This summer, it’s all about beer at the Kelley House Museum in Mendocino. From June 5 to September 29, 2025, the Museum invites you to explore the rich, foamy history of the Mendocino Coast’s brewing traditions in its new exhibit, On Tap: The History of Brewing on the Mendocino Coast. Whether you’re a beer enthusiast, history buff, or just curious about local culture, this exhibit promises to serve up a refreshing blend of stories, artifacts, and surprises.

Two men sit on a horse-drawn wagon with kegs of beer in the back. The wagon is in front of a saloon.

Brewers Martin Brinzing and C. D. F. Sass sit in a horse drawn wagon loaded with barrels of beer in front of the Buffalo Saloon. (Gift of Emery Escola)

Beer making may be one of the world’s oldest crafts, but here on the Mendocino Coast, it has its own unique story to tell. On Tap traces the evolution of brewing from the 19th-century German immigrants who brought their lager-making skills to the redwood coast, to the innovative spirit that fueled the modern craft beer movement. Visitors will discover how beer has been both a business and a cultural force in the region—fueling the hard-working lumbermen of the past and shaping a vibrant brewing community that continues to evolve today.

The exhibit includes a fascinating array of archival photographs, newspaper clippings, and historical maps, showcasing the four 19th-century coastal breweries and two bottling plants that once operated in Mendocino, Pine Grove, Kibesillah, and Point Arena. From pioneer brewers to soda bottlers and bootleggers, On Tap tells the human stories behind the hops. In the 1860s American tastes shifted toward lagers—a lighter, crisper beer style that became the dominant brew across the country. On the Mendocino Coast, immigrant entrepreneurs exclusively brewed lagers, catering to local hotels, saloons, and workers in the booming lumber industry.

But not all was smooth pouring. In 1909, coastal towns voted to go dry, suspending liquor licenses and forcing breweries and saloons to shutter. National Prohibition followed ten years later, but the thirst for beer didn’t die. Museum visitors will learn how home brewers, bootleggers, and “blind pigs” kept the taps flowing in secret.

After the end of Prohibition, commercial beer brewing sprung back. Decades of consolidation in the beer industry followed and by 1979, only 89 breweries remained nationwide, leaving the U.S. beer landscape bland and homogenized. Then came the craft beer revolution.

Thanks to the 1978 legalization of home brewing, a new generation of experimental home brewers emerged. In increasing numbers these brewers began creating delightful ales that deserved an audience beyond friends and family, leading to the creation of craft breweries around the country. One of the movement’s early milestones occurred right here in Mendocino County. In 1983, the Hopland Brewery became California’s first brewpub. Founded by home brewers Michael Laybourn and Norman Franks, it later became the Mendocino Brewery in Ukiah—one of the earliest players in the national craft beer scene. The story continues with the founding of North Coast Brewing Company in Fort Bragg, which gained national acclaim for its dedication to quality and sustainability.

So come raise a glass to the past—this summer at the Kelley House Museum, where history and lager are best served cold.

Kelley House Museum is open Thursday through Monday from 11AM to 3PM, and On Tap runs through September 29. Museum members are invited to a special opening reception on Saturday, June 7 from 4PM to 5:30PM. Guest Curator Robert Dominy will introduce the exhibit. See the blind pig and sample some of North Coast Brewing Company’s signature brews as we toast their legacy. RSVP required. Not a Kelley House member? Join now!