THE HISTORY OF MOUNT SHASTA BREWING COMPANY

1. Mount Shasta Brewing Company (MSBC) buildings originally housed the Medo-Bel Creamery. After sixty years, it had fallen into disrepair and was within three days of being auctioned for taxes when Vaune Dillmann decided to purchase the property in 1992. His life long dream had been to follow in the footsteps of his German ancestors who were in brewing-related businesses. This prime location near Interstate 5 and College of the Siskiyous was the perfect site.

2. The first challenge was to clean up the contaminated soil caused by an underground gasoline tank. It took over seven years of daily restoration before the property received a clean bill of health from the CA Regional Water Quality Control Board (CRWQCB) in May, 1999. (Before the State gave a full clearance, Vaune could not purchase this property and get monitorial assistance to clean up the ground. He wrote a grant and was awarded a $995,000 from the CA Clean Up Fund.)

3. In August, 1999 on a visit to family in Minnesota, Vaune got side tracked and toured St. Paul's Summit Brewery. He "found" 1938 30 BBL German brew haus Summit had out grown and was willing to sell. It was shipped to Weed and a major renovation began to retrofit the old creamery. A smaller 15 BBL PUB system was purchased in order to get the brewery started and develop sales. Vaune's first brew was made for his daughter's wedding.

4. Tap handles, bottle labels, and growlers were designed to include an actual picture of our beautiful mountain, Mt. Shasta, and Vaune's Weed Arch*, now the gateway to our town.

5. Our town was named after Abner Weed, founder of the first lumber mill. Vaune received a letter of authorization from the family of Mr. Weed to brew our first named beer in his honor.

6. A disaster occurred when two months before MSBC sold its first brew, Butte Creek Brewery of Chico, CA, sold a beer called Mt. Shasta Pale Ale. They sued MSBC for the right to take the Mt. Shasta Brewing Company name. MSBC was a trademarked name so a federal judge only allowed Butte Creek to keep the name Mt. Shasta Pale Ale.

7. MSBC brews: Abner Weed's Amber Ale, Weed Golden Ale, Mountain High IPA, Shastafarian Porter, Lemurian Lager and Oktoberfest Lager. In 2005, bottled beer was produced to increase exposure and MSBC began distribution throughout the west coast. MSBC has liquor licenses for the states of California, Oregon and Washington.

* Vaune engineered the construction of the arch over the entrance to Weed, replacing the original concrete arch erected in 1920. In 1963, city fathers could find no plans for the old arch, were worried it would collapse, and tore it down. Demolition took over three weeks as the frame made of steel railroad track. When International Paper Company closed its doors and laid off 400 employees in the 1980s, the future appeared very bleak for Weed. A group of people developed activities that would unite the town behind a project for its future. The idea of a new arch was born! Fundraisers were held but the city administrator swore it would not happen on his watch. Vaune, having the persistent German heritage, would not accept that. The arch was designed for a metal façade with natural rock pillars. He had companies contribute metal, shipping, land, rockwork, and pulled together students from schools who drew pictures of the arch, football players who moved rock, community service organizations. State Congressman Stan Statham dedicated the arch on December 25, 1988. Weed had its identity once again!