DAVIS, Calif. – Sudwerk Brewing Co. set a company record this year for charitable giving, and its taproom, The Dock Store, became a popular venue for community fundraisers.
Sudwerk donated more than $10,000 to community groups in 2014, much of it from events hosted at The Dock. It supported other fundraisers through community partnerships.
Co-owner Trent Yackzan, whose grandfather was one of the brewery’s, founders in 1989, said, “It’s a major part of our vision as company, to be a strong and reliable community partner to Davis.” He, along with fellow Davis native and co-owner Ryan Fry, strive to build on that each year, with more charitable giving and continued expansion of seating and events at The Dock. The pair, backed by new investors, reinvigorated the brewery in 2013.
The Sudwerk taproom is a casual gathering place, where patrons taste innovative local brews, play games with friends, meet other beer fans – and unplug. “You can’t drink a beer through the internet,” Fry said. “You have to put down your phone and enjoy the people you’re with.”
Since it opened in 2013, “The Dock is really becoming a community hub,” Yackzan said. “It’s like its own neighborhood. There’s an authentic vibe that you can really only find at local breweries.”
The brewery’s slogan “Savor the Session” promotes that balanced life, encouraging people to live in the moment, and appreciate friends and family.
“This is just the beginning,” Fry said. “We want to be the best business we can be, supporting our local community – being a good business partner and being a good charitable partner as well.”
2014 charitable recipients included: The Greenbelt Brewers Association; UC Davis’ Food Science Brewing Club; KDRT and KDVS radio stations; Davis Bike Club Race Team, Davis Bicycles!, Trixies Bike Polo team, and UC Davis Men’s Ultimate Frisbee team; local nonprofits Citizens Who Care, Davis Community Meals, Music Only Makes Sense and Yolo Crisis Nursery; the Charlie DeGrange Savings Fund; “Davisville 2013” film project; and Movember.org.
Community partners: Sudwerk Brewing Co. supported several other major fundraisers. Most notably, it co-sponsored the Davis Bike & Brew Fest with de Vere’s Irish Pub in August, which raised about $13,000 for the U.S. Bicycle Hall of Fame. Its most successful and longtime partner, Soroptimist International of Davis, makes the biggest impact. Volunteers from the women’s service organization sell Sudwerk beer and local wine at the Davis Farmers Market on Wednesday evenings. In its 2013-2014 fiscal year, the market booth raised more than $43,000 that will go back into the community in the form of grants to local organizations.
The employees of Davis’ only brewery are proud of what they’ve accomplished in 2014, and look forward to building more friendships in 2015. As they say in German, Prost!
Sudwerk: 2014 in review
January: Releases first Brewers Cut series of barrel-aged beers.
February: Releases spring seasonal, Mai Bock Spring Lager, and 3 Best Friends, a dark coffee, vanilla chocolate lager.
May: Releases its first Double India Pale Lager, the BIG DIPL.
June: Becomes one of the most-decorated breweries at the 2014 California State Fair and a standout in lager categories.
July: Brews commercial batch for UC Davis’ Iron Brew winner, a Kölsch; Cans its first beer ever: California Dry Hop Lager
August: Collaborates with Davis Food Co-op to produce the Greenbelt Session IPA; releases its Oktoberfest seasonal: Fest Harvest Lager.
September: Produces the Wylde Ryce Lager for Yolo Basin Foundation; Makes its 2014 fresh hop beer, Wet Hop Lager; Collaborates with home brewers to make Basil Saison for Great American Beer Fest Pro-Am competition.
October: Releases its winter seasonal, the Doppel Bock Ultimator.
December: Releases Bourbonator, a barrel-aged Doppel Bock
Building on 25 years of family legacy and brewing tradition, Sudwerk Brewing Co. specializes in artisanal brews, specifically West Coast craft lagers. Its taproom, The Dock Store, at 2001 Second St., Davis, Calif., is open in winter from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, 4 to 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and 2 to 8 p.m. on Saturdays. It offers a rotating menu of experimental and innovative beers, “honest pints” and growler fills, fresh White Labs brewers’ yeast, and good conversation. Learn more at http://sudwerkbrew.com. For details on Sudwerk Brewing Co. events, visit https://www.facebook.com/sudwerkbrew.
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