Plumas County’s Best Kept Secret in Graeagle, California
By Mara Dobyns
In the beautiful small town known as Graeagle sits Plumas County’s best kept secret, Ronin Fermentation Project. They pride themselves on providing a unique perspective to new beer styles in addition to respecting the classics. They believe the littlest details make the biggest difference and it shows in everything they do. They offer a taproom, patio style outdoor seating and a warm and welcoming atmosphere to anyone looking to enjoy their day with a cold glass of freshly brewed beer. Or maybe even an adult slushy in the warmer months of Summer. It’s the kind of place that once you discover, you won’t soon forget.
Something I really appreciate is that they are open year-round so locals can count on the same hospitality that visiting tourists receive in the summer. No matter the season, they strive to create the best experience every single time. Something else that stuck out to me was the fact that no TV’s are in their taproom. They enjoy the art of drinking, creating friends among strangers, good conversation and hosting an incredible experience to match the incredible drinks they serve.
Ronin was founded by Charlie Johnson and Lisa Jansen who manage the business together. Charlie has over twenty years in the industry and has been extremely successful as a brewer and international brewing industry consultant. The couple decided to launch Ronin in Plumas County so they could be close to their hometowns of Truckee, CA, and Reno, NV.
They make world-class lagers and have also advanced at brewing with Koji, a Japanese fermentation technique. Excitement has been growing for Ronin’s one-of-a-kind koji beer, and new koji beers are released frequently. The beer is made from high-quality ingredients made using cutting-edge and industry-leading techniques. They attract beer enthusiasts and visitors from far and wide as a destination brewery because not only is their beer delicious but the views are breathtaking.
I enjoyed my tour of Ronin immensely. It was eye-opening to learn some of the science behind it all. I loved soaking up the friendly atmosphere and their beautiful surroundings while my friend Hannah loved taste-tasting their various unique styles of beer. I also enjoyed being the designated driver, haha.
Charlie’s stylistic approach isn’t one you will find just anywhere so make sure you give every beer an equal opportunity, because you never know, you may like something you least expect. Hannah enjoyed the natural carbonation of the beer. It is said to not hurt the tummy like typical carbonation and is a 8-10 week process to brew. She even got adventurous and enjoyed a secret menu milk pour that was comparable to a cappuccino. The cold foam keeps the aroma and flavor in the beer, which was softer and creamier than your typical beer. We also learned that cucumber added to alcohol will taste like watermelon. Who knew? Of course if you’re trying to pick just one you can’t go wrong with their Multiverse Raspberry or their ever popular Alpenglow Pilsner. Did I mention their unique techniques allow their canned beer to taste just as fresh as if it came out of a keg, so don’t forget to grab a 4-pack to go!
Lisa and Charlie are some of the most genuine and kind hearted people. Not only did I enjoy our in-person visit but I also had the pleasure of interviewing them via email and getting to know a little more about their business and the heart of it all.
Of course I had to ask what their favorite part about turning this dream into a reality was. “It’s been fun watching our vision become a reality. We took this bare piece of land and we built something that has become a part of the community, but even better has become a destination to visit. We have always wanted our taproom to be a place where everyone felt welcome, whether our customers are local or just visiting, we wanted everyone to feel like they belonged. Since we’ve opened, we’ve seen neighbors and visitors from out of town become friends and we’ve seen customers that planned their whole vacation around visiting Ronin.” Lisa shared.
I also had to know if there was a least favorite part. “We picked a heck of a time to open a business in manufacturing. Since opening in 2020, we’ve been hit by historical event after historical event. We lived through the pandemic, the Dixie Fire, record inflation, and a supply chain that nearly failed. Owning a small business is challenging even in the best circumstances. It’s even more challenging when hit by these historic events and living in an area like Plumas County where so many businesses are seasonal to begin with. It’s easier for businesses to survive here during the busy tourist season, but winters can be really rough on small businesses. We hope that as time goes by, the winter and shoulder seasons will become more popular, which should help more businesses survive and stay open year-round.” It’s hard to have anything but respect for Lisa’s answer when you learn how challenging it’s all been. Especially when one of their main goals is to support their community and provide more job opportunities with their growth.
