Owner, Dan Riley, likes to say that he built Riley’s Brewing Company with a welder in his hands and a fire in his belly. But his friends and family will tell you he built it to stay in his wife’s good graces.
Both versions of the story are true.
You see, homebrewing beer has been a tradition in Dan’s family for generations. Much of his childhood was spent at his grandfather’s side, watching him brew beer and listening to him share family stories. He credits his grandfather for igniting the passion for homebrewing, which began in five-gallon batches on the kitchen stove.
Dan’s longsuffering wife patiently endured the smell, the mess, the chipped countertops, but she drew the line when her pantry was covered in fermenting beer after a carboy blew its top. She rightly kicked the homebrewing operation into the garage.
The Riley’s garage quickly became a regular hangout for more and more friends. They’d fire-up the barbecue and enjoy Dan’s latest homebrews in an atmosphere of fun and laughter. Outsiders soon heard the buzz about Riley’s homebrews, and total strangers began asking where they could pick it up! Once again, it was his wife who drew the line in the sand: it was time to find a new home for Dan Riley’s brewing obsession.
Fortunately, a building had just become available on the property of his business: Steel Structures, Inc. It would be more than just a cool place to continue a hobby. It would be where the family would stake its legacy.
So, with welder in hand, Dan began building what has grown to become a 20-barrel brewery, Riley’s Brewing Company. It’s been a hands-on family brewery ever since, as Steel Structures, Inc., built everything from fermenters and bright tank, to the boil kettle and brew system. Riley’s is now located on a 16 acre complex with approximately 76,000 square feet of buildings.
They’ve never shied away from hard work or getting their hands dirty to get the job done right. Whatever it takes to create beers Riley’s is proud to put their name on and so far, they’ve done just that. Several thousand cases down, and billions more to go.
Being a major sponsor of the Madera Pomegranate, Fruit & Nut Festival has inspired Riley’s to produce a pomegranate themed brew! This and other Riley products will be available at this year’s festival…come out and join us!
Cheers!
