Indian Valley Brewing: Say Hello To North Bay's Newest Taproom

NOVATO, CA – Indian Valley Brewing opened its doors this week, and the craft beer is flowing at its new taproom in downtown Novato.

The timing happens to coincide with SF Beer Week, which celebrates brews with dozens of special events that run through Feb. 10 around the Bay Area.

“It’s not something we choreographed,” said Joe Tachis, who co-owns Indian Valley with his brother Matt. “It’s just working out that way.”

Joe and Matt powered through putting the finishing touches on the new locale at 1016 Railroad Avenue, a few steps from where Grant Avenue ends at the train tracks.

Indian Valley Brewing isn’t completely "new." It opened in 2016 in a Bel Marin Keys industrial park and operated strictly as a microbrewery that kegged its beer. The small-batch ales and lagers could be found locally at such places as Finnegan’s Marin, Extreme Pizza, Wildfox, Hilltop 1892, Bicycle Brustop, Beercraft, Indian Valley Golf Course, Toast and Speakeasy, plus a few other locations outside Novato. Shawn Cochran, co-owner of J&M Brewing Supplies in southern Novato, is the head brewer at Indian Valley.

As the business gained word-of-mouth, the Tachis brothers looked for a spot for a taproom, settling on the Railroad Avenue site, which used to be a dance studio and office of the Novato Theater.

Situated halfway between Grant and Olive avenues, and about 800 feet from the future downtown SMART station, the locale also is an easy stroll to nearby Grant Avenue restaurants and businesses. The taproom entrance is at the rear of the building, not facing Railroad Avenue, and parking is available along Railroad and in a small lot.

Joe and Matt called on their brothers – Peter, Paul, Tom, Jack and Don – who have contracting experience just like them, to help with the building's reconstruction. Outside talent was wrangled for heating, ventilating and air conditioning as well as some painting.

“It’s great to have our brothers doing this with us because they were with us at the start of our first brews when we were just making beer for family gatherings,” Matt said.

What about the beer? The following brews are planned:

• 50 Trips to Pini Lager
• Pacheco Pils
• Farmhouse Ale
• Hazy Blonde Ale
• Hopalong IPA
• Off the Rails Double IPA
• Grumpa’s Scotch Ale
• Classic Dark Lager
• Santa Lucia Coffee Porter
• Spooky Trees Imperial Stout

The Tachis brothers' plans for Indian Valley include regular round-ups of food trucks, a family-friendly area with games for kids and big-screen TVs. Visitors also will get a full view of the brewing equipment, a stainless steel two-barrel system (62 gallons per batch) with room to expand to a 10-barrel system.

For more information, follow Indian Valley Brewing here on Facebook.

IN OTHER RECENT RESTAURANT NEWS FROM THE AREA:

• Bollywood Bar & Clay Oven: A 2018 Add To Local Restaurant Scene

• Wine-Country Specials: New Italian Restaurant & Market, North Bay

--Photo courtesy of Indian Valley Brewing.