"It’s a point of pride to say we didn’t do what some of our competitors did and move business out of California." —Richard G. Norgrove
For Richard G. Norgrove, chief operating officer and brewmaster for Sonoma County’s Bear Republic Brewing Company, being voted Best Local Brewery by Northbay biz readers affirms his business’s goal of bringing out the best of his community. “Our family is doing our best, and whenever we receive an award, we’re happy to see the community we support is showing its support of us in turn. It’s a great feeling,” he says.
Founded in 1995 and opening the Factory Five Brewery in 2006, Bear Republic was ranked by the Brewers Association as the 44th largest craft brewery in the United States. From Factory Five, Bear Republic has produced more than 50 different craft beers, including limited and special releases, with Racer 5 IPA the crown jewel of its commercial releases. With a brewpub in Healdsburg and an announced expansion into Rohnert Park, Bear Republic cemented its reputation for its superb quality, never-filtered beer from the heart of Sonoma County.
Bear Republic has been in the Norgrove family for four generations, going on five. “My children have worked with us ever since they were able, and we’ll be happy to see them take the reigns when they’re ready. It’s a point of pride to say we didn’t do what some of our competitors did and move business out of California. Being here brings its own challenges, but it’s worth it to bring jobs to our hometown and keep the business local.”
The brewery recently implemented a new power system called EcoVolt, a design created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that’s also implemented on the International Space Station. Using anaerobic and aerobic bacteria in stages, Bear Republic can purify its leftover brewing water and generate its own power, bringing Norgrove’s hope for energy independence for the operation closer to reality.
“We’re looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint and be more efficient when we’re making beer,” he says. To drive the idea forward, Norgrove is working with SMART to introduce a delivery program that puts grain shipments on its rail network, transporting grains to the brewery and carrying beer to the East Bay and Southern California for distribution, taking big rigs off the freeway.
The reasoning, says Norgrove, lies in the already existing rail hub in Cloverdale. “If we can get the ball rolling and get SMART onboard with this project, there’s no telling what other industries will participate as well. I think the wine industry, in particular, could benefit from SMART rail transit of their materials.”
Norgrove adds that his employees from Marin County would also appreciate the reverse commute when the SMART train connects to Cloverdale.
“I like to think the hardest thing we do is make hamburgers and fries,” says Norgrove. “We’ve made a community pub in Healdsburg. When we started 20 years ago, the city didn’t look anything like it does today. We’re proud to think we’ve influenced its growth.
“We love the people in Sonoma County and they’re showing they love us. I’ll expect the same love in Rohnert Park, because we’re going to work just as hard over there.”
The new brewpub won’t be opened this year, but Norgrove is excited to cut the ribbon when construction finishes and Bear Republic opens its second den in the county that’s supported them for two decades.
