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PASKENTA BAND OF NOMLAKI INDIANS ACQUIRES MAD RIVER BREWERY
Purchase of Brewery from Yurok Tribe Builds Economic Portfolio
Corning, Calif. – (March 20, 2024)
Today, the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians announced the acquisition of the Mad River Brewery from the Yurok Tribe in Northwestern California. Based in Blue Lake, California, Mad River Brewery has distinguished itself as a producer of premium craft beers, recognized for their quality and dedication to environmental stewardship.
In November 2021, The Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians opened The Paskenta Brewery and Distillery, becoming the first tribal-owned distillery in California. With the acquisition of Mad River Brewery, the Paskenta Tribe continues to build its economic portfolio.
“Acquiring Mad River Brewery is another milestone in Paskenta’s commitment to building an economically sustainable future for our tribe and serving as an economic growth driver for our neighbors,” said Tribal Chairman Andrew “Dru” Alejandre. “We’ve enjoyed great community response since opening Paskenta Brewery & Distillery. Now, with the acquisition of Mad River Brewery, we’re honored to extend our expertise in blending tribal identity and craft beer to the Northern California community and tribes across the nation. As we continue to innovate, we proudly lead the way in crafting beers and spirits within Indian Country.” added Alejandre.
In 2019, Mad River Brewery became one of the first Tribal Breweries in the United States, making it a trailblazer in the craft beer industry. A women-led company formed the first partnership between a tribally owned brewery and a professional baseball team, making Mad River Brewery hand-crafted a staple at San Francisco Giants home games at Oracle Park. Mad River Brewery has won notable local, national, and international awards, including the Word Beer Cup and the Great American Beer Festival.
“It fills my heart to know the business will remain in tribal hands and continue supporting the tribal community. I have no doubt Mad River Brewery will continue its growth with this Paskenta Partnership.” said Linda Cooley the CEO of Mad River Brewery.
About the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians
The Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians owns Rolling Hills Casino & Resort, which includes the Casino, three restaurants, two conference centers, a Brewery & Distillery, RV Park and Travel Center, The Equestrian Center at Rolling Hills and The Links at Rolling Hills Golf Course. They employ over 500 team members, most of whom work full time with health care benefits and 401k options. Each year, hundreds of thousands of guests visit Rolling Hills Casino, bringing with them tourist dollars that benefit the local economy. The Casino and the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians are strong community partners supporting local programs through generous grants and sponsorships. The Paskenta Nomlaki Foundation donates hundreds of thousands of dollars to community organizations each year, with over $9 million donated to benefit local health, safety and education programs.
About Mad River Brewery
Mad River Brewery, a women-led Independent Craft Brewery located in Humboldt County, California has been brewing best-quality beers for more than three decades. MRB employs a time-honored, cut-no-corners approach to hand-crafting the finest quality ales, receiving four Gold Medals, four Silver Medals and one Bronze Medal from the Great American Beer Festival, which offers the most prestigious awards in the industry. Celebrating their 35th anniversary this year, the tribally owned craft brewery is recognized globally for award-winning ales such as their flagship Steelhead Extra Pale Ale, and their Jamaica Red Ale. The brewery’s portfolio of craft beverages includes new and reinvented products that highlight important endeavors, setting a standard for environmental and social responsibility in the industry.
Learn more about the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians here.
Craft Beer and Cupcakes: Mad River Brewery and Mia Bella Cupcakes Partner Up for Valentine’s Day
Local businesses team up to offer a special Valentine’s pairing
February 8th, 2024
Blue Lake, Calif. — Bringing together two locally loved consumable crafts, Mad River Brewery and Mia Bella Cupcakes is teaming up to deliver delight in the form of craft beer and cupcakes, a package exclusively available this Valentine’s Day. The pairing will feature 4 mini gourmet cupcakes and a selection of the brewery’s seasonal libations.
Started as a web-based business using a commercial kitchen at Redwood Acres in 2012, Mia Bella Cupcakes has grown over the years. Now at home in their beloved and cheerful space in downtown Arcata, they are a premiere location for birthday parties, baby showers, and celebrations of all kinds. The cupcakery, focused on quality ingredients and an artful attention to detail, features a long list of flavors including gluten-free and vegan options for those with dietary restrictions on their rotating menu.
“Partnering with another local business who models a dedication to craft was essential as we started dreaming up the plans for new collaborative events this year,” said Jessica Carenco, Marketing Director at Mad River Brewery. “Mia Bella Cupcakes immediately came to mind, and we are excited to kick things off and share our crafts together for a fun, unique experience this Valentine’s Day.”
Mad River Brewery, a local craft brewery in Blue Lake, has been hand-crafting ales in Humboldt County since 1989. They have partnered with many local businesses in both the food and craft beverage realm over the years to offer an array of interesting pairings and products to their local audience. In 2022, the brewery hosted an introductory five-course dinner and beer pairing event with local Chef, Rochelle Burgess, whose menu you can explore at Carriage House in Arcata. And just last year, the brewery celebrated a special release including two barrel-aged porters brewed in whiskey barrels from Alchemy Distillery.
“Valentine’s Day is always a special day of the year for us,” said Bonnie DeBord, owner of Mia Bella Cupcakes. “We are excited to collaborate with another local business offering exquisite flavors and unique experiences.”
A fine fit for locals looking for something different that tantalizes the tastebuds, the Valentine’s package can be customized to include two hand-crafted pints or two mini flights, perfect for sharing. Guests must pre-order by February 11th, either online, or in person at the tap room for $2 off the $25 package price. To see a selection of offerings from Mia Bella Cupcakes, visit their Facebook page or website by visiting: MiaBellaCakes.com.
Who: Mad River Brewery and Mia Bella Cupcakes
What: A Valentine’s Day Craft Beer and Cupcakes Pairing
Where: Mad River Brewery, 101 Taylor Way, Blue Lake, CA 95525
When: Wednesday, February 14th, 12pm-8pm,
Tickets: $25.00
Preorder tickets by February 11th, here.
Mad River Brewery Releases Indigenous Ale Promoting Women and Indigenous Visibility
The Yurok Tribe owned Mad River Brewery celebrates women with Indigenous Ale
May 9th, 2023
BLUE LAKE, CA – Mad River Brewing, an award-winning craft brewery located in Humboldt County, California has announced the release of their newest product: Maize Goddess Indigenous Ale. The light golden cerveza is the first beer to feature a tribally grown ingredient and will soon be hitting store shelves across the state.
Made using regeneratively grown corn from Ioway Farms, an enterprise of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska (ITKN), this light golden cerveza will soon be available across California. This release marks a significant milestone for Mad River Brewery’s goal of developing wholly tribal, farm-to-table products. Purchased by the Yurok Tribe three years ago, the brewery has launched new branding, new products and significant partnerships that continue their legacy of raising awareness for social and environmental issues. The Yurok Tribe owned brewery developed the new beer style to maximize visibility and stay true to their core as an Indigenous brand.
“This is the first step towards our goal to develop wholly tribal, farm-to-table products,” said Linda Cooley, Yurok Tribal member, and Mad River Brewery CEO. “Starting with one ingredient is a benchmark, and we are excited to build on this and invite other tribal partners to work on collaborative projects that strengthen economics and support sovereignty.” The brewery announced their partnership with ITKN in 2022 with plans to extend craft beer production and distribution to the Midwest, shedding light on the benefits of inter-tribal commerce.
“It is with great honor to say that we have built a strong long-lasting relationship with MRB and the Yuroks. This relationship consists with trust and confidence that the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, Grey Snow Management Solutions and Ioway Farms LLC will be strengthening inter-tribal trade, economic development and workforce development opportunities for each other and for other tribal nations as well.” said Timothy Rhodd, Chairman of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska. “Together we can accomplish anything, and it is from that direction we will move forward! True north!”
Maize Goddess celebrates Indigenous cultures around the world while paying tribute to women’s strength, power, and resilience as leaders and life-givers. It’s a refreshing ale that appeals not only to craft beer enthusiasts but also those who appreciate socially conscious brands.
“The message behind Maize Goddess is a refreshing contrast to typical objectification and marketing that surrounds women in the craft beer world,” added Jessica Carenco, Mad River Brewery Marketing Director. “It’s a twofold message about revering women while contributing towards Indigenous visibility as a women-led tribally owned business.”
Mad River Brewery has built its brand on exceptional craftsmanship coupled with eco-conscious practices and production methods and has gained recent recognition in their effort to make change in professional sports. In 2022 the tribally owned brewery celebrated a historic partnership with Major League Baseball team San Francisco Giants—marking the first ever tribal brewery partnership in major league sports. Featured in a home-run lineup, Maize Goddess will be one of 4 products from Mad River Brewery available in Oracle Park., as well as the premiere beer featured at Arcata Main Street’s Arcata Bay Oyster Festival, especially named for the event, “Shuck It.”
About Mad River Brewing
Mad River Brewing, an Independent Craft Brewery located in Humboldt County, California has been brewing best-quality beers for more than three decades. Mad River Brewery employs a time-honored, cut-no-corners approach to hand-crafting the finest quality ales, receiving four Gold Medals, four Silver Medals and one Bronze Medal from the Great American Beer Festival, which offers the most prestigious awards in the industry. Paving the way for a new Native American category in craft beer, the Tribal Brewery, owned by the Yurok Tribe, has introduced new products that promote the decades-long fight for environmental restoration and justice. Mad River Brewing is committed to producing the best-quality beverages on the planet and continues to employ the most holistic brewing methods to craft products that are in a league of their own.
About the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska
The Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska (ITKN) is a sovereign nation and federally recognized tribe organized under a constitution and bylaws approved on February 26, 1937. The Tribe, also known as the Ioway or Báxoje, is headquartered on a reservation straddling the eastern portion of the Kansas and Nebraska state borders along the confluence of the Nímaha and Nyisoji, or the Big Nemaha River and Missouri River. The Iowa River and the State of Iowa were named after the Tribe. ITKN owns several enterprises including Grey Snow Management Solutions, LLC (GSMS) which is a holding company for a collection of tribally owned small businesses, known as the Grey Snow Companies, that offer reliable solutions for fiber communications, construction, renewable green energy systems, and professional services. In addition to GSMS, the Tribe owns Casino White Cloud, Ioway Farms, Ioway Bee Farm, Soje, and Grasslands. ITKN boasts the second-ever and largest Tribal National Park, Báxoje Mowatanani, or Ioway Tribal National Park. The park recently entered the very first Sister Park relationship between a Tribal National Park and a U.S. National Park (Effigy Mounds National Monument in Harper’s Ferry, Iowa) and is scheduled to open formally in 2025.
