New to Sigona’s: Devil’s Canyon Full Boar Scotch Ale

Brewed and bottled in Belmont, the award winning Devil’s Canyon Full Boar Scotch Ale is now available in 22 oz. bottles at Sigona’s…and you can try it for (almost) free!

22 oz. bottles of Devil's Canyon Brewing Co. Full Boar Scotch Ale now available at Sigona's. Get one for almost free this week (Sept. 7-13, 2011) with your coupon.

By Carmelo Sigona

“I don’t like beer, but I like this!”

That phrase will never grow old to Belmont-based Devil’s Canyon Brewing Co. owners Chris and Kristiann Garrett, as well as their longtime right-hand man Daniel Curran. Seeing a smile spread across the face of even the most die-hard light beer or wine lover after tasting the award-winning, handcrafted Full Boar Scotch Ale, will always make that phrase music to their ears.

We’ve added Devil’s Canyon Brewing Co. to our list of local vendors and are excited to announce we’re carrying 22 oz. bottles of their flagship brew, Full Boar Scotch Ale. Full Boar is a craft beer that’s complex, malty beer that’s light on the palate – it’s an easy drinking beer that’s deeply malted and caramel apparent with overtones of chocolate and a slight hint of a mild, smoky flavor.

In honor of its arrival, we’re celebrating by offering a 22 oz. bottle of Full Boar Scotch Ale to you this week for (almost) free with your coupon when you spend $30 or more. All we ask you for is a penny!

It might look like a dark beer, but trust me when I say it’s not. Even the majority of 75+ light-beer-loyal ladies who participated in a beer & dessert pairing left the event saying their new favorite was the Full Boar Scotch Ale. It’s a gold medal winner for a reason.

This beer…it’s simply fantastic. Not too dark or heavy, but not light and flavorless. It is, in fact, the beer that put Devil’s Canyon on the map…almost literally.

Just as with many of our small local vendors, Belmont-based Devil’s Canyon Brewing Company started as an at-home hobby, which became a passion and then a business.

When Chris Garrett started the company in 2001, it was originally called Brew4U. The original concept for Brew4U  was to do private labeling for local establishments, letting them choose their own name. Brew4U entered a craft beer competition in 2003 at Shoreline Amphitheater and what is now known as their Full Boar Scotch Ale won first place. The prize: going on tap at the amphitheater. The catch: Brew4U needed a real name and branding. Overnight.

Garrett and his team found inspiration in the Bay Area for names and branding, from the name of the company to the names of the brews. The brewery itself is named after the original Spanish name for the city of Belmont, la Canada del Diablo, and Full Boar Scotch Ale is a tribute to the wild boars found in the hills of California. Other names for their award-winning brews include Silicon Blonde Ale and California Sunshine IPA.

“If you keep a keen lookout you can still see a handful of local taps that have our logo, but a different beer name,” said Daniel Curran. “There aren’t many, but it’s an amazing reminder of how far we’ve come with the support of local businesses.”

Everything from brewing to bottling is done by the staff at the award-winning brewery.

Devil’s Canyon is still a brew-only facility, but they do open the doors once a month to the public for an event called Beer Friday. If you haven’t been yet, you best go. Beef Friday is held on the last Friday of each month, and the crowd is entertained with a live band, food from a local food truck or catering service and, of course, you can enjoy pours of Devil’s Canyon brews.

What’s more is it’s family-friendly. In addition to their award winning beer they also serve real homemade draught  root beer on Beer Fridays, too. It’s quickly becoming the place to be on the last Friday of each month. While you’re there, inquire about the Beer Club. There’s a waiting list, but if you’re a true fan of Devil’s Canyon, you’ll want on the list.

And yes, I did say root beer. Real, old-fashioned root beer. The kind your grandpa used to make. Keep an eye on our future e-newsletters for more on that!

Daniel, a former U.S. Submarine Service Member, is also a former home-brewer. He started moonlighting at Devil’s Canyon while by day he was part of the semi-conductor and high-tech industry. Over time, roles at the brewery changed and Daniel soon became a full time employee. His title may be vice president of sales and marketing, but everyone at Devil’s Canyon wears many hats, from bottling line operator to delivery man.

“How could we not love what we do,” said Daniel. “We live in an area where wine gets red carpet treatment, but beer, not so much. Watching people discover craft beer, which is more complex than wine, is fantastic. It opens a whole new world to them, and as more people discover craft beer it benefits the entire craft beer community, which, especially in this poor economy, is a win for the local community as well.”

Daniel Curran of Devil's Canyon Brewing Co. in front of the outdoor pouring staion used during Beer Fridays at the brewery in Belmont.

All the beer is brewed, labeled, bottled and packed on site in Belmont. The crew still does personal deliveries to customers in the South Bay and beyond, and recently partnered with the Matagrano, Inc., a local, family-owned distribution company with third- and fourth-generation members still at the wheel, to help with distribution in San Mateo and San Francisco counties.

As much as Devil’s Canyon attributes their success to their local supporters, they’re sure to give it right back. As the popularity of Beer Friday increased, the team came up with a Cheers! for Charity program where the brewery donates one dollar from each pint sold on Beer Friday to an area charitable organization or non-profit. Some of the recent beneficiaries include the Brian Stow Fund, the Historic Union Cemetery Association of Redwood City, Silicon Valley Chapter of the American Cancer Society and The San Carlos Educational Foundation.

“We are your neighbors, our kids go to school together, we shop in your stores and dine in your restaurants, we are your local community; the more we support each other, the better off the entire community is,” said Daniel. “When you enjoy our products, you are putting your tax dollars to work in the local community, and, c’mon, has supporting the local economy ever tasted better?”

The brewery will celebrate its 10^th anniversary this September, and in addition to the announcement of the flagship brew, the Full Boar Scotch Ale, becoming available in 22 oz. bottles (remember you can get it for almost free this week with your coupon), the brewery has other announcements up its sleeve. For the latest information, follow them on Twitter, like them on Facebook or sign up for their e-newsletter.

More information is available on their website: DevilsCanyonBrewery.com.

Be sure to come in with your coupon this week to pick up a bottle of Devil’s Canyon Full Boar Scotch Ale when you spend $30 or more. We can’t give it away for free, but all we’ll ask you for is a penny.

This Wee-heavy style ale goes well with sausage, beef, lamb, venison – either braised, grilled or roasted. Also goes well with heavy pastas, chocolate and caramel desserts.