variety.

“We’ve had it as long as I can remember, and I’ve been here for over 10 years,” said Jeannie Anderson, a bartender at Blake’s on Telegraph.

The Berkeley Historical Society last year held an exhibit titled “Fermenting Berkeley” studying the city’s history with alcohol, with UC Berkeley students, local alcohol-makers and a strong pro-Prohibition movement at odds throughout.

Today Berkeley is home to numerous beer-makers, and the Pyramid facility is the largest brewery in the East Bay, according to company spokespeople.

“I think that it’s a community that loves craft beer,” said Pyramid spokesperson Kelly McKenzie. “We’re really trying to work to identify ourselves as everyone’s favorite hometown brew.”

DeVries said that breweries and brewpubs have continued to do well in Berkeley is a testament to their quality.

“The people in Berkeley and in the general area are very discriminating in their taste and they appreciate quality. I think it’s sort of part of that,” DeVries said.

The Pyramid Brewery and Alehouse celebrated its 10th year of hoppy, frothy operations in Berkeley yesterday, marking another milestone in the city’s long history with breweries.

Since 1997, the Washington-based company has made wheat beers and operated a pub under the same roof in its location on Gilman Street in West Berkeley.

Brewpubs, which combine a brewery with a bar and eatery, were pioneered in Berkeley, said Mayor Tom Bates’ chief of staff Cisco DeVries.

Following Prohibition, beer could not legally be brewed and sold on the same premises, but this was repealed in California with legislation Bates wrote in 1983 during his time in the state Assembly.

“That law that he wrote became replicated all over the country,” DeVries said. “That’s what started the whole brewpub industry.”

In 1986 the Roaring Rock Brewpub opened in Berkeley. Now known as Triple Rock, it claims to be the fifth brewpub in the United States and the one running longest under its original ownership.

Although it does not distribute outside of the West Coast, Pyramid’s beers have been successful in major tasting competitions, winning a gold medal in the American-style wheat beer category at the 2004 Great American Beer Festival.

Like other Berkeley breweries Bison Brewing and Trumer Brauerei, Pyramid has become locally known for its specialty beers, including an apricot-flavored variety.

“We’ve had it as long as I can remember, and I’ve been here for over 10 years,” said Jeannie Anderson, a bartender at Blake’s on Telegraph.

The Berkeley Historical Society last year held an exhibit titled “Fermenting Berkeley” studying the city’s history with alcohol, with UC Berkeley students, local alcohol-makers and a strong pro-Prohibition movement at odds throughout.

Today Berkeley is home to numerous beer-makers, and the Pyramid facility is the largest brewery in the East Bay, according to company spokespeople.

“I think that it’s a community that loves craft beer,” said Pyramid spokesperson Kelly McKenzie. “We’re really trying to work to identify ourselves as everyone’s favorite hometown brew.”

DeVries said that breweries and brewpubs have continued to do well in Berkeley is a testament to their quality.

“The people in Berkeley and in the general area are very discriminating in their taste and they appreciate quality. I think it’s sort of part of that,” DeVries said.

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