The Acme Brewing Company was formed in 1907, with Jacob P. Rettenmayer as Acme’s first brewmaster. After the end of Prohibition, the company (now called Acme Breweries) expanded from its San Francisco location to a second facility in Los Angeles. The LA brewery, located in Vernon, was built at the beginning of the company’s heyday in 1935. In the mid-forties Acme Breweries built a spectacular glass block Art Deco bottling plant in San Francisco, designed by the well-known California Architect William G. Merchant, which was the gem of modern industrial architecture. Acme dominated the California beer scene at that time with production of over a million barrels a year. Want to see Acme Breweries in action? Check out this vintage 1940s film produced by the brewery, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how its beer was made.
Acme Breweries was purchased in 1954 by the Fredrick Liebmann Company of New York, brewers of Rheingold beer, with the plan to expand their brewing operations to the west coast. This plan did not pan out, and the brewery was closed in 1958. Acme never lost its place in the hearts of millions of Californians, though, and seems to be everybody’s fondest memory and favorite landmark. Mendocino County locals may notice one of the original Acme signs still standing on East Road in Redwood Valley.
Rescuing an Icon of California Beer History
Acme enjoyed a brief resurrection in the mid-eighties through Excelsior Brewing Co., of Santa Rosa, California. As co-founders Tom Allen and Mark Ruedrich were preparing to open the Pub at North Coast Brewing Company, they visited Excelsior and became fascinated with the history and legacy of Acme. By the mid-nineties, Excelsior had closed its doors, and Tom and Mark didn’t want to see such a beloved and historically significant California beer disappear once again.
In 1995, they acquired the trademark rights to the Acme name, ensuring that this early icon of California brewing would continue to have a place in our state’s craft beer story. Since then, North Coast Brewing Company has brewed multiple beers under the Acme name: Acme Pale Ale, Acme Brown Ale, Acme IPA, and most recently, Acme Beer, the first brew based on an original from Acme Breweries. Through these beers we are proud to carry the Acme name forward, honoring its rich heritage while introducing it to a new generation of beer lovers.
Our take on Acme Beer
The flagship beer of Acme Breweries was Acme Beer, a light pilsner that reflected the style brewed by many North American breweries during the early 20th century. Drawing inspiration from that original San Francisco beer first brewed in 1907, we’ve recreated it for the first time in more than a century.
Our interpretation of this pre-Prohibition lager is light-bodied, straw-colored, and firmly bittered, delivering a crisp, dry, thirst-quenching finish. It is fermented cold with a carefully selected lager yeast strain that highlights the bready, biscuity character of the malt while avoiding the fruity esters commonly associated with ale fermentation. Traditional Noble hops contribute delicate floral and spicy aromas, and a lean malt bill keeps the body light and exceptionally refreshing. The result is a clean, flavorful lager that pays tribute to California brewing history while remaining every bit as enjoyable today as it would have been in 1907.
Acme Beer This Summer
Acme Beer is available now in retail stores and on our online Brewery Shop, and it’s a great beer for summer days when it’s too hot to cook. Its light body, dry finish, and subtle malt character make it equally at home with potato salad and barbecue to a charcuterie board piled with cured meats, cheeses, almonds and olives.
At 4.4% ABV, Acme Beer is also a great “session beer.” It’s flavorful yet moderate in alcohol, making it well suited to longer gatherings where the focus is as much on conversation as what’s in the glass. Being packaged in cans also makes it easy to take along wherever summer leads. Take a six pack along to a picnic, a campsite, the beach, or simply relaxing in the backyard. The cans are lightweight, durable, and quick to chill, making them a practical choice for warm-weather adventures.
Explore More Beer History
The story of Acme Beer is just one chapter in California’s rich brewing history, and there are many more stories waiting to be discovered.
If you’d like to learn more about the original Acme Breweries and the revival of Acme Beer, the San Francisco Chronicle published a feature on its history and our efforts to bring this iconic California beer back to life (subscription required).
For a broader look at craft beer heritage, we also highly recommend Great American Beers by Bill Yenne. Bill’s book explores the people, places, and breweries that helped shape American craft beer culture, including the history of Acme Beer and the inspiration behind our modern interpretation.
We’re honored to play a small role in preserving this piece of California beer history, and we hope every pint of Acme Beer connects today’s beer lovers with the generations of brewers who came before.
