Triple Rock Brewery & Alehouse, the historic Berkeley brewpub regarded as the oldest continuously operating establishment of its kind in the United States, is to close after more than 40 years.
Brothers John and Reid Martin said the venue would remain open until the end of the University of California, Berkeley’s autumn semester, expected in mid-December, as they prepare to retire from the business.
Triple Rock opened on Shattuck Avenue on 14 March 1986, when John Martin was 25 and Reid was 28. It was originally established as Roaring Rock Brewery and was among the first five American brewpubs to open after Prohibition.
The brothers said the business helped lay the foundations for the country’s craft beer movement at a time when small-batch brewing was little known.
“In the early days, many times we would have to explain what a ‘brewpub’ actually was,” John Martin said in a statement announcing the closure.
Reid Martin recalled that Berkeley officials initially believed the brewery belonged in an industrial area rather than the city centre, where the brothers wanted to establish a neighbourhood tavern.
Over the years, Triple Rock brewed 5,884 batches of beer, amounting to more than 41,000 barrels and upwards of 10 million pints.
Retirement after four decades
The owners said the decision to close was driven by their wish to step back from the demands of running the business.
“After 40 years, we are ready to spend less time navigating the day-to-day and more time exploring some of the other things we have put off along the way,” John Martin said.
The brothers own the building and said the downtown Berkeley property would probably be offered for sale or lease after the brewpub shuts.
Triple Rock became a popular meeting place for local residents and students from the nearby university, hosting everything from first dates and college reunions to post-work drinks, late-night meals and celebrations connected with the California Golden Bears.
Its influence also extended through the brewers who trained there before going on to work at or establish other breweries. Those linked to the business include Shaun O’Sullivan of 21st Amendment Brewery, Rodger Davis of Faction Brewing, Christian Kazakoff of Canyon Club and Teri Fahrendorf, who founded the Pink Boots Society.
Current brewmaster Jeff Kimpe, previously of Pyramid Ales and Drake’s Brewing, has led the brewing operation for more than 12 years.
Final months at Triple Rock
The venue is continuing to serve its own beers and pub food while customers return for what the owners hope will be a series of reunions rather than one prolonged farewell.
Regular events, including Thursday’s Monkey Head Nights, are expected to continue alongside celebrations featuring throwback prices and beers revived from Triple Rock’s brewing archives.
John Martin thanked the hundreds of bartenders, cooks, servers, managers and other staff members who had helped keep the business operating across four decades.
“Triple Rock was never just the two of us,” he said. “It was built by generations of incredible employees who gave so much of themselves to this place, and it was supported by our community that kept showing up year after year.”
Reid Martin said the number of memories associated with the Berkeley institution meant one final visit was unlikely to be enough.
