BEER PIONEER
HOW STEVE SARTORI BROUGHT CRAFT BEER BACK TO THE TRI-VALLEY.
Steve Sartori, brewer and founder of Altamont Beer Works, says that his
journey to creating Altamont started when the economy tanked. Prior to
the financial troubles that affected the U.S. in 2008, Sartori had been the
manager of a wakeboard shop in Tahoe, but when the recession hit, he headed
home to Livermore to work for the decades-old family trucking business.
“When I came back,” Sartori explains, “I said, ‘We have all these wineries;
why don’t we have a brewery?’ ”
Sartori certainly fixed that in 2012, bringing Livermore its first brewery
since Prohibition and paving the way for a local craft beer renaissance. It
wasn’t easy—90 percent of Altamont was hand-built by the Altamont team,
with no outside contracting. “It was really a labor of love,” says Sartori.
With its laid-back vibe and clean, flavorful beers, Altamont made
a strong first impression on Tri-Valley natives and visitors new to the
beer scene. In fact, the impression was so strong that the brewery
expanded into the space beside its original taproom in 2018. The hashtag
accompanying the Instagram announcement post seems nearly prophetic:
#ifyoubuildittheywillcome.
Liquid Assets / BEER
CONTAIN
YOUR BEER
THE VESSEL FOR YOUR
DRINK DOES MORE THAN
JUST HOLD IT.
Tulip: This glass
shares many of the
pilsner’s attributes but
enables you to swirl
the brew like wine.
Use it for Belgian
styles.
Goblet: The wide,
medieval-esque design
of this glass is another
excellent choice for
showcasing Belgian
ales.
Pint: One of the most
common glasses used
for beer, the pint
doesn’t accentuate
aroma, so it is normally
used for beers that
don’t need assistance,
such as IPAs, porters
and stouts.
Pilsner: Made for
light beers like its
namesake, this glass’s
shape allows for the
best retention of head
on the beer, as well as
enhancing the beer’s
fragrance.
Growler: The best way
to transport draft beer
from your favorite
brewery back home is
this reusable jug. Many
breweries sell them,
but to receive a special
Tri-Valley Beer Trail
growler, complete all
the stops on the trail.
To learn more, check
out visittrivalley.com.
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L E F T: I L L U S T R AT I O N S B Y ROX A N N E PA S I B E ; TO P : C A L I GO D L E Y
