In their quest to be the "Best Microbrew Store on the Planet", BEER On The Wall added several new microbreweries to their family last month. Here's a quick summary:

AleSmith Brewing Co, San Diego - Skippered by Skip Virgilio, these guys make what we think is some of the best domestic Belgian and British style ales in the State of California. They come in 750 ml bottles and are designed to be aged like fine wines.

Jack Russell Brewing Co. brews traditional style British ales. We now have their 5 year-round beers and a limited quantity of "Jack's Olde Ale," their winter seasonal brew. All are styled after traditional British ales.

Butterfield Brewing Co, Fresno - All of these guys beers have won Gold Medals at the Great American Beer Festival. They are committed to traditional brewing methods, creating uniquely complex and refreshing beers. Give 'em a try!

The Wheat Beer Co makes an excellent hefeweizen and bottles it in 1 litre stopper-topped bottles... They call it the Big Ass Beer!

You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline - it helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer. --- Frank Zappa

The Coast Range Brewing Company is located in the "Garlic Capital of the World," Gilroy, California. The guys at Coast Range Brewing Co. would like to rename it the "Microbrew Capital of the World," and with the brews that come out of their tanks, they are doing a pretty good job of it! Master Brewer, Peter Licht, not only brews Coast Range's two flagship ales, but contract brews several other tasty beers as well

California Blonde Ale is a traditional American style Golden or Cream ale. Their version is fermented cooler and given an extra week of cold conditioning for an ale with a crisp finish of a lager. They use all American malts with Liberty and Mt. Hood hops providing the spicy hop bouquet. California Blonde won a Gold Medal at the 1996 World Beer Cup, a Silver Medal at the 1998 World Beer Championships, and a Bronze Medal in 1997. It also won 2nd Place in 1999 and 3rd Place in 1996 at the California State Fair Commercial Craft Brewing Competition. If you like lager beers with a character, this is the beer for you!

SLO Brewing Company was founded in 1988 by President, Michael Hoffman as a charming brewpub in San Luis Obispo. In 1998 SLO Brewing Co. expanded and opened a state-of-the-art 35,000 barrel capacity 15,000 sq. ft brewery in Paso Robles, California. Midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, nestled between oceans and mountains lie 3,316 square miles of the most breathtaking geography in the United States, San Luis Obispo County. SLO Brewing Company's recently redesigned packaging was inspired by the areas awesome landscapes and seascapes.

Olde Highland Ale is SLO's newest brew, rich in amber hues, offering a subtle spicy flavor that gives this high end, well balanced, malty ale its unique smooth flavor with a light hop finish. It won the Best American, Scottish Style Ale at the World Beer Championships. (5.2% alcohol by volume)

The original Big Trees Brewery opened in 1894 in Santa Cruz, California. It was among the first breweries to make beer in a style that, to date, is the only style to have originated in the United States: The California Common. Today's Big Trees Brewing Co. continues with tradition with its California Red Ale, and complimentary line of beers, Ponderosa Pilsner and Sequoia Stout. Like those of the Old West, these beers are the product of a fiercely independent, no-nonsense approach to brewing using only quality ingredients and good, solid brewing technique. No gimmicks, no extraordinary claims; just good fresh, local beer. And like the slow growing California Redwoods for which the brewery takes its name, when it comes to producing fine, quality products, Big Trees Brewing Co. will take its time.

Big Trees Brewing Company's sole focus is the making of good beer. There are no tables at the brewery and there is no bar. There is no food and drink. There is only a brewing facility intent on providing Santa Cruz County with its fill of microbrewed products, in draft and in twelve ounce bottles. Beer is all they do. Just good, fresh, local beer.

Sequoia Stout is a deep, dark, complex, oatmeal stout - multi-layered with caramel and roasty flavors, united by a smooth, thick creaminess This is an excellent Stout that is only available in Santa Cruz, California and at BEER On The Wall! (5.5% alcohol by volume).

Jack's Lager - Jack Russell Brewing Company, Camino

Mojave Red - Indian Wells Brewing Company, Inyokern

Organic Porter - Butte Creek Brewing Company, Chico