CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Established in 1993, the River City Brewing Company spent years in Downtown Sacramento before deciding to pack up in June of 2015 and relocate in Carmichael in May of 2016. It was a big move for the second oldest brewery in Sacramento, but the change of scenery has been a blessing.

Owners Beth Ayres-Biro and Steve Cuneo have completely embraced the community of Carmichael. “We’re really hands on owners and really into the whole community,” said Ayres-Biro. “We like the fact that we moved out here. People come in here and it’s more of a family, neighborhood feel.”

Ayres-Biro, who has been the general manager since 2001, became a co-owner in 2006 when she and business partner Cuneo, who was already in charge of accounting, purchased the company from Faultline Brewing Company. The two of them have essentially retained their positions to his day – but, as any business owner would understand, with the addition of logging heavier hours.

“As far as the ownership group, Steve or I are pretty much here at all times,” said Ayres-Biro.

This was the case even during the months between locations. “We started building immediately,” she said. “And we were still doing brew fests and entering competitions for the 11 months that we were closed.”

With an extensive wall filled with ribbons, trophies and other awards, the proudest is from a third place finish at the California State Fair in the IPA division for their Cap City IPA. Even though they have claimed several first place prizes throughout the years, placing that high in the toughest division in an event that hosted 400 other breweries and 1,800 total beers was a special accomplishment.

Their hard work and long hours have paid off. It is their hands-on ownership that helped them make it through a recession that left only them, Rubicon Brewing Company and Hoppy Brewing Company standing in 2008, as far as Sacramento breweries are concerned.

Today things are looking far different. Breweries and tap houses are popping up everywhere, increasing the competition, but also expanding the overall market for craft beer. “Competition is good and it has made people more aware of what craft beer is,” explained Ayres-Biro.

But what makes River City unique is their approach on food. “We always thought the food should be just as important as the beer,” she said. “Just because you go to a brewery why does it just have to be burger in a basket? Why can’t you have something nice?”

That’s not to say that they don’t serve burgers, because they do, but rather that their imagination has taken them beyond the ordinary. And with Sacramento recently anointed as “America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital,” River City Brewing Company has proudly adopted that motto for themselves as well. Working hand in hand with Produce Express, a local produce distributor, they have formed a great relationship that includes daily deliveries.

With a constantly changing menu to ensure the freshness of ingredients and rotating taps that feature a vast array of their own beer as well as guest taps that support other local breweries, River City Brewing Company has made a home for itself in Carmichael and a name for itself in the Sacramento region and beyond.

River City Brewing Company is located in Carmichael’s Milagro Centre at 6241 Fair Oaks Boulevard, Suite G. Visit www.rivercitybrewing.net for more information.