Figueroa Mountain Brewing Announces New Partnership and Expansions

Buellton, California—   Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. is about to celebrate its fourth anniversary in late November 2014 and they have a lot to celebrate this year:

FIGUEROA MOUNTAIN BREWING CO. AND PACIFIC BEVERAGE COMPANY FORM ALLIANCE

With a small crew of people, father and son team Jim and Jaime Dietenhofer founded Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. as a 100-barrel production brewery in November 2010.  Thanks to the hard work of their dedicated staff, the company has self-distributed their beer from San Luis Obispo to Orange County since the very beginning.  It wasn’t until the company recently reached 20,000 barrels that the Dietenhofers made the decision to partner with Pacific Beverage Company, set to celebrate their 100^th Anniversary next year.

If you ask Jaime Dietenhofer how quickly this partnership formed he would say it’s been a long time coming.  Jeff Jordano, President of Pacific Beverage Company, and his father, CEO Pete Jordano, initiated dialogue with the Dietenhofers in Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company’s first year of business.  The Jordanos maintained good contact and communication with the Dietenhofers until the time was right to transfer distribution rights over to Pacific Beverage Company.

“Pacific Beverage Company is the perfect fit for us.  It is a multi-generational company that understands the communities that our brand represents.  This was a very important factor during the decision making process,” explains President Jaime Dietenhofer.  “We’ve grown to the point that partnering with a successful, established company is a necessary next step.  Pacific Beverage Company has really ramped up their specialty craft beer division and we are thrilled to become a part of such an acclaimed group of breweries.  By joining forces, we can continue to advance craft beer on the Central Coast.”

Sales Director of Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co., Alex Jones, adds to Dietenhofer’s excitement: “This new partnership allows us to focus on what we do best: making the highest quality craft beer.  Pacific Beverage Company will help supply accounts to ensure the best customer service for our clients.”  The distribution company will handle current and new accounts throughout the Central Coast in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties.

Current sales and distribution staff will be redirected to new roles within the company to ensure that staff members remain part of the Fig Family.

THREE NEW FIGUEROA MOUNTAIN BREWING CO. TAPROOMS SET TO OPEN IN 2014

Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. will be opening three new taprooms this fall.  Slated to open in November, their first taproom will be located in Santa Maria at 560-B East Betteravia Road in the College Square shopping center.  The Grand Opening is set for Saturday, November 22, 2014.  The next two taprooms to open are outside of Santa Barbara County where there are currently three locations: Buellton, Los Olivos and Santa Barbara.  A fifth taproom in Westlake Village is planned for mid-December located in the brand new Target shopping complex at 30770 Russell Ranch Road, Suites E&F.  Following soon after is their Arroyo Grande taproom at 1462 East Grand Avenue which plans to open by mid-January 2015.  All three new locations will have a menu featuring gastropub cuisine, a Mug Club, live music and special events.

Westlake Village and Arroyo Grande will both have in-house breweries producing 1500 barrels each per year.  “Our two new taproom breweries will allow for increased production and produce unique specialties available to local accounts,” says Sales Director Alex Jones.

For more information about the new taprooms please visit www.FigMtnBrew.com or sign up for the new Mug Clubs by emailing [email protected].

FIGUEROA MOUNTAIN BREWING CO. PREPARES TO LAUNCH “FIG DEUSTCHLAND”

Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company is going back to the homeland.  Owners Jaime and Jim Dietenhofer are excited to go back to their roots as they evaluate potential site selections for a new European brewery in the Bavarian region of Germany.  They are sending brewer AJ Stoll to spearhead the process.

“There is a high demand for American-style beers in Europe as of late.  It’s the perfect time to bring our New World style of beer to Germany as well as having the opportunity to learn from their rich history of brewing.  We are also looking forward to brewing a new line of European beers such as Dunkelweiss, Marzen, Weissbier and other lagers,” explains President Jaime Dietenhofer, “with the potential to import these beers back to the United States.”

While in Europe, Stoll will consult with a brewery in Ireland which has always been a dream of his.  “We can’t wait to see what recipes AJ is inspired to create while in Europe,” says Vice-President Jim Dietenhofer.

Stoll isn’t the only brewer with new endeavors.  Mike Hastings will take on a new role as Director of Brewery Operations for Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company’s production department.  Hastings joined Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. in December 2012 as the Head Brewer of Buellton.  Kevin Ashford, the Head Brewer of Santa Barbara, will take on an additional new role in the company.  While he continues to develop their growing cask program he will also assist with FigMtnBrew’s burgeoning brewery collaboration series.