Started in 1995 by a pioneer named Sam Peterson, Sacramento Brewing Company not only produced some of the region’s finest beer, but put out some of our region’s most notable craft brewers – brewers we call friends to this day. In its time Sac Brew won numerous local, state & national awards for its beer, but for many throughout Northern California Sac Brew was typified in one beer: Red Horse Ale. Red Horse was the flagship for the brewery for many years and could be found at craft beer joints from Tahoe to San Francisco. In 2008, the year before Sac Brew closed its doors, Red Horse brought home a Bronze Medal at the prestigious World Beer Cup – proving its overall quality once and for all.
As part of the 2016 Sacramento Beer Week festivities we’re honored to recreate this Sacramento Brewing icon, with the help of our good friend and former Sac Brew brewmaster, Peter Hoey of Brewers Supply Group. Hoey approached the Alehouse brew crew with the recipe that won the World Beer Cup Bronze and asked if we’d help him bring it back to life – part of a bigger project Peter concocted that will see many of the great Sac Brew beers recreated for one massive event: The 2016 Sacramento Brewing Tap Takeover hosted by the regions original craft brewery, Rubicon.
Red Horse is a dry hopped American-style Amber Ale brewed with two-Row malted barley, along with Crystal, Carapils and a touch of Chocolate malt to lend color and a sturdy malt foundation. The beer is hopped with Amarillo, Summit & Centennial hops to bring it to 35 IBUs – just enough to balance the malty character. During Beer Week you can find this beer on tap at the Alehouse, at the before mentioned Tap Takeover, and at select accounts in the area. Taste the beer that launched careers and inspired many local home brewers over the years.