battleships to Beer

Kent and Ryan crack a Saginaw Golden Ale and tell the story of their ambitious dream of a borrowed tank, selling four beers on tap, and a lone hot dog machine.

Enjoying a Farragut's Farmhouse Barrel Aged Saison, Kent and Ryan walk through the incredible early history of the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, including a nine-year old bad-ass midshipman, homing pigeons, and the world’s first aircraft carrier landing.

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Crack a Coal Shed Stout and join Kent and Ryan as they reminisce—and wince—about building out new brewery in a 1901 Coal Shed that once fueled Teddy Roosevelt’s great white fleet. The renovation and restoration project from hell.

Co-founder Ryan Gibbons sits down with Jim Reikowsky, a long-time patron, Yardbird member, and former Film Commissioner for Solano County. They discuss how Jim earned the nickname "25 Steps Jim," the future and history of Mare Island, and a few of the interesting film projects Jim helped bring to Vallejo and Mare Island during his time with the Convention & Visitors Bureau.

A pint of The 21ers Black Lager launches Kent and Ryan into a remembrance of the colorful cast of characters that has helped, or sometimes hindered, but always entertained, along the journey of building the Brewing Co.

Kent interviews Jake Sloan, a member of the Original 21ers, who played a key role in advocating for civil rights at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in the 1960s. Jake shares his experiences and discusses how their efforts led to significant changes in labor rights at Mare Island and beyond.

A cold Ivy Bells Pilsner leads Kent and Ryan into the Cold War, as well as WW2, and the base closure. It is the most incredible Bay Area history that nobody knows about.

Ryan coaxes Steve Taugner, electrician to the Island, over to the Admiral’s Mansion and teases out of him first-hand stories of the top-secret Ivy Bells mission. Is all this material formally unclassified?…well, we think so...

War Bond California Common is the libation of choice for a discussion of the Yardbird Beer Club, Yardbird Parties, the Yardbird Games, Brew Cruises and Brewer’s Bootcamp. The coveted trophy is on the line.

Kent sits with our own Chef David Starr and his Vietnam-vet father Gary Starr to talk about the multi-generational Mare Island experience, including the best fishing pier, seeing the “Mud Puppy” submarine rest on the bottom of the Strait, and “stealing back” a fifty-year-old pane of glass.

Join Kent and Ryan for a bottle of General Order No. 99 Barrel Aged Porter, and a rambling discussion of the tight box they put around branding, but how easy it is to stay within that box when you are focused on the history of Mare Island.

Ryan sits down with Christopher Collins, aka “The Wolf” on the waterfront at our Coal Shed Brewery. Over the course of a couple of beers, we learn about the Wolf’s journey from growing up in Napa to being selected as an apprentice on Mare Island to becoming the most reliable refrigeration technician every brewery needs. We even named a tank after him.

Kent and Ryan drink aptly-named Survivors Tale Pale Ale and recount their story of surviving the Coronavirus pandemic, and how they might need a couple pints each to get through that story.

General Vallejo is both the town’s namesake, and the Mexican Lager that Kent and Ryan enjoy as they talk about the challenges and opportunities of being based in Vallejo.