Dust Bowl Brewing Co. Brewery Taproom

The Tate family loaded their Model A and left Oklahoma for a journey that would prove fruitful for generations to come. The Great Depression coupled with life in the Dust Bowl corridor had nearly dried up everything the Tate family had – except, of course, their thirst for success and love for each other. Determined to thrive, Grandpa Tate became a real-life hobo, riding the rails in pursuit of work and a few dollars to feed his family. Ultimately, the Tates survived and settled in California, where they raised their children to appreciate hard work, love for family, a hearty sense of humor, and a craving for new frontiers.

Fast forward to 2006 and Turlock, California, a small community located in the agriculturally rich Central Valley and home to Brett Tate, a third generation Tate family member. A retired high school teacher and coach of 20 years, Brett was cultivating a passion for brewing and searching for a way to make his dream a reality. His good fortune came in the way of the morning paper, which seemed to deliver just the news he needed.

Tucked between Sports and Weather was an article featuring a young brewer named Don Oliver, winner of the 2006 Samuel Adams Longshot Homebrew competition. Not only was Don an experienced home brewer, he shared Brett’s desire to start a brewery. Pioneers in their own right, Brett and Don came together determined to craft some of the finest brews ever to emerge from Central California.