Kent Fortner and Ryan Gibbons were both in the business of winemaking up until 2013, working at Road 31 Wine Co. But a sense of exclusivity to the wine industry, as well as a blossoming interest in brewing beer, pushed them in a new direction when they took a location known as Mare Island (off the coast of Vallejo, California) and opened a new business in late 2013. The Mare Island Brewing Company was born. With Gibbons’s recent work experience at Lagunitas Brewing Company, he was able to provide a more specific expertise to this side of the alcohol crafting industry.
“We are trying very, very hard to uphold the incredible heritage and history of Mare Island.” Fortner explained “We put some of that history on every can,” expressed Gibbons. “We are kind of like a history company, we just end up making beer to tell all this great history.”
And in June of 2014, they opened the Mare Island Brewing Co. Taproom, within the Vallejo Ferry building. Their new business, which told the unique history of Mare Island and its role as a shipyard in World War Two especially, was enthusiastically embraced by the local community. As visitors were dropped off by the ferry, they found themselves right in front of this ever-expanding business.
We are trying very, very hard to uphold the incredible heritage and history of Mare Island
Kent Fortner
Co-Founder
“We’ve taken the parts of the wine world that we think apply. But we have had to learn kind of a new approach in some of it,” said Fortner. “You know the wine world is fantastic and super fun on one level. And man it is sure fun to have a pint on the other level.”
Soon, it became evident that the small batches they brewed on-site weren’t nearly sufficient to satisfy demand, and MIBC sought contract brewing arrangements at breweries in Sonoma and San Jose, installing tanks at those established locations and utilizing the equipment of those existing breweries. With the continued success of the brand, and escalating demand, as well as the founders’ desire for complete control over the brewing process, Fortner and Gibbons turned to drafting plans for their own brewery location.
A small business loan from the Grow America Fund, in partnership with the City of Vallejo, helped the owners to complete needed leasehold improvements and purchase equipment for the expansion of the brewery. The project also renovated and resurrected one of the historic, waterfront coal shed buildings on Mare Island, originally erected in 1900.
“Kent and Ryan are the ideal applicants for the Grow Vallejo Fund,” said Vallejo Mayor Bob Sampayan at the time of this expansion. “They are entrepreneurs with a good business sense and a vision for growth. One of the principles of the Grow Vallejo Fund is to create jobs, and with the construction of their 15-barrel brewery, Mare Island Brewing Co. is anticipating immediately doubling their current workforce of 12 full-time employees. They are great community partners and have opened their Taproom for various charitable events. We are looking forward to this expansion and their continued success.”
Their expansion into the coal shed in 2017 allowed the business to nearly double their current taproom hours and support MIBC in bringing on additional wholesale accounts to achieve a retail and restaurant presence throughout the San Francisco Bay area. And when COVID-19 struck, they decided to take on outdoor food service as well. That has since grown.
Now, the partners have three locations serving up delicious beer and different varieties of food under the watchful eye of talented chefs. Besides a food truck on Mare Island (the Pie Wagon) offering seafood-based fare, and elevated pub food at the Ferry Taproom restaurant in the ferry building, they also opened the First St. Taphouse in Benicio, CA. which provides smaller plates with a more luxurious feel.
“We want people to have the whole experience. We want them to have the beer. We want them to have the history and we want them to have the community gathering watering hole we try to provide,” said Fortner. “And it is that combination that I think makes us special.”
Now, over 80% of their employees are from the Vallejo area. These partners have taken a dream and some knowledge and made the Vallejo region proud.
From the ground