Learn more about the Yurok Tribe here.
Learn more about the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska here.
California State Parks, Mad River Brewery Team Up to Release Canyon of Dreams Double India Pale Ale
The Yurok Tribe’s Mad River Brewery and California State Parks’ Redwood District celebrate the second brew in the series
April 20th, 2023
Blue Lake, Calif. —
Mad River Brewery and the State Park are teaming up to promote the release of Canyon of Dreams DIPA, a sustainably produced craft beer in a State Park series from the tribally owned brewery. Canyon of Dreams is the second beer in the series, following Historic State Park IPA, which debuted in 2021. The series celebrates a new chapter for the relationship between tribes and state parks, and honors the cooperative efforts contributing to responsible stewardship, holistic management, and sustainable commerce.
“We are grateful for this opportunity to highlight a meaningful partnership that is inspiring change,” said Linda Cooley, Yurok tribal member and CEO of Mad River Brewery. “This beer is for the dreamers out there, and we dream of a future when Indigenous people everywhere have access to their ancestral land.”
The label features a wondrous scene that takes the viewer back in time—canyon walls glisten with lush ferns set amongst ancient Redwoods. Rays of light illuminate the canyon floor, the breathtaking spectacle bestowing reverence for the beauty of Yurok Country.
“This new release is yet another example of Mad River Brewery (with the Yurok Tribe) highlighting places on public land that have been managed by Yurok people for thousands of years.” said California State Parks Redwood District Superintendent Victor Bjelajac. Yurok ancestral territory is located in present-day northern California, stretching from the Little River in the south to Damnation Creek in the north.
“Our labels and our products and the meaning behind them is very personal,” said Cooley. “Mad River Brewery has championed holistic and environmentally sustainable practices since the beginning, and this extension of our story through our products is connecting they ‘why’ of our practices to the world around us.” Cooley continued, “We are proud to offer a package that exemplifies these endeavors while delivering award-winning flavor.”
Canyon of Dreams Double IPA boasts a malty, hoppy punch, fresh piney flavor, and citrus aroma. Robust yet perfectly balanced, the rebranded ale is the winner of the summer 2021 United States Beer Tasting Championship in the California region. The ale will be offered in the following quantities: 12oz cans, 19.2 oz cans, 5.6-gallon cylinders and 15.5-gallon kegs.
About Mad River Brewing
Mad River Brewing, a women-led Independent Craft Brewery located in Humboldt County, California has been brewing best-quality beers for more than three decades. MRB employs a time-honored, cut-no-corners approach to hand-crafting the finest quality ales, receiving four Gold Medals, four Silver Medals and one Bronze Medal from the Great American Beer Festival, which offers the most prestigious awards in the industry. Paving the way for a new Native American category in craft beer, the Tribal Brewery, owned by the Yurok Tribe, has introduced new products that promote the decades-long fight for environmental restoration and justice. Mad River Brewing is committed to producing the best-quality beverages on the planet and continues to employ the most holistic brewing methods to craft products that are loved from coast to coast.
Learn more about the California State Parks North Coast Redwoods here.
Arcata Main Street and Mad River Brewing Team Up for Oyster Fest
Local Craft Brewery announces partnership and the release of a new beer to pair with the summer event
April 10th, 2023
Arcata, Calif. — The 33rd annual Arcata Bay Oyster Festival returns to its roots and partners with Mad River Brewing to present Arcata’s largest summertime event. The festival, returning to the iconic Arcata Plaza this year on June 10th, will feature everyone’s favorite components from years past, while adding a fresh new local brew to pair with the briny half-shell delicacies around which the festival revolves. Attendees can clink their cups to the absence of entry fees at the community-centered event once again this summer.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Mad River Brewery this year to deliver the best of previous years along with something refreshing and new.” Said Gil Miracle, Event Coordinator of Arcata Main Street. “Building the event back up to a smooth-running operation requires a back-to-basics approach, which includes heavy-lifting partnerships, and Mad River Brewery is able to work with us to offer a lineup of great beers including the launch of a new beer that pairs perfectly with oysters.”
The beer, playfully named “Shuck It” for the event, is an Indigenous Ale, a new beer style spearheaded by the Mad River Brewing Company. Shuck It will be showcased at the festival as well as on tap at Arcata restaurants and bars before the event— but that isn’t all. Craft beer lovers can look forward to learning more of the story and finding the beer, made using regeneratively grown corn, on store shelves not long after the release. The official name and packaging are under wraps, for now.
Corn in the beer is sourced from the Ioway Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, with whom the brewery is partnering to uplift tribal commerce from Northern California to the Midwest. The unique partnership was announced in 2022.
“The recipe and vision for this beer is something that we have been working on for a long time. Despite economic setbacks due to the pandemic, it has been a key goal to support efforts to strengthen intertribal commerce and advance regenerative agriculture by creating wholly tribal farm-to-table products, and this is the first step,” emphasized Linda Cooley, CEO of Mad River Brewery. “We have always been locally minded, and we want to share the first fruits and the first taste with our community. The Oyster Festival is the perfect opportunity for doing just that.”
The Indigenous backstory of the new brew is right in line with the Mad River Brewery’s most recent releases, which are tied to bigger initiatives. In 2021 the brewery launched the Undammed Hard Seltzers, a tribute to the decades-long fight to undam the Klamath River. The same year MRB released the Historic State Park IPA, the first in a California State Park Series, which celebrates a first-of-its-kind partnership and the Yurok Tribe’s work telling the accurate history of their ancestral land now designated as a state park.
Providing craft beer drinkers with a one-of-a-kind experience while raising awareness and promoting environmental restoration, the brewery’s products and story work hand in hand to benefit the community.
“From the moment we sat down with Mad River Brewery it was evident that we shared a community-based vision,” said Miracle. “Our values align, and we’re whole-heartedly committed to offering the best at the festival this year.”
About Mad River Brewery
Mad River Brewery, Yurok Tribe owned women-led Independent Craft Brewery located in Blue Lake, California has been brewing best-quality beers for more than three decades. MRB employs a time-honored, cut-no-corners approach to hand-crafting the finest quality ales, receiving four Gold Medals, four Silver Medals and one Bronze Medal from the Great American Beer Festival. Home of “Humboldt’s Best Beer” as voted by readers of the NCJ, the brewery is known for their dog-friendly atmosphere and idyllic views in sunny Blue Lake. Catch live music on the weekend, monthly Science on Tap, taste the drool-worthy menu from Low & Slow BBQ, and savor the craft offerings fresh from the tap at Mad River Brewery.
About Arcata Main Street
Arcata Downtown Business Community, Inc, also known as Arcata Main Street, works to unite the local community and create a vibrant Downtown Arcata since our start in 1988. A 501(c)3 non-profit organization, our mission is to help in the overall promotion of Arcata, working to unite the local community to improve all aspects of Arcata’s downtown and central business district for residents and visitors alike. Hosting thirty-two events throughout the year including festivals, Trick-or-Treating on the Plaza, the Season of Wonder & Light, and Arts! Arcata, we are improving economic management and strengthening public participation, all while making Arcata a fun place to visit and live. We believe that a healthy downtown is the key to a prosperous city, and we look forward to seeing you soon! Learn more about Arcata Main Street here.
Mad River Brewery Shares Special Beer Release for Women’s History Month
The special ale brewed by women honors the full circle of women in brewing
March 3rd, 2023
Blue Lake, Calif. — Women-led Mad River Brewery is tapping a special craft beer this month—a Smoked American Amber Ale brewed exclusively by women at the Yurok Tribe-owned craft brewery. The special release party is slated for Friday, March 10th at the brewery’s tap room in Blue Lake.
The creation of this fine ale, featuring Cascade and Centennial hops and a bit of beech wood smoked malt, involved a true team-process from start to finish. Ana Kolpin, who wears many hats at the brewery, involved in production, packaging, working in the cellar and more, said of the brewing experience, “It was my first time using the brewery’s pilot system, and it was also the first time I developed a beer recipe from scratch. When I home brew, I typically find a recipe that I am interested in and adjust it to make it my own, so it was different to start with a beer style and figure out the details from there.” The result is a slightly smoky ale perfect for pairing with smoked meats—available in abundance at the Blue Lake tap room.
Kolpin, who became interested in the craft beer scene while living in Portland, OR shares both sides of the coin in the craft beer world, “The Portland area gave me a much better understanding of how broad and exciting the world of beer could be, but spending more time in beer culture also made it clear that women are not equally supported or represented within that culture. Fortunately, we are at a moment where that seems to be changing quite a bit, and the greater focus on diversity within the industry is encouraging.”
This special brew has been a reminder that even as a women-led business there is always room to grow. CEO, Linda Cooley, said, “It’s important for us to make room and provide opportunities for skill sets to be gained and grow. We know firsthand how hard it can be for women to feel welcome into all areas of this industry, and we hope to close the gap even more by doing brews like this one. I can’t wait to share this amazing, women-crafted ale with our community.” Intentionally released during Women’s History Month, the specialty brew also celebrates and recognizes the original women brewers, or “brewsters”—those who first brewed ale for commercial sale. Women have been active in brewing since before the process’s industrialization.
Another member of the team, Emily Dreyer, shares in the full-circle experience. “My mom actually worked in the craft beer industry for Lagunitas when I was younger. I remember hearing about her experience, but I had no idea I would end up sharing in that legacy. This whole experience has definitely lit a fire in me to learn more about brewing and start homebrewing as well.” Dreyer who was involved in everything from the ideation stage to developing the name said, “There is something special about getting to name this beer we made. We joked around with lots of punny names at the beginning, but the message behind this is something we didn’t want to lose, so we landed on a name that champions and encourages women.” (The name of the beer will be announced on the day of the event.)
The special release event marches along with other endeavors and projects like Brave Noise, the Pink Boots Society, as well as the triumphant number of women-owned and led craft breweries in Humboldt County, including 6 Rivers Brewery, Gyppo Ale Mill, and Lost Coast Brewery.
