Local historians know that beer-making was a big deal in Sacramento's past. And there is no name bigger in the city's brewing tradition than Frank Ruhstaller, a Swiss immigrant who co-founded the storied Buffalo Brewery.
A new beer with the Ruhstaller name officially launched at Mulvaney's B&L yesterday. As reported in Sacramento Press, J-E Paino created Ruhstaller 1881, a red ale made with California-grown hops, to honor the man and the local industry. 1881 refers to the year Ruhstaller started his own premium label.
"This particular beer isn't a historical recipe, but it's made in the spirit of what Ruhstaller did," brewmaster Peter Hoey explained to The Bee's Chris Macias back in August. "The reason he set up in Sacramento is that barley and hops used to grow here and there were excellent rail and water shipping lines. His whole thing was using local products."
Incidentally, the Buffalo Brewery plant stood at 21st and Q Sts. on the spot now occupied by The Sacramento Bee. The brewery closed in 1942 and the structure was dismantled in 1950. The current Bee building opened in 1952.
PHOTO CREDIT: The Buffalo Brewery circa 1920-1930. The photo was taken from the center of Q Street, looking at the northwest corner of the building. Print photographed by John Thomas.
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