Auburn Alehouse

About the Business

Specialties

the Auburn Alehouse Brewery and Restaurant is located in the historic American Block Building at 289 Washington Street in Old Town Auburn, California. You may better remember the building as the former home of the Shanghai Restaurant and bar, where scenes from the movie, Phenomenon were filmed. The ambiance of the Auburn Alehouse combines the charm and character of this historic brick and mortar building with the bold industrial elements of a gleaming 10-barrel microbrewery. Guests and friends can enjoy lunch, dinner, and libation while watching the freshly crafted beer they are drinking being produced just a few feet away. There is also an outdoor patio with a great view of the historic Auburn courthouse. There are always at least 8-12 beers on tap, a hard cider option and when possible a "guest" craft beer available on draught. Interestingly, the Auburn Alehouse is located just 1/10th of a mile from the original Auburn Brewery, which brewed for thirsty Auburnites from 1855 until 1908. You may stop by for the ale, but you'll find the food is a star attraction as well. Whether you're in the mood for pub fare or a sit down dinner, there is something for every one at the Alehouse.

History

Established in 2007.

Brian and Lisa Ford could not conceive of a more perfect location for their Auburn Alehouse than the historic structure once home to the Shanghai Restaurant and Bar, a favorite watering hole for locals from across Placer County. This Old Town institution reportedly occupied the space for more than 100 years and was operated the entire time by descendants of the original owner, Charlie Yue. After coming to terms on October 21, 2006, Brian swung into action quickly. "It took about three weeks to lay out the brewery, and then I asked architect Mike Murphy to put my vision on paper," he said, adding, "as a building contractor who has built five other breweries, I knew exactly what I wanted." Brian's intent was for the building's design to reflect the primary purpose of the structure. "Clearly, the most prominent feature is the brewery. We took the time to make sure people understand this is a brewery--you can see the tanks from anywhere in the restaurant. Opening day was June 21, 2007!