Trumer Pils Brand Acquired by Firestone Walker Brewing

Trumer Brewery in Berkeley to Close as Firestone Walker Takes Over Production

Apr. 2, 2026 at 2:38pm

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Firestone Walker Brewing has announced it is acquiring the rights to the Trumer Pils brand, meaning the Trumer brewery in Berkeley, California will be closing. Trumer Pils will continue to be produced, but at Firestone Walker's facility in Paso Robles.

Why it matters

This marks the end of an era for the pioneering Trumer Pils brand, which helped introduce high-quality American-brewed pilsners to the market when it launched in 2004. The acquisition by Firestone Walker, another respected craft brewer, aims to protect the balance and drinkability that have defined Trumer Pils over the years.

The details

Trumer Pils was originally brewed in a small town outside of Salzburg, Austria before Carlos Alvarez founded Gambrinus Co. and opened the Trumer brewery in Berkeley in 2004. Alvarez hired skilled American brewers, imported European ingredients, and began brewing the pilsner stateside, which was a novel approach at the time. Trumer Pils went on to become a pioneering American-brewed pilsner that helped change the craft beer landscape.

  • Trumer Pils was first brewed in a small town outside of Salzburg, Austria hundreds of years ago.
  • Gambrinus Co. opened the Trumer brewery in Berkeley, California and began producing Trumer Pils in 2004.
  • Firestone Walker Brewing announced it is acquiring the rights to the Trumer brand in April 2026.

The players

Trumer Privatbrauerei

The small brewery in Austria where the original Trumer Pils recipe originated hundreds of years ago.

Gambrinus Co.

The company founded by Carlos Alvarez that opened the Trumer brewery in Berkeley, California in 2004 to begin brewing Trumer Pils stateside.

Firestone Walker Brewing

The craft brewing company that has acquired the rights to the Trumer Pils brand and will take over production of the beer at its facility in Paso Robles, California.

Matt Brynildson

The brewmaster at Firestone Walker Brewing who stated the company's responsibility is to protect the balance and drinkability that have always defined Trumer Pils.

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What they’re saying

“Pilsner brewing is a discipline built on detail and patience. Trumer Pils is a beer I have admired for many years, and our responsibility is to protect the balance and drinkability that have always defined it.”

— Matt Brynildson, Brewmaster, Firestone Walker Brewing

What’s next

Firestone Walker will begin brewing Trumer Pils at its Paso Robles facility, taking over production from the soon-to-be-closed Trumer brewery in Berkeley.

The takeaway

The acquisition of the Trumer Pils brand by Firestone Walker Brewing marks the end of an era for the pioneering American-brewed pilsner, but also ensures the beer's signature balance and drinkability will be preserved under the stewardship of another respected craft brewer.