Mount Shasta Brewing Company

Mount Shasta Brewing Company

Company type	Private
Industry	Brewing
Founded	2003 (2003)
Founder	Vaune Dillmann, Barbara Dillmann
Headquarters	Weed , United States
Area served	California, Oregon, Washington
Key people	Charles Kline, Anne Kline (owners as of 2024)
Products	Beer

Mount Shasta Brewing Company, also recognized as Mt. Shasta Brewing Co. and Weed Ales, is a brewery located in Weed, California, USA.

Established in 2003 by Vaune and Barbara Dillmann, the company obtained distribution permits across California, Oregon, and Washington. The brewery has been honored with multiple awards for its products, community involvement, and effective marketing campaigns featuring the tagline "Try Legal Weed."

In June 2024, ownership transferred to Charles and Anne Kline, who introduced a live music stage and updated the beer selection.

History

Vaune V. Dillmann, once an Oakland Police officer, moved to Weed with his wife Barbara in 1974. He managed the Black Butte Saloon for a quarter-century and actively participated in local initiatives, while Barbara held the position of Siskiyou County Superintendent of Schools.

Inspired by his German brewing background, Dillmann acquired the 18,000-square-foot Medo-Bel Creamery facility in 1992 to launch the brewery. The property required significant environmental cleanup due to gasoline pollution, financed by nearly $1 million in state assistance; remediation was finalized by 1999.

The renovation process involved adding skylights and insulating the ceilings. Brewing apparatus included a 1938 24-barrel system from Minnesota previously owned by Summit Brewing Company, alongside a contemporary 15-barrel PUB system from Davis, California. Commercial brewing commenced in 2003 with the release of Weed Golden Ale; bottled offerings followed in 2005.

The brewery earned accolades such as first place for Shastafarian Porter at the 2007 California Brewers Festival; Mountain High IPA won top recognition in 2008; and Mt. Shasta Kriek Ale secured third place in the fruit beer category. In 2009, the Weed Chamber of Commerce honored the company as "Business of the Year."

A legal dispute over the "Mt. Shasta Pale Ale" trademark with Butte Creek Brewery concluded in Dillmann's favor.

Mount Shasta Brewing distributes bottled beers throughout the region and maintains a tasting room featuring an oak bar reclaimed from Rosie's Saloon in Fort Jones. Specialty brews are frequently exclusive to this tasting area. Its location near College of the Siskiyous and Interstate 5 supports continued expansion.

By 2011, it was one of only three breweries operating within Siskiyou County, alongside establishments in Dunsmuir and Etna.

Change in ownership

Charles Kline joined the brewery as brewer and assistant manager in May 2022. The business was acquired by Charles and Anne Kline in June 2024, who undertook renovations including adding a live music stage and revising part of the beer lineup.

Slogan controversy

Founder Dillmann incorporated the town’s name, Weed, into marketing efforts with approval from descendants of founder Abner Weed. The trademarked brand "Weed Ales" depended on tourist sales for 92% of revenue, employing playful slogans such as "Try Legal Weed" and "A Friend in Weed Is a Friend Indeed."

From early 2008 until intervention by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), the phrase "Try Legal Weed" appeared on bottle caps. The TTB demanded removal, citing implications of endorsing illegal drugs. Dillmann contested this as a violation of free speech rights, emphasizing that the slogan referenced both the town’s name and a lawful product. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) supported challenging the ruling on First Amendment grounds. In October 2008, following review, TTB rescinded its order.

Afterward, Dillmann commented, "Weed fought the law, and Weed won." In 2009, he and Barbara received the United States Commerce Association's Best of Local Business Award recognizing their marketing achievements and community contributions during this dispute.