Tap Handle #332: Humboldt Brewing - Red Nectar Amber Ale

Like the swallows I talked about in the recent Capistrano posting, it's always great to see hummingbirds show up on my property, heralding the end of winter and the return of warm weather. It's been awhile since I profiled a "toy on a stick" tap, but this one is really cool and highly sought after. They're hard to find in good condition, as the base, as well as the beak and wing tips of the hummingbird, are prone to chipping or breaking. They aren't available in any online store, so eBay is the place to pick one up. The IPA variety is very similar, with a yellow base and different colored bird.

Humboldt Brewing Company was founded by Mario Celotto in 1987 in Humboldt County, California. Celotto was a linebacker with the Oakland Raiders, and shortly after being part of the 1980 Super Bowl team, he retired from football and used his Super Bowl bonus to start the brewery. Steve Parkes, who now owns and runs the brewing school, American Brewers Guild, created the original Red Nectar Ale. The brewery was an initial leader in environmentally-conscious operations. Limited capacity and increased demand forced Humboldt to turn to the Firestone Walker Brewery for contract brewing. The line won several awards at the Great American Beer Festival, the World Beer Cup, and state and county competitions, including Mid-Size Brewing Company of The Year at the 2003 Great American Beer Festival. However, after Humboldt Brewing suffered some financial hardships, Firestone Walker bought Humboldt Brewing outright in 2005 and renamed it Nectar Ales.

Firestone Walker continued to brew the Nectar Ales line for 7 more years, continuing to rack up awards. In 2012, citing production and operational demands that required focusing on its own brands, Firestone Walker ceased most of its contract brewing, and sold Nectar Ales to Total Beverage Solution (TBS), who changed the name back to Humboldt Brewing. TBS is an importer and distributor, and since they don't own a brewery, the Humboldt brand continues to be brewed by Firestone Walker until 2015, when the contract runs out and TBS must find another brewing location. Humboldt's current lineup features 3 year round beers and 2 limited releases.

Red Nectar is an amber ale boasting a ruby hue and an exquisite floral aroma. It is a robust yet elegant brew with distinctive accents of toasted malt, caramel, spice and residual sweetness. It won a gold medal at the 2010 Great American Beer Festival and has won several state and county competitions. Weighted average on ratebeer.com is 3.44 out of 5.

Humboldt Brewing Official Website (it's still pretty new and in the process of improving)

Source Material
Wikipedia
Brookston Beer Bulletin