Tucked away in Mendocino County, California, lies the tiny town of Boonville with a population of a little over 1,000 and a bahl hornin’ brewing company called Anderson Valley. Now to understand bahl hornin’ (good drinking) and the rest of the region’s quirky dialect, one must be a fluent speaker of Boontling (Booneville language). The 150-year-old language originated from the women and children who worked in the hop fields as a way of passing the time while having a little fun. Unfortunately, it is only spoken by a trickle of elders in the Boontling Club, Historical Society and a few local businesses. They are fighting to keep it alive but the youngsters are not as enthusiastic to learn it. Luckily a few words will be forever preserved in the names of the beers including Heelch (a large quantity) O’ Hops Double IPA, Boont (Booneville) Amber Ale, Poleeko (Philo, the second largest town in Anderson Valley) Pale Ale and Barney Flats (Hendy Woods National Forest) Oatmeal Stout.

Anderson Valley Brewing Company started in 1987 as true nano-brewery in the heart of Boonville with a 10 barrel brew kettle. Folks began hornin’ these tasty steinbers (beers) and demand began to rise. So they moved about a mile down the road to a 30 barrel brew kettle brewhouse in 1996. Well a 30 barrel capacity is just plain silly--flash forward two years and you have a 15,000 barrel production with demand rising every day. Finally, in 2000, brewery owner Ken Allen built a state-of-the-art, three-story brewhouse complete with 100 barrel brew kettles. 

The award-winning beers come in a variety of styles, each one made with special attention to quality overseen by current brewmaster Fal Allen (no relation to Ken). Me being partial to West Coast, uber hopped IPAs, I decided to try Heelch O’ Hops. 

Appearance

The label dons a hulking grizzleeber (grizzly bear) adorned by a set of antlers that would bring a tear to any hunter’s eyes. It pours a glowing sunset orange with a fizzy eggshell head. 

Aroma

Layers of orange, pine, spruce, resin, baked biscuit and the scent of a Werther’s Original thrown in the mix. Very intoxicating and well-balanced.

Taste

Grapefruit dominates at first but then plays coy to nice mango, pepper, pine and some bready notes remaining smooth and creamy.     

This was a very nice double IPA. Another rarity to come out of Anderson Valley is their Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Stout, which I had the privilege of trying before and it is definitely some bahl hornin’. So go to your local ABC and get yourself six-pack of the 100 point (Beer Advocate) Hop Ottin’ IPA or the 95 point (Beer Advocate) Boont Amber Ale and horn a mighty fine brew.

Adam Shugan, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits beer consultant - Gainesville

Follow him on Twitter @abcbeeradams