“We have an incredibly talented community of women in craft beer in our area. We lean on each other, inspire each other, and champion each other to no end,” stated Cooley, “We’re proud to share this brew and celebrate the women in the industry, especially those in our community.” The women-brewed ale will be on tap all day the date of the release and throughout the month, celebrating the accomplishments of women and a dedication to craft.
About Mad River Brewing
Mad River Brewing, a women-led Independent Craft Brewery located in Humboldt County, California has been brewing best-quality beers for more than three decades. MRB employs a time-honored, cut-no-corners approach to hand-crafting the finest quality ales, receiving four Gold Medals, four Silver Medals and one Bronze Medal from the Great American Beer Festival, which offers the most prestigious awards in the industry. Paving the way for a new Native American category in craft beer, the Tribal Brewery, owned by the Yurok Tribe, has introduced new products that promote the decades-long fight for environmental restoration and justice. Mad River Brewing is committed to producing the best-quality beverages on the planet and continues to employ the most holistic brewing methods to craft products that are loved from coast to coast.
Wilton Rancheria Partners with Yurok Tribe in New Business Venture
Tribal-owned businesses build towards effort to expand intertribal commerce
November 29th, 2022
Yurok Tribe owned Mad River Brewery and Wilton Rancheria recently formed a partnership to advance intertribal commerce in California. Wilton Rancheria’s Sky River Casino, newly opened and located in Elk Grove, California, who will now offer the Yurok Tribe’s Mad River Brewery beer and seltzer products, made the announcement just in time for Native American Heritage Month. Intertribal commerce, which has existed since time immemorial is a practice that both entities believe is imperative to enriching economies and supporting communities. An event to celebrate the partnership is in the works for after the start of the new year.
“The Sky River Casino and Mad River Brewery are a perfect match. Both tribally owned businesses are committed to providing the best possible experience to our patrons and I know the Sky River Casino clientele will absolutely love our amazing beverages,” said Joseph L. James, the Chairman of the Yurok Tribe. “The revenue generated by this innovative partnership will stay in our communities, where it strengthen our respective nations.”
“Intertribal trade is a cornerstone of how tribes in California functioned prior to colonization. We are proud to continue that legacy and celebrate Native American Heritage Month by committing to a partnership with Mad River Brewery that will benefit both Wilton Rancheria and the Yurok Tribe,” said Wilton Rancheria Chairman, Jesus Tarango.
“We want to continue to be an ally and promote Mad River Brewery. We love the high-quality craft beer, the story it represents, and the causes it supports.” says Chris Franklin, Executive Director of Economic Development for Wilton Rancheria.
Mad River Brewery, purchased in 2019 by the Yurok Tribe’s Yurok Agricultural Corporation, is known for brewing the best award-winning ales for over 3 decades. Following the brewery’s purchase, environmental and social endeavors such as river restoration and the celebration of a historic partnership with California State Parks have been brought to the forefront of the brand.
New products like the brewery’s hard seltzer, Undammed, help tell the story of the Yurok Tribe’s decades-long fight for dam removal on the Klamath River, the largest dam removal in US history.
The brewery’s products are also marked Yurok Country Certified— distinguishing a high standard of environmental and social responsibility, while also creating an entry point for consumers to learn about the Tribe. The brewery, now gaining steam after years of pandemic setbacks, is looking to transform the food and beverage industry, paving the way for a new Native American category.
Yurok Agricultural Corporation President, Toby Vanlandingham says, “Intertribal business relationships like this establish economic opportunity, advancing endeavors, programs, and services while opening the door for new possibilities. As we move forward, we ask, ‘What else can we do? In what other ways can we help each other?’”
This partnership contributes to a growing venture of the brewery and its partners to develop strong ties in tribal ventures, nourishing reservation economics, intertribal partnerships, and tribally owned business development.
Mad River Brewery announced earlier this year their partnership with Grey Snow Management Solutions, an Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska company. The two partners are working towards the construction of a second brewery and the evolution of the brewery’s beers and seltzers, to be made with ingredients grown on the Ioway reservation using regenerative farming practices, resulting in wholly tribal farm-to-table products.
About Wilton Rancheria
The more than 900 current members of Wilton Rancheria are descendants of the Plains and Sierra Miwok, who lived and prospered in the Sacramento Valley. Tribal status was terminated in 1959 by the federal government and, after years of struggle, restored in June 2009. Wilton Rancheria is the only federally recognized tribe in Sacramento County. In November 2011, the Tribe adopted its modern Constitution, and since that time, tribal leadership has worked to improve the lives of its members and positively serve the community from its offices in Elk Grove.
About Sky River Casino
Sky River Casino, built by the Wilton Rancheria in partnership with Boyd Gaming Corporation, includes 100,000 sq. ft. of gaming, 2,000 slot machines, 80 table games, and “The Market at Sky River,” a food and beverage marketplace with 12 restaurant venues. Located 15 miles south of downtown Sacramento in Elk Grove, Sky River is the closest casino to Sacramento and the South and East Bay areas. The casino is bringing jobs and long-term benefits to the tribe and to the region. For more information, please visit www.skyriver.com.
About Mad River Brewing
Mad River Brewing, a women-led Independent Craft Brewery located in Humboldt County, California has been brewing best-quality beers for more than three decades. MRB employs a time-honored, cut-no-corners approach to hand-crafting the finest quality ales, receiving four Gold Medals, four Silver Medals and one Bronze Medal from the Great American Beer Festival, which offers the most prestigious awards in the industry. Paving the way for a new Native American category in craft beer, the Tribal Brewery, owned by the Yurok Tribe, has introduced new products that promote the decades-long fight for environmental restoration and justice. Mad River Brewing is committed to producing the best-quality beverages on the planet and continues to employ the most holistic brewing methods to craft products that are loved from coast to coast.
HenHouse & Mad River Brewery collaborate for the inclusion beer project
Mad River Brewery supports Yurok Tribe’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Project
October 25th, 2022
Petaluma, Calif. — Alongside HenHouse JEDI committee Mad River Brewery is celebrating a beer collaboration hosted by the Bay Area Brewers Guild to celebrate the release of the Inclusion Beer Project collaboration with HenHouse Brewing at HenHouse Palace of Barrels in Petaluma.
From the team at HenHouse: “The beer we’ve produced with Mad River is a hazy IPA that will begin hitting retail shelves during National Native American Heritage Month. This beer is our contribution to The Inclusion Beer Project, one of the core initiatives of the Bay Area Brewers Guild DEI committee. This initiative aims to bring about change in the brewing industry by creating a new and much-needed culture of inclusion. All breweries taking part in the IBP must commit to forming their internal committee focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Recently, The BABG DEI committee has also begun holding mixers at member breweries where they can introduce industry members and craft beer enthusiasts to the work being done by the broader Guild and specifically the DEI committee. On the evening of the 25th at our Petaluma Palace of Barrels location, Guild members will be in attendance along with members of our JEDI committee and some of the crew from Mad River Brewing, one of the US’s very few Tribally-owned craft breweries.
We all look forward to celebrating the release of this beer and sharing perspectives on the opportunities and challenges ahead as we endeavor to make our industry more just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive.”
Mad River Brewery chose the donation portion of this beer collaboration to go to To’ Kee Skuy’ Soo Ney-Wo-Chek’ (I will see you again in a good way) Project which aims to establish a more effective system of investigation surrounding MMIWG2 cases as well as an enhanced level of protection for Native women, girls and two-spirit individuals living in the state of California.
Beer and baseball: Yurok Tribe tells its story through landmark sports deal
The tribally owned Mad River Brewing Company has partnered with the Giants to build an economic support system and back key causes
October 23rd, 2022
Northern Calif. — “These days, you’ll see them sprinkled across Oracle Park, the stadium of the San Francisco Giants: bright blue cans with images of a steelhead fish flapping above a waterway, a deer with its head to the ground or a dam in the Klamath River.
The cans are produced by the Mad River Brewing Company, owned by the largest federally recognized Indigenous nation in California, the Yurok Tribe. And in April, they became the first tribally owned craft beer sold in a major league sports stadium. Under the unflinching lights of the ballfield, the brewery’s drinks amplify some of the Yuroks’ most pressing causes: there’s UNDAMMED: Demand Release, a hard seltzer named to bring awareness to the fight to save salmon threatened by dams on the Klamath River, and the Historic State Park IPA, designed to showcase the Yurok Tribe’s work telling the accurate history of their ancestral land now designated as a state park.
Their presence in and out of the stands has helped combat damaging stereotypes of Indigenous people, alcoholism and the tokenism too often seen in the sports industry, while creating a support system for the nation’s struggling economy. ‘There’s a lot of money made off of false narratives of us,’ said Linda Cooley, CEO of Mad River Brewing. ‘Instead of using us as an image or a token, why not just let us tell our own story, and show you that we can bring business?’”
Mad River Brewery Reveals Bar at New San Jose Barracuda’s Arena
Yurok Tribe owned Mad River Brewery featured as the exclusive bar sponsor in newly constructed Tech CU Arena
September 20th, 2022
San Jose, Calif. — Mad River Brewery, a tribally-owned, 30+year craft brewery from Humboldt County, California is happy to share their award-winning craft ales with hockey fans in the newly constructed Tech CU Arena. The presence of a tribally-owned brewery in professional sports arena at this level is an historic first, marking a turning point for Indigenous representation.
“We celebrate every moment of recognition and visibility as a tribally owned business, but a physical space is monumental. The Barracuda have provided true support and made real space for us where visitors will see our story and what we’re fighting for, our Yurok Country certification, all while experiencing the craft that goes into our products while enjoying their visit.” said Linda Cooley, Mad River Brewery CEO.
The bar, located on the 200 level of Tech CU Arena, is flanked by the Sturgeon design, a design used by the Yurok Tribe and featured in the brewery’s logo. The bar features a variety of Mad River Brewery ales, including the release of “Barracuda Sparkling Ale” a light sessional ale that rounds out the brewery’s award-winning portfolio. Pouring a straw color with a beautiful white head, a nose of malty goodness and floral characteristics, this ale features a light mouth feel and overall crispness that truly satisfies. Boasting flavors of malt, a touch of spice, and a crisp drying aftertaste, Barracuda Sparkling Ale is a must for Barracuda fans. In addition to the East Bar, visitors can enjoy Mad River Brewery packaged products in the arena’s Drink Market, as well as in the San Jose Sharks’ SAP Center.
