Firestone Walker Brewing Company

Firestone Walker Brewing Company
Company type	Private
Industry	Brewing
Founded	1996
Founder	Adam Firestone, David Walker
Headquarters	Paso Robles, United States
Area served	California, Western United States, and other states including Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Montana, Idaho
Key people	David Walker (CEO), Adam Firestone (Board member), Matt Brynildson (Brewmaster)
Products	Craft beer (notable beers: 805, Mind Haze IPA, Double Barrel Ale, Union Jack, Pivo)
Parent	Duvel Moortgat Brewery (majority owner)
Website	firestonebeer.com

Firestone Walker Brewing Company is a craft brewery with locations in Paso Robles, Buellton, and Venice, California. Established in 1996 by Adam Firestone and David Walker, who are brothers-in-law, the brewery originally operated on the Firestone family vineyard in Los Olivos, California before shifting its primary operations to Paso Robles in 2001. Its lineup features well-known beers such as 805 and Mind Haze. Firestone Walker holds the position of the second-largest craft brewery in California.

The company was honored as the World Beer Cup Champion Brewery for mid-sized breweries in the years 2004, 2006, 2010, and 2012.

History

Founded in 1996 within Santa Barbara County by David Walker and Adam Firestone—descendant of Brooks Firestone and great-grandson of Harvey Firestone, founder of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company—Firestone Walker began brewing at the family vineyard in Los Olivos. The brewery relocated its main facility to Paso Robles in 2001. Its inaugural beer, Double Barrel Ale, was brewed using a patented adaptation of the Burton union fermentation system.

In 2006, Firestone Pale Ale received the accolade "Best Beer in America" from Men's Journal. The product range grew with the introduction of Union Jack IPA in 2008. In 2011, Firestone Walker initiated the Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Festival to showcase breweries lacking West Coast distribution.

Between 2004 and 2012, the brewery earned the "Champion Brewery and Brewmaster" award for Mid-Size Brewing Companies at the World Beer Cup on four occasions. In 2015, it secured the "Midsize Brewing Company and Brewer of the Year" title at the Great American Beer Festival for the fourth time within ten years.

To broaden its global reach and strengthen market presence, Firestone Walker merged with Belgium’s Duvel Moortgat Brewery in 2015. Duvel Moortgat assumed majority ownership while founders David Walker (serving as CEO) and Adam Firestone (board member) maintained minority shares.

Facility enhancements took place in 2012 and again in 2017, with the latter expansion including a new visitor center. In 2019, Paste Magazine recognized Firestone Walker as the "Best American Brewery of the Decade" for 2010–2019.

Early in 2021, the brewery introduced Brewmaster's Collective, a subscription beer club providing exclusive brews directly to customers.

Operations

Firestone Walker Brewing Company is among a select group of commercial breweries worldwide utilizing a modified Burton Union fermentation system that employs interconnected oak barrels.

In 2012, the company launched Barrelworks, a facility dedicated to producing wild ales located in Buellton, California.

By 2019, production reached 521,000 barrels, marking substantial growth within the craft beer sector.

Paso Robles Brewery

The primary brewing facility situated in Paso Robles, California is responsible for producing most of Firestone Walker’s beers. A brewhouse expansion was completed in 2017 featuring equipment supplied by German manufacturer Huppmann and included a new visitor center. The brewery grounds also contain a Taproom restaurant alongside an emporium offering merchandise and tastings.

In late 2020, Firestone Walker installed a 2.1-megawatt solar power system covering 9.7 acres adjacent to its brewery—ranking among the largest on-site solar arrays within craft brewing. This installation fulfills most of the brewery’s energy requirements while cutting carbon emissions by approximately 3,000 metric tons annually as part of its "Brewing for Tomorrow" sustainability program. Other environmental initiatives include steam recovery from kettles, water conservation measures, and waste reduction efforts. The brewery processes around 35 million gallons of water annually through treatment systems before returning it to local aquifers and repurposes over 20 million pounds of spent grain for animal feed.

