Walking into the industrial-grade brewery that is Rusty Bull Brewing, you would never expect that the business got its start in a garage about 11 years ago. Co-owners Ben & Brian have a passion for creating a range of craft beers for every kind of beer drinker. Whether it’s a classic Belgian Ale or a Captain Crunch-inspired beer, they have something for everyone. I was lucky enough to get a tour of the facilities while sippin’ on some delicious brews, so I’ll share some tidbits that I learned along the way with you.
The story behind Rusty Bull
Apart from the beer, the other unique aspect behind Rusty Bull is the name. It turns out they came up with the name by honoring the most influential people in their lives: Ben’s father, Rusty, and Brian’s Uncle Bull.
The space itself was a used piano shop in its former life, and it’s crazy to hear how much they transformed it to make it what it is today. Although they had to do some demolition, they saved the leftover materials to make the decorative elements you see at the brewery. The bases of the tables are made from scrap metal from the demolition and the merchandise case used to be an elevator!
The Brews
As I said before, Rusty Bull has a flavor for every beer drinker, and they are constantly looking to improve their product. They even went as far as letting their fans pick a beer flavor and the Captain Crunch beer was born. Ben explained to us that they had to tinker with the recipe for a while, but in the end it brought back the same nostalgia as scooping up that infused milk after a hefty bowl of Captain Crunch.
My favorite beers of the ones we tried were the Berry Stomp and the Bearded Tiger. The Berry Stomp is their featured beer right now and I can see why. It is light, easy drinking, and perfect for summer. It has a nice tart flavor from the berries without being overly sweet, which I enjoyed. The Bearded Tiger is a cream ale that is infused with ginger and caramel for a spicy, sweet balance. The spice from the ginger really brightened it up and made it a refreshing, yet complex beer.
Take a tour yourself!
If you want to learn even more about Rusty Bull, they offer tours, both virtual and in person! To make a good thing even better, they host events with local food trucks and have live music. This Saturday, June 23rd, they are hosting a Beer Mile. Runners are challenged to drink 4 beers and run 4 laps, in that order. The proceeds support the Miracle League and if you think you’re up to the task you can sign up here! If the Beer Mile isn’t for you, you can check out their brews another time and I’ll see you there with a Berry Stomp in hand!