Back in June, the partnership with the brewery and the San Jose Barracuda, affiliate team of the San Jose Sharks, was announced, highlighting the team’s continued mission to provide a platform for smaller businesses and commitment to diversity. In 2022-23 the Barracuda will have multiple promotional nights to celebrate diversity, as well as craft brewing. Mad River Brewery will be part of the Barracuda’s Opening Weekend, October 22nd-23rd, and the team’s annual Hoptoberfest, a craft brewing event hosted pregame until the end of the 1st intermission on October 29th where fans will have the opportunity to taste a variety of local craft beer.
About Tech CU Arena
Tech CU Arena is a state-of-the-art, 4,200-seat arena located in San Jose. It is the home of San Jose Barracuda. Tech CU Arena is a partnership between Sharks Sports & Entertainment and Technology Credit Union, a full-service, federally insured not-for-profit credit union headquartered in the heart of San Jose. With more than 155,000 members, Tech CU provides a wide array of financial products and services, including personal banking, financial management, private banking, commercial lending, and business banking. Learn more at www.techcu.com.
About Mad River Brewery
Mad River Brewery, a women-led Independent Craft Brewery located in Humboldt County, California has been brewing best-quality beers for more than three decades. MRB employs a time-honored, cut-no-corners approach to hand-crafting the finest quality ales, receiving four Gold Medals, four Silver Medals and one Bronze Medal from the Great American Beer Festival, which offers the most prestigious awards in the industry. Paving the way for a new Native American category in craft beer, the Tribal Brewery, owned by the Yurok Tribe, has introduced new products that promote the decades-long fight for environmental restoration and justice. Mad River Brewery is committed to producing the best-quality beverages on the planet and continues to employ the most holistic brewing methods to craft products that are in a league of their own.
Yurok Tribe Construction Corporation Acquires Bigfoot Golf Course & Country Club
Tribal Corporations Collaborate On Phased Transformation Of The Willow Creek Property
September 1, 2022
Willow Creek, Calif. —Today, the Yurok Tribe Construction Corporation purchased the Bigfoot Golf Course and Country Club in Willow Creek. The tribally owned construction corporation, in conjunction with the Yurok Economic Development Corporation and the Yurok Agricultural Corporation, will collaborate on a multi-phased effort to modernize and rebrand the ideally located course and restaurant. “This acquisition is part of our long-term plan to develop a diverse economic development portfolio and provide jobs for our people, whether they live on or off of the reservation,” said Joseph L. James, the Chairman of the Yurok Tribe. “I am proud of the progress we have made in terms of providing employment opportunities and services to the Yurok families in the Willow Creek area.”
“Together, the Yurok Tribe Construction Corporation, Yurok Economic Development Corporation and Yurok Agricultural Corporation are uniquely equipped to transform the course into a world-class golfing destination, including a family friendly tap room and restaurant for Humboldt residents and visitors alike,” said Frankie Myers, the President of the Yurok Tribe Construction Corporation.
“With the acquisition and renovation of the bank and golf course properties, we are creating new jobs for the many Yurok families in the Hoopa/Willow Creek area and reviving the economy in the region,” said Yurok Tribal Council Member Lori Hodge, who represents the East District, where nearly 800 Yurok citizens reside.
The picturesque property is comprised of 90 acres near the Wild and Scenic Trinity River. The far-sighted golf course investment includes: a nine-hole golf course, club house with a restaurant and banquet room, pro shop building, maintenance building, a large garage for golf carts, 18 mobile home spaces, a seven-unit RV park and two houses.
For phase one of the renovation, the three tribal agencies have a plan to turn the restaurant into a well-appointed tap room based on the successful Mad River Brewing Company Tap Room in Blue Lake. Mad River Brewing Company CEO Linda Cooley will be leading the development of the new tap room in Willow Creek. The contemporary Tap Room will offer delicious meals paired with the Mad River Brewing Company’s best-quality hand-crafted ales and seltzers. Owned by the Yurok Agricultural Corporation, the MRB Tap Room regularly hosts special events for the Blue Lake community. The tribal corporations will install a venue on the Willow Creek property for music shows and other forms of entertainment.
The Yurok Tribe Construction Corporation and Yurok Agricultural Corporation will implement the major remodel of the golf course. During phase two, the tribal corporations will create an executive golf course in the footprint of the current course. The Yurok Agricultural Corporation’s Weitchpec Nursery Manager Mike Searcy will oversee the redesign of the tee boxes, fairways and putting greens. Searcy has nearly two decades of golf course management experience. Most notably, he served as the Superintendent of the prestigious Western Skies Golf Course in Arizona and the Assistant Superintendent of Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians-owned Indian Canyons Golf Resort, which he helped build. In these leadership positions, he was intimately involved in all aspects of golf course operations, which included a wide variety of duties, ranging from designing and implementing irrigation systems to preparing golf courses for televised tournaments. In 2011, Searcy moved to Humboldt County, where he worked for seven years as the Superintendent of the Willow Creek Golf Course, the former name of the Bigfoot Golf Course and Country Club, before accepting a position with the Tribe and later the nursery.
“I am extremely excited about this project,” said Yurok Agricultural Corporation President Toby Vanlandingham. “We have assembled an amazing team to transform this property into a truly special place for visitors and the local community. Like all of our companies, this business will embody the highest standards when it comes to the environment.” The Yurok Economic Development Corporation will manage the mobile home and RV parks. YEDC operates several businesses as well as multiple mobile home and RV parks including the Riverside RV Park and Bluff Creek Resort.
Mad River Brewery Craft Beers Take Gold in California
Yurok Tribe owned Mad River Brewing announces multiple awards in beer competition
August 29, 2022
Blue Lake, Calif. —Tribally owned Mad River Brewery is celebrating a series of wins this week as the United States Beer Tasting Championship (USBTC) has announced the national and regional winners in the Summer 2022 competition.
For the California region, the brewery took first in a whopping four categories— a clear distinguishment, ranking the brewery among the best of the best in the state. Mad River Brewery was noted for the following brews in their respective categories: Steelhead Extra Pale Ale, (Golden Ale/Kolsch) Historic State Park IPA, (Pale Ale) Jamaica Red Ale, (Amber/Red Ale) and Slammin’ Salmon, (Imperial IPA/Red Ale).
This isn’t the first time the brewery has won awards with the USBTC. Less than a year ago, in the Winter 2021-2022 competition, Mad River Brewery received recognition in four categories as well, including different vintages of their John Barleycorn Barleywine, as well as their Redwood Stout and Uniontown Porter.
This win marks the first regional award for the brewery’s most recent release, Historic State Park IPA. The brewery, teaming up with the California State Parks, named the beer in honor of a first-of-its-kind partnership between the Yurok Tribe and California State Parks in a co-management effort of the Stone Lagoon Visitor Center, part of Humboldt Lagoons State Park. The endeavor has redefined the relationship between tribes and state parks. The promotion of the product has been a vehicle for awareness and change in the channels it reaches.
The beer, one of three recently made available in San Francisco Giants’ Oracle Park, is sharing a story with a wide audience, and highlighting the State Park, one of the singularly most stunning and biologically diverse places on the redwood coast. “The success of this beer directly benefits the State Park, calling attention to an important endeavor and investing into the park.” said Linda Cooley, Mad River Brewery CEO. “Not only the quality and craft, but the story behind our individual products is a reason for their desirability. When sharing our portfolio with both the Giants and the Barracuda, certain products stood out for their environmental and social impact.” (The brewery, in June, announced a second professional sports partnership in 2022, with the San Jose Barracuda, the affiliate team of the San Jose Sharks.)
The microbrew, a deep golden hued IPA that boasts bold citrus aromas, tropical fruit flavors and subtly bitter, malty finish, is now available in 12oz cans, 19.2oz cans, 5.6-gallon cylinders and 15.5-gallon kegs.
Other ales in the lineup have won various notable awards— flagship Steelhead Pale Ale has won 2 Gold & 2 Silver Medals at the Great American Beer Festival, and 2 Bronze awards at the World Beer Cup. Jamaica Red Ale is a Silver Medal Winner at the Great American Beer Festival and Slammin’ Salmon Double Imperial Pale Ale was a regional winner in the USBTC in summer of 2021.
Mad River Brewery and grey snow management announce partnership advancing intertribal commerce with craft beer
July 21, 2022
Blue Lake, Calif. — Yurok Tribe owned Mad River Brewery, and Grey Snow Management Solutions, an Iowa Tribe of Kansas City and Nebraska company, today announced their partnership to expand craft beer production and distribution, through the development of a Midwest distribution warehouse and brewery located on the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska reservation. Through collaboration, the tribal organizations are maximizing the potential of their capabilities, infrastructure, and expertise. This innovative business partnership represents the modern adaption of intertribal trade practices with an aim of generating new revenue streams and jobs for tribal citizens in Kansas, Nebraska, and California.
“We are incorporating 21st century technology into our traditional trade practices to create an entirely new economic system that is reflective of our core values surrounding environmental protection and corporate responsibility,” said Joseph L. James, the Chairman of the Yurok Tribe. “This outside-of-the-box business model will accelerate our effort to build brighter future for tribal people and the planet for generations.”
This news follows the coat tails of the recently announced professional sports partnerships with the brewery and the San Francisco Giants, as well as the San Jose Barracuda, but the planning and talks between Mad River Brewery [MRB] and Grey Snow Management Solutions [GSMS], has been in the making, long before the brewery made professional sports’ headlines. While the brewery’s efforts to carve out a platform for recognition in professional sports reinforces the importance of economic support for tribal entities in partnerships, it is but one clue to the brewery’s comprehensive and aggressive strategy for expansion and Indigenous visibility.
MRB has a decades-long legacy of churning out award-winning craft ales is not new to the careful selection of the ingredients they source; this partnership will enhance both the end products as well as a cohesive effort to have a positive impact on the world. The Ioway Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska [ITKS] has been a force for regenerative agriculture, employing sustainable practices that rebuild and revitalize the soil, reversing climate change while focusing on local economic resilience, and food sovereignty. ITKS has developed the Smart Farm initiative, one focused on generational sustainability and valuing reservation lands and water as limited resources, while looking for economic growth opportunities that will aid in that sustainability. Using modern information and communication technologies to increase the quantity and quality of products while optimizing the amount of human labor required, the Smart Farm Initiative allows the Tribe to adapt to changes in agriculture and provide strategic and reliable operational support services for its membership and private sector partners.
