Buffalo Bill's closing.

They were still open?
Have not seen anything from them in decades.

 

Orange Blossom was the first beer I experienced that was outside of what everyone considers a 'normal' beer. It opened my eyes wide and was a memorable experience. Then it disappeared from the store shelves. Sad.

I visited the pub 4-5 years ago and enjoyed the visit. I didn't realize that it was anything historical, other than it was an old building. I'll have to research to see why it's historical.

 

Wikipedia entry is succinct. It’s interesting to gauge their history against those of so many of the other early microbreweries and brewpubs.

For anyone who remembers seeing their six-packs in the selection among other early entrants, it’s also mind-blowing to think of where the specialty beer segment (“Craft”) has come in this time.

I have fond memories of their brands for sure.

 

It's always sad when a place with a history like that closes. That said, I didn't like most of their beers. Their pumpkin was probably the best thing I had, and it was only okay. They were pioneers in the flavored beer space, but first doesn't equal good, even way back when. Still, I have to imagine that their beers inspired countless other breweries to go out and try something new/different. Their influence on American craft beer is probably bigger than most people realize.

 

I imagine the brewery (as opposed to the building itself) might be considered "historical" because it was among the earliest "brewpubs" and the oldest in US.

I'd say it's also incorrect (a feature of many WIki beer/brewing articles).

Most reliable sources (don't know the Walls book above) put it as the second California brewpub, after Mendocino/Hopland Brewpub and put Burt Grant's Yakima Brewing & Malting Co. as the first legal US brewpub.

Most of the Buffalo Bill's beer distributed around the country was brewed under contract, IIRC. (By who? Don't remember). His fame should also be measured against the infamy of creating pumpkin beer brewed - eventually - without pumpkin but only flavored with "pumpkin pie" spices -The True Story of the First Pumpkin Beer!

 

Interesting, I always thought of Buffalo Bill's and Pyramid beers as very mediocre. Even when I was first getting into craft beers.

 

While on vacation about 1990, visiting relatives in the East Bay, we made a pilgrimage to Buffalo Bill's in Hayward for a few beers. I don't remember many details (30 years!). It was a quiet evening in the bar, and I wasn't truly excited about the beers that I tried. Sorry to hear about their closing. They apparently survived the worst of Covid, but not the changes in craft beer culture.

 

The early Pyramid beers (1980s) from Hart Brewery in Kalama were pretty good. I remember marveling at Pyramid Pale Ale when I first tasted it. (I liked it better than Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.) The company has gone through many changes, now owned by FIFCO. I wasn't familiar with Buffalo Bills beers.

 

I remember drinking the Orange Blossom..must have been before my BA days. All I can recall is that I didn't like it.

 

Agreed. Orange Blossom (was at the time) an excellent beer for what it was, even though it’s rated on the lower end, here. And (back when I worked retail) I did my best to get a large allocation of it, likewise with their non-pumpkin pumpkin ale. We sold a palate of that one each fall.

Yeah, like too many Wikipedia entries it reads like a press release, and smooths out enough details that it’s not as useful as it could be.

Same here. I want to say Boston Brewing, but that really doesn’t “compute.” Maybe Hudepohl-Schoenling?

 

Jess' memory overcame the beer on the brain in post #9. It was Pyramid Brewing.

 

Yeah.

http://diningfortwo.blogspot.com/2008/07/orange-blossom-cream-ale.html?m=1

 

Sad to hear. They haven’t distributed their beers to my area in years. I’ll always remember their pumpkin ale. I was just getting into craft beer, and the pumpkin ale blew my mind as far as unique flavor. I also liked their blueberry oatmeal stout. Sorry to see them go.

 

True pioneer

 

Pumpkin Oatmeal Stout was the only beer I've had from them. I only recall seeing a few others here on the east coast.

 

RIP their Pumpkin Oatmeal Stout