Firestone Walker & pFriem Family Brewers Collaborate On pFreal

This morning, I’m excited to bring you your first peek at a new IPA coming soon from Firestone Walker Brewing in Paso Robles, California. This is pFreal, and it will be a collaboration with pFriem Family Brewers in Hood River, Oregon. The beer will be a west coast IPA that will hit 6%-ABV, and look for pFreal to be packaged in 12-oz cans. 2026 release details pending.

About Firestone Walker Brewing:

Founded in 1996 by brothers-in-law Adam Firestone and David Walker, Firestone Walker is a second-generation, family-led brewery based on California’s Central Coast. Helmed by highly decorated Brewmaster Matt Brynildson, Firestone Walker’s main brewery in Paso Robles produces a diverse portfolio including 805, California’s #1 craft beer brand; Mind Haze, a top 5 national hazy IPA; and Cali Squeeze, one of the nation’s fastest-growing beer brands. The Firestone brand family also includes iconic beers such as DBA, Union Jack, and Pivo Pils, as well as the storied Vintage Series of barrel-aged strong ales led by Parabola. As a California beer company, Firestone Walker also has two additional locations: the Barrelworks wild ale cellar in Santa Barbara County and the Propagator R&D brewhouse in Venice. Firestone Walker was recently named “Best American Brewery of the Decade” by Paste Magazine.
More at 805beer.com and FirestoneWalker.com

Firestone Walker Brewing Company is a California craft brewery that produces a variety of beers, including pale ales, IPAs, and barrel-aged beers. The brewery was founded in 1996 by brothers-in-law Adam Firestone and David Walker.

History:
The first brewery was located on a family vineyard in Los Olivos, California.
The first beer, Double Barrel Ale, was made in 2001 using a patented variation of the Burton union system.
In 2015, Firestone Walker combined with Duvel Moortgat, a Belgian brewery.
Firestone Walker is California’s second largest craft brewery.

Breweries:
The main brewery is in Paso Robles, California.
There are also breweries in Buellton and Venice, California.

Beers:
805: A bestselling beer brewed on California’s Central Coast
Mind Haze: A bestselling beer
Firestone Lager: A pale lager that was ranked one of VinePair’s best beers of 2018
Venice Propagator Series: Limited-release beers
Vintage Series: Premium barrel-aged beers
Barrelworks: Imaginative beers dedicated to all things wild

Sustainability:
Firestone Walker is committed to sustainability, reduction, recycling, and reuse.

Born in a humble shed on the back-forty of the family vineyard, Firestone Walker is a California beer company like no other—founded by two brothers-in-law who simply wanted to make the perfect beer.

The story begins with Adam Firestone (a.k.a. The Bear) and David Walker (a.k.a. The Lion) debating the subject of beer. Their search for a decent local ale proved futile, and it wasn’t long before they had goaded themselves into brewing their own.
Their initial brewing efforts were made in a second-hand brewhouse with converted winemaking equipment—mostly with mixed results. But the hook was set when their first recipe for Double Barrel Ale was attempted.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of that moment. Join us as we look back at the curious, passionate and, at times, precarious path that led us from there to here.

The Brewmaster
Matt Brynildson
When Adam and David moved their brewing operations to Paso Robles in 2001, they also landed “the perfect brewmaster at the perfect time.” Matt Brynildson has worked his magic at Firestone Walker ever since, earning the nickname “Merlin” on his way to becoming renowned as one of the world’s leading brewmasters.

California Brewing Company
California has been our home since we started in 1996. We live and brew here, and we draw energy from the communities that surround us.
Our beers are available nationwide, yet they always reflect where they come from—a land where creativity and innovation are the rule. This is what it means to us to be a California beer company.

Craft & Quality
At Firestone Walker, Beer Before Glory is our mantra for reminding ourselves we do what we do because of the beer. Period. It’s our battle cry to never accept well enough. It’s the high aim for a perfect beer we will never make. Beer Before Glory is our craft, ever honed on the stone of humility.

About pFriem Family Brewers:

In 2011 Josh Pfriem was well on his path to becoming a master brewer, but that path veered dramatically the day he was introduced to Ken Whiteman and Rudy Kellner at a child’s birthday party. The three went on to form the brain trust that would eventually create pFriem. 

They shared a deep love of family, the Columbia River Gorge and of course, great beer — but more importantly, each brought his own unique skill set to the table, creating the means and vision to not only make great beer, but to operate a great business. A year-and-a-half and hours of hard work later, the brewery opened its doors for the first time, and the three founders realized the beginning of their unique dream.

pFriem Family Brewers has since become a household name in the Pacific Northwest, but with rapid growth, came new business challenges and increased demand to bring more of the best possible beer in the world to beer lovers. The executive team needed a new partner with the skills and experience to take the helm of pFriem’s finances and steer it towards a glorious future. As fate would have it, Rudy Kellner had spent six years prior to pFriem working with just such a person. He knew that Sonya White’s skills and history of solid financial leadership made her an excellent choice, but it was their shared values and trust-based working relationship that sealed the deal.

If things do happen for a reason, then what better reason than to champion family, community and create one of the world’s best premium craft beers to be enjoyed by all who love them? We can’t think of one, so here’s to fate. Op uw gezondheid!

“2012 will forever be a benchmark year for the Pfriem family.
After over a decade of award-winning experience in the Northwest Craft Brewing Community, I finally achieved a life-long dream of opening my own artisanal brewery in Hood River, Oregon. This dream never could have come to fruition without the help of my two esteemed friends and business partners, Ken Whiteman and Rudy Kellner, and the loving support of our respective families. 

Our goals for the brewery are modest ones— to build a business that was tightly integrated with our family lives, to honor the place we call home and love so dearly, and to create a warm, friendly space where others could experience our creations. Our goals for the creations themselves are anything but modest.”
– Josh Pfriem

pFriem Family Brewers, founded by Josh Pfriem, Ken Whiteman, and Rudy Kellner in Hood River, Oregon, is a highly-awarded craft brewery known for artisanal beers inspired by Pacific Northwest ingredients and European traditions (German & Belgian). They excel in diverse styles, from crisp lagers and IPAs to complex barrel-aged sours, using top-notch equipment and techniques like wild fermentation in a koelship, earning praise as a world-class brewery for balanced, flavorful, and drinkable beers enjoyed after outdoor activities. 

Key Aspects:
Inspiration: Blends Pacific Northwest hops and ingredients with traditional German and Belgian brewing methods.
Founders: Josh Pfriem (Brewmaster), Ken Whiteman, and Rudy Kellner.

Location: Hood River, Oregon, a hub for outdoor enthusiasts.

Beer Styles: Offers a wide range, including Pilsners, IPAs, Belgian Strong Dark Ales, Saisons, and barrel-aged sours (like Flanders Red).

Brewing Philosophy: Focuses on balance, flavor, and making beers that are great after activities like skiing or biking, emphasizing quality and tradition.

Facilities: Features a state-of-the-art barrel warehouse with foeders and a koelship for wild fermentations.

Accolades: Multiple awards, including GABF Mid-Size Brewery of the Year and top honors from World Beer Cup.
 
Why They’re Notable:
pFriem stands out for its meticulous approach, combining high-tech brewing with artisanal, traditional techniques, creating beers that are both complex and highly quaffable, often celebrated by critics and consumers alike.