Collin McDonald joins Herlinda Heras and Harry Duke on Brew Ha Ha today with news that Hen House Brewing Co. is acquiring Iron Springs. The last time Collin was on the Brew Ha Ha show and podcast was this episode on August 22, 2019.

Collin McDonald, Hen House Brewing Co. CEO, says that Iron Springs has been an awesome institution for 17 years and their plans are to keep all the staff and continue to grow. Iron Springs was a leader in the development of craft beer, as well as demonstrating how a brewery can make a town stronger, be a good emplyer and be something that every community wants. It is Hen House’s first restaurant and they are making plans or food that matches the way they do beer, with fresh ingredients and seasonal rotations.

He takes the responsibility seriously to continue to have a brewery that is engaged with the community. Iron Springs is also known for music shows and they will continue that.

They will be brewing there, in a 10-barrel brewery, as opposed to their Santa Rosa brewery, a 30 barrel capacity. Mike and Anne, the founders who are selling Iron Springs, are going to keep the name Iron Springs, except for beer branding, although they may do some collaborations. They will do some rebranding over the holidays and expect to be open in January.

Brew Ha Ha is sponsored by the Santa Rosa branch of Yoga Six located in Coddingtown Center.

Ha Ha "Brews News with Herlinda" is sponsored by Russian River Brewing Co. and by The Beverage People / Fermenter's Warehouse.

Harry asks Collin to tell some of the back story of Hen House Brewing Company. He has brought a 3-day-old can of Double IPA with Citra, Simcoe and Wakatu hops.

Their graphic designer Josh Staples does their labels, which are a lot of fun. Look for some Easter eggs on their labels.

They are an investor and family owned business, and they include his parents, some local Rotarians, friends and family. That kind of community is supportive and also knowledgeable. They were a "nano brewery" at first, then they were renting time in another brew house. In 2016 they moved up to their current brew room in Santa Rosa. The Petaluma location opened in 2018. There they do their barrel aging and hopping, in Petaluma.

The Santa Rosa location is on Bellvue Ave. and Petaluma on North McDowell. They have food trucks come in to serve people to come for tasting. See their website for the food truck schedule. Opening a restaurant now in Fairfax will be a big job and his priority is to so that with the same attention to quality as their beers. Their beers are in tap rooms, at Oliver's market, and the tasting room. Collin says it's a tasting room, not a bar or a pub. The purpose is to taste beer in an educational atmosphere, so they serve mainly flights. Their servers are titled Flight Attendant.