The Tate family loaded their Model A and left Oklahoma for a journey that would prove fruitful for generations to come. The Great Depression coupled with life in the Dust Bowl corridor had nearly dried up everything the Tate family had – except, of course, their thirst for success and love for each other. Determined to thrive, Grandpa Tate became a real-life hobo, riding the rails in pursuit of work and a few dollars to feed his family. Ultimately, the Tates survived and settled in California, where they raised their children to appreciate hard work, love for family, a hearty sense of humor, and a craving for new frontiers.

Perfect Timing 
Fast forward to 2006 and Turlock, California, a small community located in the agriculturally rich Central Valley and home to Brett Tate, a third generation Tate family member. A retired high school teacher and coach of 20 years, Brett was cultivating a passion for brewing and searching for a way to make his dream a reality. His good fortune came in the way of the morning paper, which seemed to deliver just the news he needed.

Tucked between Sports and Weather was an article featuring a young brewer named Don Oliver, winner of the 2006 Samuel Adams Longshot Homebrew competition. Not only was Don an experienced home brewer, he shared Brett’s desire to start a brewery. Pioneers in their own right, Brett and Don came together determined to craft some of the finest brews ever to emerge from Central California.

The Launch
In May 2009, Dust Bowl Brewing Co. produced its first beer known as Hops of Wrath IPA.

First Taproom
In 2010, Central Valley native Brett Honoré joined in partnership with Brett Tate. Together they opened the Downtown Taproom in August 2011.  After several years of steady success and growing demand for Dust Bowl beers, the need for a larger facility and expanded production was clear. The Dust Bowl Brewing Co. team embarked on a new adventure, building a 30,000 square-foot facility to house a new brewery and expansive taproom to compliment the downtown location. The Brewery Taproom opened in July 2016, and features two 20 tap towers, a full-service restaurant, indoor and patio seating, brewery views, Beer Garden with another 20 tap tower, corn hole, bocce courts and more! In June 2020, the original Downtown Taproom was closed to consolidate operations in Dust Bowl’s hometown and develop the Brewery Taproom experience.

2019
The company opened a satellite taproom in Monterey, California known at the Tap Depot. Situated next to the world-famous Fisherman’s Wharf, the stand-alone building was originally built in 1874 as a train depot. The décor plays into the rich Monterey references of acclaimed author, John Steinbeck, which ties back to the Dust Bowl Brewing brand story. The Tap Depot offers 24 taps, indoor seating and an outdoor patio with a communal fire pit, heaters, corn hole and easy access to the resident food truck, Wedo’s Tacos.

2021

Dust Bowl opened a third taproom in Elk Grove, California known as The Old Town Tap House. Offering the brewery’s signature aesthetic, the location showcases a mix of finishes and furnishings in a stunning, historic brick building. From inside booths to outdoor couches and shared tables, seating options abound to enjoy beers in a lively, social setting. Guests are treated to two 30-tap bars, serving indoor and outdoor patrons, featuring Dust Bowl’s large portfolio of year-round and rotating specialty beers and seltzers. Food is also offered from Dust Bowl’s full-service kitchen. Corn hole games, fire pits, overhead fans, and market lights are an ideal complement to the outdoor space. 

Milestones

Dust Bowl Brewing Co. achieved Regional Brewery status in 2020, producing a record 16,500 barrels of beer for the year.  In 2022, Dust Bowl produced 22,275 barrels and was named Brewery of the Year by the prestigious California State Fair Commercial Craft Beer Competition. 

Today

In June 2023, the brewery opened a fourth taproom in Livermore, CA – a bustling East San Francisco Bay Area destination. The taproom offers a stunning interior with comfortable furnishings, rail bars and traditional bar seating. Guests are treated to the company’s largest draft setup of 30 back-to-back taps!  The outdoor Beer Garden offers a variety of seating options from communal tables to rockers around the fire pits! Food is provided by Hazy Barbecue Livermore Pit Stop, our resident food truck. Dust Bowl beers are distributed in California, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Arizona. The brewery ranks in the top 2% in production of all independent craft breweries in California and within the U.S.