Iron Springs Hits it Big
American beer has really come of age as of late, with micro breweries are opening all over the United States. But the competition is tough and it's not easy to get recognized, which becomes even harder when you’re located in a small town, but that didn’t stop Michael Altman from taking Iron Springs Pub & Brewery from a corner restaurant to a well respected name in bottled beer.
From Chef to Brewmaster
Michael Altman grew up on Eastern Long Island and stayed in New York to attend culinary school. He traveled the world working as a chef. When he had finally burnt out from being in the kitchen, Altman found himself in Portland, Oregon, brewing beer with that city’s legendary McMenamins family. It was there he learned about how unique a brew could really be and he took that knowledge to Boulder, Colorado.
Then he left to be closer to the ocean.
Altman landed in Fairfax, a small tow in Marin County, California and bought a pub and brewery.
Years later, Iron Springs Brewery is a huge part of Fairfax and visa versa.
Give Back Tuesdays
The community welcomed the Altman clan (which includes Michael, his wife Anne, and their kids Joey, Aaron and Casey), and Iron Springs Pub & Brewery with open arms. As business increased, the Altmans wanted to give back, so they created “Give Back Tuesdays." Every Tuesday, the brewery donates a portion of their proceeds to a local charity. And Tuesdays have become a popular at Iron Springs Brewery with locals lining up to sip handcrafted ales, burgers and their famous tacos. So much so that the brewery's average donation each year is over $15,000.
The Brews
But what you want to hear about are the brews. All of the Iron Springs beers are handcrafted at the pub in batches of 10 barrels each. They are particular about the water, obtaining it from eight locations around Northern California, though mostly from Marin. Christian Kazakoff is Altman’s Head Brewer and his task is to create beer that is unusual, but, according to Altman, “without going too wild, except for infusing fruit and herbs.”
The second-largest seller at Iron Springs is the JC Flyer I.P.A. This India Pale Ale is a mix of Chinook, Palisades, Cluster, Nuggets and Simcoe hops, as well as a secret blend of more than four grains, make up this smooth and floral blend. A close third is the Casey Jones Imperial I.P.A., which has twice as much hops and grains as the JC. Michael Altman’s favorite, though, is the Epiphany Ale, Cascade hops, Marris Otter and Dark Crystal Malt grain, with citrus and floral notes give this amber ale its uniqueness.
The Fans
Iron Springs Pub & Brewery fans are not just from Fairfax. Visitors come from all over to taste the brew and enjoy the food (they’re open daily for dinner and for lunch Friday, Saturday and Sunday). Among the visitors that frequent the restaurant are actor Elliott Gould, director George Lucas, and musicians Phil Lesh and Joan Baez. Music is a big part of the pub’s legacy and you will find a live performance there weekly.
If you can’t make it to Iron Springs to pick up a brew, there’s always the “Ambrewlance.” In case of emergency, It will deliver fresh brews right to your door and you don’t have to worry about paying for gas – it’s powered on the restaurant’s vegetable oil waste!
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