SMALL BREWERY TAKES BIG AWARDS
Times-Standard / September 17, 2003

FORTUNA – You might say their cup runneth over. Eel River Brewing Co. owners Ted and Margaret Vivatson came home from the California State Fair, Los Angeles County Fair and Humboldt County Fair with an abundance of awards for their outstanding microbrews in competition with breweries from all over the United States. 

Since it was founded in 1995, Eel River Brewing has racked up an impressive number of medals—more than 70 in all—in beer competitions. The Vivatsons are understandably proud of their company’s achievements.

“It’s important to note that this product is winning these awards going up against non-organic products,” Margaret Vivatson said. “One of the things this says is that people like the taste, not because it’s organic.  It just happens to be organic.”

Besides winning regularly at the annual Humboldt County Fair, the brewery has also won awards at every California State Fair since 1996 and won a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 1998.

Ted Vivatson said the awards will mean a lot, but the most meaningful was the company’s Certified Organic Porter being voted the best in Humboldt County by the Humboldt Brewers Association.

“We were judged by our peers and judged to be the best,” he said. “That means a lot to us.”

Eel River launched its certified organic line of beers three years ago. Since then, Eel River has become the largest brewer of certified organic beer in the United States and is America’s first certified organic brewery.

The small company currently has the capacity to produce about 30 barrels of beer a day. At county and state fairs, it goes up against the companies brewing far in excess of that amount.

Eel River awards this summer included:

• Humboldt County Fair: Best of show for Certified Organic Porter, gold medals for Certified Organic Extra Pale Ale, Certified Organic IPA and Raven’s Eye Imperial Stout; silver medals for the California Blonde and Certified Organic.
• California State Fair: Gold medals for Hazelnut Porter and Ravensbrau Porter; silver medals for Certified Organic Amber Ale, Certified Organic Extra Pale Ale, California Blonde Ale, Climax Classic, Certified Organic IPA and Ravensbrau IPA.
• Los Angeles County Fair:  Silver medal for Certified Organic Amber Ale.

The Vivatsons said their plans for the future include continuing to make great beer and creating new products for their enthusiastic beer-drinking fans. As Ted put it: “We sure have a heck of a lot of fun for working so darn hard.”

Eel River Brewing Co. features the largest beer garden on the North Coast, with seating for nearly 100 people. Along with the full line of microbrews, the brewpub also features a full dining menu, serving pub fare, steaks and seafood. It sports a 30-foot-long bar made entirely from recovered historic redwood and Douglas fir.

The brewery is located at 1777 Alamar Way and is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day. For more information call 725-BREW (725-2739) or visit www.climaxbeer.com.