This partnership of two forward-looking and earth-conscious organizations will advance both environmental and social endeavors on and off the reservation, contributing to true tribal sovereignty. But the growing of ingredients are not all that are in store for this partnership. The Midwest reservation location also provides an opportunity for distribution expansion. The proposed development of a second brewing facility on the reservation will have the capacity to serve MRB fans across the country. These plans are all in their early stages, however, both companies want to shed light on what inter-tribal partnership can afford and have extended their expertise and willingness to help other tribes who are looking to enter into this market.
Representatives of both MRB and GSMS have received national awards for their support of reservation economics, intertribal partnerships, and tribally owned business development. Both are emphatically leaving the door open to additional collaboration and involvement, financial partnership, and professional assistance from other tribal businesses as they work together.
“Partnering with Mad River Brewery is right in line with our vision to work with well-established entities towards the enhancement of economic development.” said David Tam, CEO of GSMS. “We are working with tenacity on the many moving parts to continue to support intertribal commerce and develop channels of opportunity through this partnership.”
“The expansion of a vision like this is bigger than both parties. The big picture of what we are doing moves tribal economics into the mainstream,” said Linda Cooley, Yurok Tribal Member and MRB CEO. “We are working on creating a cooperative system for tribes, and we want to see the complementary skills and resources of tribes come together, helping one another. For tribes with casinos, the no-brainer next step is to connect with us to get tribal beers on tap in your facilities. Not only are products from a regenerative operation wholesome and high-quality, but they influence water quality, improve air quality, provide good habitats for wildlife, and strengthen tribal sovereignty, which all align with our shared values.”
About Mad River Brewing
Mad River Brewing, a women-led Independent Craft Brewery located in Humboldt County, California has been brewing best-quality beers for more than three decades. MRB employs a time-honored, cut-no-corners approach to hand-crafting the finest quality ales, receiving four Gold Medals, four Silver Medals and one Bronze Medal from the Great American Beer Festival, which offers the most prestigious awards in the industry. Paving the way for a new Native American category in craft beer, the Tribal Brewery, owned by the Yurok Tribe, has introduced new products that promote the decades-long fight for environmental restoration and justice. Mad River Brewing is committed to producing the best-quality beverages on the planet and continues to employ the most holistic brewing methods to craft products that are loved from coast to coast.
About Grey Snow Management Solutions
Grey Snow Management Solutions is a corporation wholly owned by the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska and is chartered under Tribal law. The financially oriented company is focused on creating profits leading to community development and job creation. The bulk of GSMS investment activity is conducted through subsidiary corporations to maximize success. GSMS strategy is implemented in phases according to the evolution of internal capabilities, focused on making passive investments with well-established entities, and the utilization of tribal economic advantages leading to the acquisition of successful companies. Governed by a set of principles for interactions with the Tribe, GSMS invests capital and reinvests profits, leading to the allocation of dividends back to the Tribe after years of operation. Taking full advantage of the Tribe’s legal and economic advantages on issues related to community economic development, GSMS efforts are leading to overall prosperity for the Tribe.
SAN JOSE BARRACUDA ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP WITH MAD RIVER BREWERY
Mad River Brewing adds to legacy of history-making partnerships in professional sports
June 12th, 2022
San Jose, CA –The San Jose Barracuda (@SJBarracuda), top affiliate of the San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks), are proud to announce they have partnered with Mad River Brewing Company (@madriverbrew) to become the first team in the AHL to serve a tribal beer.
Mad River Brewing Company is an independent craft brewery located in Humboldt County and has been churning out the “best-quality beers” for more than three decades. The handcrafted ales have won multiple awards including gold, silver, and bronze medals from the Great American Beer Festival, which offers the most prestigious awards in the industry.
“We are really excited to partner with Mad River Brewery for the upcoming season and provide fans with an award-winning craft beer option at our games,” said Eric Grundfast, Barracuda Director of Business Operations. “Beyond just its fabulous product, this partnership highlights the team’s continued mission to provide a platform for smaller businesses in our diverse community.”
The partnership with Mad River Brewery, which is tribally owned by the Yurok Tribe, signifies the continued commitment by the Barracuda organization to share its platforms with diverse partners. In 2022-23 the Barracuda will have multiple promotional nights to celebrate our community’s diversity.
“We are incredibly honored to become a partner with the San Jose Barracuda. Telling our own story, having a space for others to see and experience our product is a first in the history of the sports world and a new chapter in the NHL and AHL,” said Linda Cooley, CEO Mad River Brewery. “This partnership represents a turning point for diversity and inclusion. The San Jose Barracuda and San Jose Sharks are putting into action a need for visibility, recognition, and support for tribal business, which is directly tied to tribal sovereignty. As a Yurok Tribal member, Indigenous woman, and mom, it’s a monumental opportunity. Mad River Brewery has been crafting first-class ales for over 30 years. Now it is time we share our craft and our story with Barracuda fans, the hockey fanbase, and all those who come to San Jose’s newest arena.”
“The Yurok Tribe and Yurok Agricultural Corporation have made it a priority to stay true to who we are through telling our own story, standing up to tokenism, and insisting we find partners like the Sharks/Barracuda who stand behind this mission,” Toby Vanlandingham, President, Yurok Agricultural Corporation, Yurok Tribal Councilman. “As more doors open, we move forward with pride in our story and our products. Mad River Brewery craft beverages are certified Yurok Country products that belong in this new and beautiful arena.”
Mad River Brewing Company will be the entitlement sponsor of the East Bar which is located at the 200 level of Tech CU Arena and is expected to be part of the Barracuda’s first annual Hoptoberfest.
Mad River Brewery’s CEO Receives National Award for Public Advocacy
May 24th, 2022
Blue Lake, Calif. — This week at the annual Reservation Economic Summit (RES) in Las Vegas, NV, Mad River Brewery CEO and Yurok Tribal Member, Linda Cooley, accepted the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s (NCAIED) Tim Wapato Public Advocate of the Year Award. Each year, NCAIED, the longest standing and largest American Indian business and economic development organization in Indian Country, honors outstanding individuals and companies for their contributions to economic parity and the betterment of Indian communities. This year, the summit’s theme is, “Be the Change”.
“It is an honor and a privilege to receive recognition from such a prestigious organization,” said MRB CEO Cooley.
During the summit, Ms. Cooley delivered her acceptance speech, “I want to thank the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development for serving Indian Country for over 50 years as the largest American Indian specific business organization—one helping Indian Country reach economic goals that support our sovereignty. The Tim Wapato Public Advocate of the Year award is an incredible honor, not just because of the namesake, but because of all those who have been recognized in the past for their contribution.”
In 2020, the Tim Wapato Public Advocate of the Year Award was awarded to United States Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland, the first Native Secretary of the Interior and the first-ever Native Cabinet Secretary. Selected for their accomplishments, the Tim Wapato award highlights leaders who demonstrate strong advocacy for America’s first peoples.
“Currently, we are still battling stigmas, suppression, and tokenism. Creating the change we need and reaching outside of Indian Country is imperative to change our reality. The leaders of business, mainstream organizations, and megalithic chain stores and franchises need to stand with us and create space for us tell our own story. Mad River Brewery has emerged as a leader in the craft beer industry and beyond by forging creative partnerships, and also through grit and determination. In deciding to tell parts of our story through our product labels, we are demanding room to create our own category.”
Cooley continued, “I want to thank the Yurok Tribe and Yurok People, for taking our struggles and turning them into mobilization, all while maintaining the balance of love and respect. Life along the Klamath River—battling for water for our salmon—reached the tipping point and triggered a call to action in the face of a critical absence of recognition and outright opposition. By carving a new path and creating Undammed, a product named for the soon-to-be-realized largest dam removal and river restoration project in US history; by joining together with incredible partners like the San Francisco Giants, the reach of this story and message stretches further, opening doors and creating opportunities across the board for Indian Country.”
Earlier this year, the Mad River Brewing Company formed an historic partnership with the San Francisco Giants baseball team. At every home game, Giants fans are treated to the brewery’s best-quality ales and seltzers. In early 2021, Mad River Brewery launched Undammed, the brewery’s line of small-batch brewed craft hard seltzers. A tribute to the efforts of the Yurok Tribe in undamming the Klamath River, the largest dam removal in US history, the line features cucumber and huckleberry flavors.
In similar fashion, since the purchase of the brewery by the Tribe in late 2019, just before the pandemic, the brewery has released new products with a purpose, including Historic State Park IPA which is named for an historic partnership between the Tribe and the California State Parks who entered a joint agreement to co-manage the visitor center at Humboldt Lagoons State Park, which falls within Yurok ancestral territory. Just like in 1989 when the dedication to craft began at Mad River Brewery, the brewery is making a splash in the craft beer industry, with exceptional craft brews and meaningful partnerships.
In February, the brewery announced a first-of-its-kind partnership with the beloved San Francisco Giants, marking the first partnership in the MLB with a tribal brewery. Additionally, during opening weekend at the Giants’ Oracle Park, Cooley was asked to throw out the first pitch at game 2, marking the first time a Yurok Citizen has done so. The array of accomplishments serves as a symbol of inspiration despite obstacles and setbacks of every kind for others in the grind, working towards a more equitable future, where their own stories are shared.
Cooley finished her speech with encouragement to attendees, “Focusing on inter-tribal commerce, committing to supporting each other, doing the work and collaborating to be the change and be the example is the advocacy we now need. I am immensely grateful for those who have helped us along the way and excited to see what is to come, with future plans and with our future partners. For every Indigenous person out there that feels invisible, we will be that change. We see you, and we won’t stop.”
About Mad River Brewery
Mad River Brewery, a women-led Independent Craft Brewery located in Humboldt County, California has been brewing best-quality beers for more than three decades. MRB employs a time-honored, cut-no-corners approach to hand-crafting the finest quality ales, receiving four Gold Medals, four Silver Medals and one Bronze Medal from the Great American Beer Festival, which offers the most prestigious awards in the industry. Paving the way for a new Native American category in craft beer, the Tribal Brewery, owned by the Yurok Tribe, has introduced new products that promote the decades-long fight for environmental restoration and justice. Mad River Brewery is committed to producing the best-quality beverages on the planet and continues to employ the most holistic brewing methods to craft products that are in a league of their own.