Its on-site wastewater treatment facility further purifies process water beyond initial standards prior to discharge. Additionally, steam generated during wort boiling is captured and reused to heat water, accounting for nearly half of the brewhouse’s energy consumption.

Barrelworks

In 2013, Firestone Walker inaugurated Barrelworks, a 7,000-square-foot wild ale cellar located in Buellton, California, dedicated to Belgian-style sour beers. The program is overseen by master blender Jim Crooks, who holds a degree in food science and formerly managed quality control at the Paso Robles brewery. Barrelworks evolved from Crooks’ initial experiments with sour beers and eventually grew into a standalone facility. Its signature brew is Feral One. The Barrelworks operation emphasizes creative wine-beer hybrids crafted with locally sourced wine grapes, as well as fruit-infused varieties such as those featuring tangerine. Additionally, the site includes a Taproom restaurant, which enhances customer interaction and strengthens brand loyalty.

Venice Propagator

Firestone Walker established the Propagator R&D brewhouse in Venice, California in 2016 to focus on developing experimental brews and limited-edition small batches. The inaugural beer produced was Generation 1, a West Coast-style IPA. Outfitted with a Kaspar Schulz brewhouse system, the Propagator functions as an innovation center creating exclusive offerings for the Venice Taproom. Among its notable creations is Mind Haze IPA, developed through extensive research and refinement. In 2021, the Propagator marked its fifth year by releasing Gen-5, a hazy double IPA brewed with select New Zealand and American hop varieties. The facility has also facilitated collaborations such as Hippie Highway with There Does Not Exist and Talley Cat Sunflower IPA with Jennifer Talley, alongside revivals of classic beers like Wookey Jack. This R&D approach contributes significantly to Firestone Walker’s growth by fostering product innovation and enhancing market distinction.

Beer Club

The Brewmaster's Collective, Firestone Walker’s inaugural beer club, was introduced in 2021. Inspired by regional winemakers, Brewmaster Matt Brynildson designed the club to deliver curated selections periodically throughout the year. Membership benefits include access to specialty and exclusive beers from the Vintage and Barrelworks lines, along with unique glassware, branded merchandise, food pairing suggestions, a welcome package, and virtual tasting sessions hosted by brewery staff.

Brewmaster

Matt Brynildson has served as Firestone Walker’s brewmaster since 2001, managing all aspects of brewing operations. His accolades include four "Champion Brewmaster" awards at the World Beer Cup and six "Brewer of the Year" honors from the Great American Beer Festival, in addition to receiving the Russell Schehrer Award for Innovation in Craft Brewing. Recognized internationally for his leadership and inventive approach, Brynildson also consults for Hop Growers of America and teaches at brewing institutions worldwide.

Brynildson’s career began with chemistry studies at Kalamazoo College followed by experience as a hop chemist before attending the Siebel Institute of Brewing Technology. He was head brewer at Goose Island Beer Company from 1996 until 2000 and subsequently took on the role of brewmaster at SLO Brewing Company in California. After Firestone Walker acquired SLO Brewing in 2001, Brynildson assumed responsibility for Firestone Walker’s brewing operations.

Craft Beer & Brewing magazine has credited Brynildson’s combination of technical skill and creative insight as instrumental in establishing Firestone Walker’s competitive edge through distinctive product offerings.

805

Firestone Walker introduced 805 in 2012, a blonde ale named after the Central Coast area code where the brewery is located. Initially available only in the local market, its appeal rapidly spread throughout California and the Western United States. By 2016, the beer was distributed in Arizona, Nevada, and Texas, earning the title of California’s best-selling craft beer that year. Subsequent expansions included Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Montana, and Idaho. Currently, 805 represents more than half of Firestone Walker’s entire beer output.

As one of the decade’s most successful beer brands, 805 thrives on grassroots promotion emphasizing a "California lifestyle." In 2021, the brewery expanded the 805 range by launching 805 Cerveza, a lime-flavored light beer and the first variant in this product series.

