Eel River Brewing Co

After exploring the Avenue of the Giants, a short drive from the North entrance to the road is Eel River Brewing Co in Fortuna, CA, which was the first certified organic brewery in the US.

I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying an Acai Berry Wheat beer from Eel River before, so I was eager to get one fresh after a muggy hike. We ordered (Mama Boots getting a Craft Clarity Meyer Lemon hard seltzer) and seeing the full inside, headed for the outdoor beer garden, which was fairly large. I don’t know if the wind was blowing the wrong way that day but there was a distinct “cows are nearby” smell in the beer garden we both picked up on. However our tasty beer sure helped distract us!

If you like light, fruity beers then look no further than the Acai Berry Wheat. It’s like a more tropical version of a blueberry wheat, and not a flavor I see too often in the PNW. Perfect for a warm day or after hiking in the sun. As for the Craft Clarity seltzer, it was great too! Hard spiked seltzers are exploding on the market for people who want a lower-calorie, lower-sugar option than beer or cider (and something less puke-inducing than Mike’s). So far the only hard seltzers I’ve enjoyed are White Claw and San Juan seltzer, but add the Clarity to the list! Meyer Lemon is also a unique flavor that I find suits alcohol well, being crisp without overly sour. They make the seltzer in other flavors, including a ginger lime I must seek out.

While I could have sampled every beer they made, the road, and our hotel beds were calling. A quick scan of the merch wall (including tons of apparel) and we dig adieu to this brewery. While this visit was far-too brief, the Acai Berry Wheat was every bit as good as I remember from years ago, so I’m sure their other offerings are tasty as well. Clearly, with being the first certified organic brewery and the Craft Clarity line, this is one innovative brewery–I cannot wait to see what new things they do next!

In summary (to the best of my knowledge)…

• Full kitchen: Yes
• All-ages: Yes
• Dog friendly: No (including outside). Please prepare accordingly–we heard some poor dog howling that an owner had made wait outside while they drank
• Merch: Yes (Apparel, glassware, and more)
• Coasters: Yes
• Outdoor seating: Large beer garden (partially covered)