About NCAIED Tim Wapato Award
The Tim Wapato award is named after S. Timothy Wapato, a nationally respected tribal advocate, and member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in Washington. A strong force for sovereignty in the nation’s capital, recognized as a brilliant teacher, philosopher, and visionary, Wapato led the way to protect inherent sovereign right for indigenous people, including tribal fishing rights and the notable Pacific Salmon Treaty negotiation between the U.S. and Canada. The award is presented annually by National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED)who has been assisting American Indian Tribes and tribal people with business and economic development for over 50 years. The largest national Indian specific business organization in the nation, NCAIED is actively engaged in helping Tribal Nations and Native business people realize their business goals while putting the whole of Indian Country to work to better the lives of American Indian people- both now and for generations to come.
Tribally owned Mad River Brewery inks partnership with San Francisco Giants
February 28, 2022
BLUE LAKE, Calif. — In what is being billed as the first partnership of its kind between a tribally owned brewery and a Major League Baseball franchise, the San Francisco Giants this season will begin selling craft beers made by Mad River Brewery.
Beyond selling Mad River’s beers at Oracle Park, the team also is opening its doors for Native people to be heard. That’s according to Mad River Brewery CEO Linda Cooley, who said that working with the Giants will lead to increased revenues for the Yurok Tribe to do more for the tribal community.
The Yurok Tribe purchased the brewery just prior to the COVID-19 shutdown in October 2019. While the pandemic changed the tribe’s initial plans for the brewery, it also afforded them time to rebrand the company, reorganize and establish the message it wanted to share with customers.
“The pandemic economically hit us really hard, but it gave us a moment to pause and really start rebranding our values in not only sharing our culture on a can but to share what we’re fighting for too,” Cooley told Tribal Business News.
Three of Mad River Brewery’s craft beverages will be sold at the Giants stadium for the 2022 baseball season. They include Undammed, a hard seltzer named for the tribe’s work to remove dams on the Klamath River; Historic State Park IPA, which highlights the tribe’s partnership with California State Parks to return Indigenous names to parks; and the brewery’s popular Steelhead Extra Pale Ale.
The partnership could also have effects in Indian Country beyond the Yurok Tribe. To that end, Mad River recently signed an agreement with Ioway Farms, owned and operated by the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, to supply ingredients for the brewery operations.
“We are working with a tribe to grow all our ingredients so we can be an inclusive tribal product and have a real farm-to-table experience,” Cooley said.
Among Giants: Mad River Brewery Will Serve Craft Brews in San Francisco Giants’ Oracle Park for 2022 Season
Yurok Tribe owned Mad River Brewing makes history as first Tribal craft beer partnership in League
February 23, 2022
Blue Lake, Calif. — After entering pandemic challenges just weeks after the Yurok Tribe’s purchase of Mad River Brewery in 2019, a bright horizon appears for the award-winning craft brewery.
Mad River Brewery, an independent craft brewery with a 33-year history of innovation and long list of prestigious industry awards, is known by craft beer lovers from across the country for their legendary flagships; Steelhead Extra Pale Ale and Jamaica Red Ale, specialty crafts including barrel-aged vintages of John Barleycorn Barley Wine. The brewery has also been recognized for their market-disrupting splash in the world of seltzers with their 2021 release of the Undammed line of hopped hard seltzers.
But all awards aside, Mad River Brewery’s history-making partnership with San Francisco Giants begins with a call to action and mission to promote the never-ceasing effort to advocate for water, land, and wildlife, as well as Indigenous recognition. As part of the brewery’s recent rebrand, the release of each new product is tied to bigger endeavors. Oracle Park will feature a variety of MRB’s craft brews including Historic State Park IPA, Steelhead Extra Pale Ale, and Undammed Huckleberry Hopped Hard Seltzer.
For years the Giants have been bringing people together, pouring into communities, and championing underserved communities through events, investing in youth and education, and building partnerships with purpose. The Giants have also been the first in the league to champion many aspects of diversity and inclusion, making them an ideal partner for the tribal owned brewery.
“There have been dreams that at one time seemed unreachable; finding a tribal product for sale in a professional stadium was unheard of—until now. Never again can we say that it is impossible. Not a statue, not a sign, not just a demonstration, but our own product. Not only will this be the first tribal beer in a professional stadium, but the first tribal product with a tribal certification.” Said Linda Cooley, CEO, Mad River Brewery. “In one swift motion the Giants are helping us secure our sovereignty and opening doors that could have never been opened. This time, we are not being tokenized—we are being supported in our causes, recognized as Indigenous, here and now, in this time and world that we live in.”
This new chapter for MRB means the sale of these products will truly catapult the efforts they tie back to, putting them in the hands of those they have never touched. Cooley emphasized, “By providing this platform, the Giants are assisting in the fight for water, land and for our story to be told.”
About Mad River Brewery
Mad River Brewery, a women-led Independent Craft Brewery located in Humboldt County, California has been brewing best-quality beers for more than three decades. MRB employs a time-honored, cut-no-corners approach to hand-crafting the finest quality ales, receiving four Gold Medals, four Silver Medals and one Bronze Medal from the Great American Beer Festival, which offers the most prestigious awards in the industry. Paving the way for a new Native American category in craft beer, the Tribal Brewery, owned by the Yurok Tribe, has introduced new products that promote the decades-long fight for environmental restoration and justice. Mad River Brewery is committed to producing the best-quality beverages on the planet and continues to employ the most holistic brewing methods to craft products that are in a league of their own.
Yurok-owned Mad River Brewing focuses on growth after investments in rebranding, new equipment
November 15, 2021
Blue Lake, Calif. — When Yurok Agricultural Corporation took over northern California’s Mad River Brewing Co. Inc., the company had planned to grow by marketing the brewery’s award-winning craft beers to tribal casinos across the state. That was in October 2019, just weeks before COVID-19 shut down wide swaths of the global economy, including tribal casinos across the country. While the pandemic caused Mad River to pause its broader push into inter-tribal commerce, the company aimed to turn the situation into a positive. The pause gave Mad River time to focus on a rebranding initiative and hone the brewery’s distribution strategy, said CEO Linda Cooley.
“When COVID hit, that gave us time to redo our labels and branding and portfolio. We focused on chain stores. It was really the larger chains and grocery stores and convenience stores that kept us alive,” Cooley told Tribal Business News. “We purchased a canning line and rebranded everything. It turned out to be a positive. Even though we slowed down, we were able to do what we needed with the products and the labeling.”
Now, as vaccination rates continue to rise and the country claws its way out of the depths of the pandemic, Mad River is in a stronger position to revisit its plans for selling products to tribal businesses, as well as sourcing ingredients from Native producers.
“We’re also looking to expand in different areas and break some barriers, especially with Indigenous businesses,” said Cooley, a member of the Yurok Tribe. “We’re trying to think outside of the box. We’re keeping our focus big.”
Opportunity knocks
Mad River’s recovery and focus on growth reflects similar trends in the craft beer industry in California and the country as a whole. Nationally, overall craft beer sales volume fell over 9 percent during 2020, while dollar sales plummeted 22 percent, according to data from the Brewers Association. Mad River was no exception: Production fell to “15,000 to 18,000” barrels last year, Cooley estimated, or roughly half of the 30,000 barrels the company expects to produce this year.
California’s $9.66 billion market ranks as the country’s largest for craft beer. The Golden State also produced nearly 3.4 million barrels of craft beer in 2019, more than any other state, according to the Brewers Association, which tracks data for independent craft brewers. Mad River’s owners were part of the early wave for California craft beer more than 30 years ago, and the sector’s continued strength ultimately led them to seek a buyer that would help the company stand out from the pack of more than 950 in-state breweries. The Yurok Tribe ticked the right boxes as a prospective buyer, and so did Cooley’s history in the craft beer industry, which included a stint at Eel River Brewing, which is also based in Humboldt County.
“They contacted us and felt like they needed a different story,” Cooley said. “Craft beer had grown so much in the past few years. They needed something to make them stand out, and they thought of us.”
The Yurok Tribe’s economic development arm was amenable to the idea. They reasoned that breaking into a new industry would diversify the tribe’s economy and generate revenue off the reservation, which had limited access to internet, power and other resources.
“Our location is very remote and secluded and to get people there to spend money can be difficult,” Cooley said. “The thought of having a business that is more centrally localized where we could hire more members and get power all the way, that was just a huge opportunity for us.”
Mad River Brewing Co.’s Steelhead Extra Pale Ale Driving Awareness
Known for its award-winning Steelhead Extra Pale Ale, Jamaican Red, and Slammin’ Salmon Double IPA, Mad River’s brewhouse focuses on sustainable production processes that aim to produce as little waste as possible. The company produces a range of pale ales, stouts, and seltzers, including several that have a story related to the Yurok Tribe.
For example, Mad River’s Historic State Park IPA commemorates the tribe’s partnership with California State Parks that established a joint powers authority to cooperatively manage the Stone Lagoon Visitor Center at Humboldt Lagoons State Park. After that IPA reaches profitability, part of its proceeds will go to support the joint authority. Mad River has a similar arrangement with its “Undammed” hard seltzer series, which the company describes as a “tribute to the efforts of the Yurok Tribe in undamming the Klamath River.” The products aim to raise awareness and support the tribe’s efforts.
“Every product we have come out with, we are having it serve a purpose for our tribe and our needs as a people, something we can bring awareness to,” Cooley said.
In fact, driving awareness about the Yurok Tribe factors into all aspects of Mad River’s business.
“That’s the goal: Not only to create more jobs and diversify, but to get our branding out there and bring awareness to things we need awareness about,” she said. “It’s a larger platform. We’ve never had that before.”
Growing Intertribal Commerce
At its height, Mad River distributed its products to eight states, but in recent years had retrenched its focus to California, Oregon and Washington. Cooley said the company “pulled back” from eight to three states to focus on reviving and rebranding the business after the Yurok Tribe’s acquisition.
“We wanted to make sure we were (focused on) those states where we had the biggest footprint,” Cooley said. “California has been a staple footprint; Oregon has had (sufficient) sales to stay open.”