Speaking of growth, in what ways has Ronin grown since you first started? “We built Ronin from the ground up on a bare piece of land our family purchased. We received our certificate of occupancy in March of 2020, two days before the pandemic shutdowns were ordered. So our business started as a pandemic business, which completely flipped our business plan upside down. We’ve seen the business grow from only selling cans to-go out in the parking lot due to government regulation during the pandemic, to now being open year-round, and adding extra days and extra staff during the summer.” Which truly is such a drastic difference. I am so happy they were able to proceed and beat the odds, especially with such a rocky start. In my opinion, they deserve all the success.
For you, what sets Ronin apart? “An innovative scientist by nature, Charlie views his brewery as a science lab for research and development. He is passionate about forging new paths and developing new scientific-based brewing techniques. He is committed to using new technology as well. He is known for being one of the first brewers to work with Koji, where he uses sake brewing techniques adapted for brewing beer. Charlie’s explorer mentality and use of science have helped him create several award-winning beers. In the past, his beers have won medals at the World Beer Cup, Great American Beer Festival, Copa Cerveza, Copa Mundo, Cerveza Mexico, Australian Beer Awards, Oregon Beer Awards, North American Beer Awards, Best of Craft Brewing, Japan Beer Cup, and European Beer Stars.”
As if that weren’t impressive enough, are there any other awards I should mention and would you like to expand on that? “Ronin claimed a silver award in the 2022 World Beer Cup, a global beer competition that evaluates beers from around the world and recognizes the most outstanding brewers and their beers. We were awarded a silver award in the Experimental beer style category for The Multiverse Lives Koji Beer, a beer brewed with barley, local oats from the Sierra Valley, wheat, Motueka hops, and Ronin’s house koji blend. The Multiverse Lives pours a beautiful hazy pale orange in color and has notes of melon and cantaloupe. The beer takes you on a sensory journey and is quite different from typical beers. It’s currently the only brewery in the world using this specific koji process that brewer Charlie has been experimenting with and developing for almost a decade.” Wow.
How is your beer connected to the local area? “The local water our beer is brewed with is one of the most important ingredients. We also brew on a California made BrewBilt brewhouse and use a lot of grain grown in Northern California.” From my understanding from our in-person visit, they source local California ingredients as much as possible.
What is your personal favorite beer and what are some of your more popular selections?
“My personal favorite beers are our Koji Beers. Each beer is so different and unique. They take your palette on a journey with every sip” said Lisa, “I also love our Alpenglow Pilsner. It has a special place in my heart since it was the first beer released in Graeagle and it’s our best seller.” I love that!
How, where, and what can we purchase from Ronin?
“The best way to enjoy Ronin beers is to stop by the taproom In Graeagle for a draft beer and to pick-up your favorite beer in a 4-pack to-go. In July, Ronin will launch their new website where they will sell beer and merchandise directly to consumers all over California.”
Ronin hosts Friday Night Karaoke nights, private events and occasional food trucks for those looking to dine while savoring a drink. Their current hours are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 2-7pm, Friday 2 – 8pm, Saturday 11am – 8pm and Sunday 12 – 7pm.
While their taproom is located in Graeagle you can also find select beer in 15 separate spots around Plumas County. They even deliver to downtown Truckee and serve as far as the Bay Area.
Interested in purchasing Ronin Fermentation Project beer for your restaurant, bar, or bottle shop? Please email RoninFermentationProject@gmail.com
Looking for more info or just want to follow their journey? Website:roninfermentationproject.com
Facebook:www.facebook.com/RoninFermentationProject
Instagram:www.instagram.com/roninfermentationproject/
Still looking to learn more? Check out this Special Interview on Youtube:
