Oldest Brewpub in America Closing

Triple Rock Brewery & Alehouse in Berkley, Calif.. plans to close by the end of the year, after more than 40 years in business. Brothers John and Reid Martin, who started the brewpub are ready to retire.

“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 said. The brothers own the building and expect to sell or lease it once the doors close for good.

In those 40 years,  5,884 batches have been brewed, and more than 41,000 barrels, over 10 million pints poured.

In the beginning, John Martin had to explain to the City of Berkeley what a “brewpub” even was — officials initially insisted the operation belonged in an industrial zone, not downtown, he says.