While Washington’s footprint had “diminished” in recent years, the brewery hopes to improve its distribution footprint there, Cooley said. Once distribution has fully resumed in Washington State, Mad River then plans to continue expanding the brand across the country. To facilitate that expansion, the tribe invested in new capital equipment, including purchasing a new canning line from Louisville, Colo.-based Wild Goose Filling. The line will help speed up production and packaging, allowing the brewery to serve additional markets. As well, Mad River is considering building a new location closer to standard shipping routes, which would help lower the cost of distributing the beers.
“We are talking with different possible partnerships and different locations and where the best growth point would be for us,” Cooley said. “Everything that we have costs an extreme amount to export, so we wanted to have another additional location where we could get beer out faster and more affordable for our distributors.”
As the company returns to growth coming out of the pandemic, Mad River plans to resume its prior initiative to sell beer to other tribal enterprises, as well as develop relationships with Native agricultural producers. As an example, Cooley pointed to a partnership the company forged with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians to serve Mad River beer in their casinos.
“San Manuel have had a line of trade with the Yurok for hundreds of years, and we have consistently supported each other. We reached out to them first, and they’ve also had a focus on intertribal commerce, so it worked out,” Cooley said. “Our beer is poured there and we’re hoping to grow there as the pandemic comes to an end and we’re able to freely walk around a bar.” The idea behind selling to other tribes hinges on a holistic approach, from the start of the supply chain all the way to the end buyer.
“On top of just selling beer, it’s promoting intertribal commerce,” Cooley said. “Who can we work with? We’re trying to buy tribally owned ingredients and we’re working with a few tribes on how we can do that.”
THE MAD BREWERS OF THE WEST COAST
September 1, 2021
Nestled by the banks of the Mad River in the sleepy town of Blue Lake, California lies Mad River Brewing. It is a place where dreams come true. Especially if one’s dream is about craft beer.
MRB RELEASES NEW HUCKLEBERRY HARD SELTZER TO PROMOTE KLAMATH RIVER RESTORATION
September 1, 2021
The Mad River Brewing Company’s Huckleberry Seltzer is a brilliantly flavored, hand-crafted beverage made with sustainably sourced, earth-grown ingredients. The effervescent libation boasts an explosion of sweetness coupled with a tongue-tingling touch of tart, the perfect combination to satisfy the palate. This new addition to the Undammed Hopped Hard Seltzer line is as bold in flavor as it is in show. The Huckleberry label features a similar scene as the Undammed Cucumber—one dam on the Klamath River, “Iron Gate” as it is known, is depicted with waters unleashed so that salmon can once again reach hundreds of miles of spawning habitat—an image representative of the decades-long fight for environmental restoration and justice. This new gluten-free, sugar-free product features an even deeper sense of place on its label with a bountiful frame of ripe huckleberry bushes, indigenous to Northern California.
“The Klamath has been our home since time immemorial; fighting for the river, loving, and respecting it is part of who we are,” expressed Linda Cooley, CEO of Mad River Brewing Company, “One of the most important rivers in the lower 48 states, the Klamath supports salmon, sturgeon, and steelhead, as well as many more species we depend on as a community and world citizen. We are all stewards of this land, and the awareness to create more balance and caution is necessary.” This beverage is doing just that.
In 2019 the Yurok Tribe acquired Mad River Brewing Company and immediately plotted a course to bring its highly regarded products into new markets. The company’s already successful effort to expand the well-established brand is now rising to the occasion with this new product, which doubles as a platform to raise awareness about ongoing restoration efforts and overall river health.
“There is a fundamental shift in our purchasing habits. Mad River Brewing Company is committed to helping our river and inviting others to do so with this versatile new beverage. Seltzer fans, mixologists, cider drinkers, and beer lovers all rave about Undammed Huckleberry. Now they can realize a personal impact to the rewilding of the Klamath with every purchase,” said Linda Cooley, MRBC CEO, “Huckleberries have been part of the Yurok diet forever, so this flavor made the most sense for our hand-crafted hard seltzer. While mainstream flavors taste unnatural leaving a bitter taste in your mouth, the balance of the hops in our product is a testament to our award-winning brewing team, and it cannot be mass-produced.”
MRBC’s Undammed Huckleberry seltzer, now available in 16oz 4-packs, boasts a bright-berry hue that is inviting, appealing, and stands out on the shelf. Seltzer drinkers constantly on the hunt for the next best flavor will find their new favorite in this juicy, punch-packing summer contender that transitions well into the holiday flavors of fall and winter. Generic berry-flavored seltzers on the market pale in comparison to the tantalizing fuchsia-hue and delicious aroma of this huckleberry seltzer.
A consummate innovator with 30+ years in the beer business, Mad River Brewing is committed to producing the best-quality beverages on the planet and continues to employ the most holistic brewing methods to craft products that are in a league of their own.
“Since being established 32 years ago, we have strived to create the best beer out in the market with the consistency that keeps our customers coming back. Now we have put that experience and knowledge into our new line of Undammed Hard Seltzers, and we are pleased with the way our new Huckleberry Hard Seltzer creation turned out. The slight tanginess from organic hibiscus flowers infused into this alcoholic nectar truly compliments the traditional Northern California huckleberry flavor. It’s a must-try,” shared Head Brewer, David Cook.
Making space for the small brewery in the big industry business of seltzer, Mad River Brewing Company is proud to consistently produce award-winning beverages, disrupting the market and releasing out-of-the-box flavors, techniques, and craft for decades. The new Undammed Huckleberry Hopped Hard Seltzer has all the makings of an irresistible best-seller.
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS, MAD RIVER BREWING COMPANY TEAM UP TO RELEASE HISTORIC STATE PARK IPA
May 1, 2021
The Yurok Tribe’s Mad River Brewing Company and California State Parks’ Redwood District recently joined forces in support of a commendable cause. The Mad River Brewing Company and the State Park are teaming up to promote the release of Historic State Park India Pale Ale, a preeminently palatable and sustainably produced microbrew. A portion of the sales generated from the newly created ale will be invested in the co-management of the Stone Lagoon Visitor Center, which is part of Humboldt Lagoons State Park, one of the singularly most stunning and biologically diverse places on the redwood coast.
This delicious, historic hand-crafted ale will be available in 12oz and 19.2oz cans at the tap room.
“The Tribe and the Park are blazing a brand-new trail when it comes to working cooperatively on behalf of the environment and the communities we serve,” said Joseph L. James, the Chairman of the Yurok Tribe. “I would like to thank the State Park for partnering with us on another ground-breaking project. Together, we are redefining the relationship between tribes and state parks.”
“The State Park is excited to embark upon this innovative, environmentally conscious endeavor with the Tribe and the Mad River Brewing Company,” said California State Parks Redwood District Superintendent Victor Bjelajac. “Similar to the park, the Tribe and the company have longstanding track records for being responsible stewards of the natural world. We proposed to co-promote this product because we support sustainable commerce.”
“When I was a kid, the state park was a physical manifestation of injustice because it represented the loss of our lands. I could never have imagined that we would be working with the park to right the wrongs of the past, while building a brighter future for the next generation,” added Linda Cooley, a Yurok citizen, Mad River Brewing Company CEO and lifelong Humboldt resident. “The Mad River Brewing Company is greatly appreciative of our new partnership with the park. We hope the Historic State Park India Pale Ale will raise a boatload of funds for the Stone Lagoon Visitor Center. If you are a lover of good beer and you want to support a positive cause, I highly suggest you try this perfectly delicious pale ale.”
MRB has won seven awards for its environmentally sustainable production practices, in addition to the many accolades the company has earned for its best-quality ales. Holistically brewed, the Historic State Park India Pale Ale is a deep golden-hued IPA that boasts bold citrus tones, a tinge of tropical fruit and subtly bitter, malty finish. Matching its magnificent taste, the hand-crafted ale’s label is decorated with equally extraordinary artwork featuring bull elk browsing at the edge of a lagoon and raptors hovering overhead. This bucolic scene could be encountered any day of the week at the wildlife-dense lagoons.
In 2020, the Tribe and Park formed a first-of-its-kind joint powers agreement, which transferred the operations of Stone Lagoon Visitor Center to the Yurok tribal government.
The Tribe and the California State Parks’ Redwood District have collaborated on many other substantive projects too. For example, paradigm-shifting partnership between the two organizations can be used as model in California, the state with the most federally recognized tribes. There are 109 federally recognized Tribes in the Golden State, where the state department of parks and recreation manages 280 state parks and 1.5 million acres of land, all of which was formally owned by tribes. Many of these tribes are struggling due to the loss of their ancestral homelands. The close relationship between the Yurok Tribe and the California State Parks’ Redwood District has grown incrementally over a period of years. The co-management agreement for the Stone Lagoon Visitor Center in Humboldt Lagoons State Park is reflective of the evolution of this extraordinary partnership between the two entities and there will be many more similarly meaningful cooperative endeavors in the future. The Tribe and Park have plans to initiate a separate and equally noteworthy project later this year.
The Humboldt Lagoons State Park supports myriad native fish, bird and mammal species, such as steelhead trout, elk and bald eagles. Comprised of three coastal lakes and one verdant salt marsh, the biologically unique water bodies also provide critical winter habitat for numerous migratory waterfowl and many other nomadic avian creatures. A portion of the revenue generated from Historic State Park India Pale Ale will be invested in the holistic management of the lagoons.
“The Mad River Brewing Company is doing something similar with all of our new products. We are creating the best-quality ales and seltzers, while giving back to the environment and the local community,” said MRB CEO Linda Cooley.
Earlier this year, the Mad River Brewing Company launched the first in a line of hand-crafted, best-quality seltzers. The cucumber mint and ginger imbued hard seltzers are selling out at several different locations. A percentage of the sales of the small batch-brewed UnDammed Seltzers will be contributed to the Yurok Tribe’s effort to restore the Klamath River, which will soon be the site of the largest dam removal in US history.
UNDAMMED: MAD RIVER BREWING COMPANY ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF SELTZER LINE
February 14, 2021
Today, the Mad River Brewing Company announced the launch of Undammed, a bold new line of seltzers made from the best ingredients on the planet. The small batch-brewed seltzers are an intensely palate-pleasing rebuttal to the mass-produced version of this bubbling beverage. The Undammed series starts with a distinctly delicious cucumber imbued hard seltzer that features strong hints of mint and ginger joined by a faint flash of honey. From first sip to last, the hand-crafted Natural Cucumber Seltzer presents a flavor-forward taste profile, its ambrosial aroma overwhelms the senses. Holistically brewed with Perle hops, the quality and complexity of the golden-hued offering is without comparison.