Mind Haze IPA

Mind Haze IPA ranks as Firestone Walker’s second highest-selling brew and debuted nationally in early 2019 as their inaugural hazy IPA. Created after thorough research and development at their Venice Propagator facility, Mind Haze takes cues from East Coast hazy IPAs and Bavarian Hefeweizens. It incorporates hops such as Cashmere, Mandarina, Azacca, Idaho 7, and El Dorado to produce gentle tropical fruit scents.

In 2021, Firestone Walker broadened this lineup with Double Mind Haze, a double hazy IPA marking the first extension of this brand.

Double Barrel Ale (DBA)

Double Barrel Ale was Firestone Walker’s original brew when it launched in 1996. Co-founder David Walker characterized DBA as a reflection of the brewery’s founding principles. This British-style pale ale undergoes partial fermentation in oak barrels, inspired by the traditional 19th-century Burton Union technique. The brewery’s first tap account, Hitching Post II in Buellton, California, still serves DBA today.

Union Jack

Launched in 2007 as Firestone Walker’s initial IPA offering, Union Jack has become a standard for West Coast-style IPAs. It has earned numerous accolades including awards from the Great American Beer Festival and European Beer Star Awards, alongside a flawless 100-point score from Craft Beer & Brewing magazine.

Pivo

Pivo is a hoppy pilsner introduced in 2013 drawing influence from Italian, German, and Czech pilsners—particularly the dry-hopped Tipopils by Birrificio Italiano. Brewmaster Matt Brynildson led its creation. Beervana recognized Pivo as one of twelve beers that shaped an entire decade.

Nitro Merlin Milk Stout

First released on draft in 2016 and canned two years later in 2018, Nitro Merlin Milk Stout employs a proprietary nitrogen pressurization system to replicate an authentic draft-style nitro pour. This method produces a creamy texture and smooth mouthfeel enhanced by lactose (milk sugar), which adds body and subtle sweetness.

Anniversary Ale

Firestone Walker’s yearly Anniversary Ale commemorates its founding year of 1996 with a barrel-aged blend crafted in partnership with leading Paso Robles winemakers. Each summer features collaborative blending sessions where winemakers create preferred mixes that are blind tasted and voted on to select the final blend. This approach encourages innovation by introducing new styles and highlighting different beers annually, strengthening the brewery’s market presence and product uniqueness.

Parabola

Parabola is an imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels that was originally crafted as a component of the Anniversary Ale blend before evolving into its own distinct offering. This stout is matured in barrels sourced from prestigious distilleries such as Heaven Hill and Pappy Van Winkle. Parabola has achieved a flawless 100-point score on Beer Advocate, highlighting its elite status and solidifying its reputation within the craft beer community.

Cali-Squeeze

In 2021, Firestone Walker expanded its portfolio by acquiring the Cali-Squeeze brand from SLO Brewing Company. Known for its fruit-centric hefeweizens and seltzers, Cali-Squeeze offers a fresh approach to flavorful beverages. David Walker, co-founder of Firestone Walker, emphasized that this acquisition provides an avenue for innovation without disrupting the company’s primary beer lines. The brand was reintroduced in the fall of 2021 under the slogan "For a California state of mind," broadening Firestone Walker’s market presence and product diversity.

Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Since its inception in 2012, the Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest has brought together premier breweries from across the globe, curated by Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. This annual event takes place at the Paso Robles event center and benefits the local nonprofit Paso Robles Pioneer Day. Attendees enjoy offerings from local eateries, live musical performances, people's choice awards, and educational "Behind the Beer" sessions led by brewers. Known for its exclusive brewery lineups, the festival typically sells out all 2,500 tickets within minutes. The gatherings scheduled for 2020 and 2021 were postponed due to the global pandemic; however, plans to resume in 2022 underscore Firestone Walker’s ongoing influence in the industry and commitment to community involvement.

External links