“The Undammed seltzer is like nothing else on the market,” said Linda Cooley, MRB’s Chief Executive Officer. “These authentically extraordinary seltzers are brewed with the same, extremely elevated level of care that goes into all of our award-winning ales. For the better part of the year, we played with the recipe, conducted numerous taste tests in the MRB Tap Room and altered just about every other aspect of the brewing process. When we arrived at the perfect preparation, I immediately knew we produced a very special product. This seltzer is going to disrupt the industry in the same manner as micro-brewed ales in the 1990s.”
MRB CEO Cooley, a Yurok Tribe member, selected the name Undammed to raise awareness about the campaign to remove four dams and restore the Klamath River, the lifeline of the Yurok community. The dams on the Klamath are responsible for bringing once abundant salmon runs to the brink of collapse, which has had an especially devastating impact on the Yurok people, whose traditions and culture are inextricably linked to the river. Generations of tribal citizens have suffered immensely in the face of failing fish stocks, unprecedented toxic algal blooms as well as juvenile and adult salmon die-offs, including the historic 2002 fish kill, which primarily took place on the Yurok Reservation. However, after decades of advocacy, legal battles, protests and civil disobedience, the Yurok Tribe and its allies have established a framework to remove the fish-killing dams. With support of the governors of California and Oregon, the Karuk Tribe as well as dam owner PacifiCorp, the river is slated to be set free in 2023, when the largest fish restoration project in US history is expected to begin.
When the dams are removed, salmon will again have access to hundreds of miles of historic spawning habitat, enhanced water quality and better overall environmental conditions. Based on the rapid, positive results witnessed shortly after dam decommissioning projects in other parts of the Pacific Northwest, salmon stocks are projected to swiftly recover. Dam removal will also substantially increase the quantity of other important fish species, such as steelhead, sturgeon and Pacific lamprey. In addition to improving fish runs, re-wilding the river will also benefit a wide variety of native wildlife species, ranging from beavers to black bears and even marine mammals.
The demolition of the dams offers several additional advantages for human populations too. It will eliminate the toxic algal blooms that make it unsafe to swim in the river. It will strengthen the fishing dependent economies in port towns from Fort Bragg, CA to Coos Bay, OR, where salmon harvests have been severely limited due to low fish quantities on the Klamath. The Yurok Tribe has also cancelled its commercial fishery in four of the last five years to protect struggling fish stocks.
While dam removal is, by a massive margin, the single most effective action that can be taken to improve fish populations, additional work is needed to repair critical habitat harmed by historic logging and mining practices. A portion of each Undammed purchase will be invested in this monumental effort to repair the river and revive salmon stocks.
“In addition to enjoying an amazing product, Undammed seltzer consumers will contribute to the recovery of the salmon runs and the restoration of justice in the Klamath Basin,” Cooley explained. “A healthy Klamath will benefit the indigenous communities on the river, North Coast residents and the entire country. The Klamath is a national treasure and the third largest salmon producer in lower 48 states.”
Every year for the past decade, the Yurok Tribe and its partners have restored multiple miles of salmon habitat in the Klamath Basin. The Yurok Fisheries Department, comprised of approximately 100 watershed restorationists and biologists, employs cutting-edge biomimicry techniques to reestablish the diversity of habitat types that existed in the Klamath watershed prior to European contact. It is incredible how fast fish and wildlife move in to these holistically constructed environments. In a few short years, salmon, other fish species as well as a broad range of birds and mammals will begin to recover on the Klamath following the removal of the dams and restoration of the watershed.
An In-depth Look at Undammed
In introducing Undammed to the world, the Mad River Brewing Company is poised to disrupt an industry that is saturated with bulk-manufactured effervescent beverages. Unlike the overly processed versions of the adult refreshment, the micro-brewed Undammed seltzers are made with highest quality, sustainably sourced ingredients, which give the lightly carbonated libation its complex, crisp taste.
“We are able to do things differently because we are a small craft brewery that is laser-focused on quality. Our tight-knit team puts their heart and soul into each and every one of our products and you can taste the difference. You can literally taste the tremendous amount of care they put into this seltzer. I only want to drink this hopped cucumber seltzer,” said CEO Cooley.
Each Undammed seltzer has an equally elaborate taste that miraculously conceals the absence of carbs and calories. MRB’s seltzers will be sold in four packs of 16-ounce cans. The fantastic flavor of the 5% ABV beverage and the size of the can are not the only attributes that set it apart.
“We are not only distinguishing our brand with the small batch, the way we brew it and the superior quality, but we are separating ourselves with the name and packaging. Instead of the typical slim plain-colored can, the Undammed seltzer is wrapped in a beautiful label reflecting the tribal ownership,” concluded Cooley.
The Yurok Tribe acquired the Mad River Brewing Company in 2019 and immediately plotted a course to bring its highly regarded products into new markets. The Undammed seltzer line is one component of an already successful effort to expand the well-established brand. The Tribe has also commissioned fine artwork to adorn MRB’s multiple award-winning ales. Late last year, the San Manuel Casino, one of the most successful gaming enterprises on the West Coast, started offering MRB’s Jamaica Red Ale.
Mad River Brewing Company, located in Humboldt County, California has been brewing best-quality beers for more than three decades. MRB employs a time-honored approach to hand crafting the finest quality ales. The company also operates the Mad River Brewing Company Tap Room in Blue Lake, CA and has received four Gold Medals, four Silver Medals and one Bronze medal from the Great American Beer Festival, which offers the most prestigious awards in the industry. MRB has also received seven waste reduction awards for its environmentally sustainable production practices…
Mad River Brewing Unveils First Logo Under Yurok Tribe Ownership
May 19. 2020
Blue Lake, Calif. —The Mad River Brewing Company’s award-winning craft ales will soon brandish an incredible new illustration that honors the business’s deep roots in Humboldt County, while clearly identifying it as a distinctly Yurok Tribe-owned entity.
“The new, Mad River Brewing Company logo pays homage to the business’s legacy as a consummate innovator in the craft beer industry and highlights the Yurok Tribe’s unyielding commitment to environmentally sustainable commerce,” said Linda Cooley, who is a Yurok tribal member and MRB’s Chief Operating Officer. “I cannot wait to see the artwork emblazoned on our exceptional line of handcrafted ales.”
The emblem features four natural components, including a traditional Yurok basket design known as sturgeon back, the Coast Range, healthy redwood forests and the jumping steelhead, which has been synonymous with MRB’s flagship Steelhead Extra Pale Ale for two decades.
To establish the logo, MRB’s Chief Operating Officer shared with digital artist Jessica Carenco a concept for a piece of artwork that is distinctly Yurok and recognizes the company’s strong reputation as an environmentally conscious producer of finest quality ales.
“Jessica did a fantastic job in simultaneously capturing Mad River Brewery’s original ethos and our imperative to integrate the Yurok lifeway into everything we do,” Cooley said. “I am proud to say that environmental sustainability is a compulsory component in all of our economic endeavors.”
The sturgeon back design will feature prominently on Mad River Brewing Company’s line of fine ales, tap handles and ancillary merchandise. An announcement will soon be made about where to find the new merchandise.
The Yurok Tribe acquired the Mad River Brewing Company in October of 2019, making it one of only a handful of tribally owned breweries in the United States. The company operates a state-of-the-art brewery and Mad River Brewing Tap Room, a family friendly restaurant offering a tantalizing food menu and a wide variety of MRB standards and specialty brews. Both businesses are in Blue Lake, California, located within the ancestral territory of the Wiyot people. In February of this year, the company purchased Wild Goose canning equipment in anticipation of entering into new markets with an expanded line of products.
The addition of the well-established maker of craft ales to Tribe’s commercial portfolio is one component of a farsighted economic development plan. The Tribe is currently seeking new business opportunities both on and off the reservation.
The Mad River Brewing Company, located in Humboldt County, California has been brewing best-quality beers for more than three decades. MRB employs a time-honored, cut-no-corners approach to hand crafting the finest quality ales. The company has received four Gold Medals, four Silver Medals and one Bronze medal from the Great American Beer Festival, which offers the most prestigious awards in the industry…
May 1. 2020
Blue Lake, Calif. —
Mad River Brewing Company (MRBC) has been providing our Blue Lake Community with award-winning beers at their tap room and beer garden since 1989. The Yurok Tribe purchased MRBC in November 2019 making it one of the first breweries to be tribally owned in the U.S. We recently spoke with Chief Operating Officer, Linda Cooley, regarding some of the changes happening at the brewery:
What is your responsibility as COO of MRBC?
“Our overall vision for not just the tap room, but also for the brewing and distribution of our award-winning beer. We’re looking into the future and planning for expansion, growth, and new opportunities.”
Who are the other members of the management team?
“Kelly Elliot, CFO; David Cook, Head Brewer; Trevor Elliot, Executive Chef; Carly Paronelli, Lead Bartender.”
What is the significance of the new logo? Will it be on all MRBC products and apparel?
“The new logo reflects the tribal ownership with the ‘Sturgeon Design’. We want to have the same identifiable feel of the company with a cleaner, updated version to reflect the future. We will be changing all of our labels and apparel to incorporate the new logo.”
What are the changes and innovations that lie ahead for MRBC?
“We are innovating the current tap room with a new food menu and small-batch brews. We will have special events and continue Pints for Non-Profits when we can. Our Mug Club will continue with possibly some exciting changes. We have updated the tap room and will continue through the Covid time to make updates for when we are able to reopen fully. We will be announcing future exciting opportunities on the distribution side when we finalize them. New labels and new additions to our beer line will be happening soon.”
What are MRBC’s ideas for community involvement in the future?
“We had many… Covid really put a kink in our plans. Evaluating what we can do with the new regulations, supporting local groups and events while also supporting Tribal programs.”
Any additional comments you would like to share?
“We are all so excited about the changes we have made with more on the horizon! Blue Lake and Humboldt County have been so supportive. We are thankful and hopeful for moving forward successfully.”
Mad River Brewing Company is located at 195 Taylor Way in Blue Lake…