We set out to change how Lodi does beer. We hope you like what we've done.
Grant Hamilton, owner and Head Brewer, had his first beer at age 8 in a local pub in Glasgow, Scotland. He developed his beer palate and passion for the many varieties of brews over the years while living in several European countries, Australia and the US. When he moved to California in 2012, he wanted to open a business that showcased the traditional west coast IPAs alongside Germanic beers.
It was with this dream in mind, that he opened his first business, Flight Lounge, in 2014 in Woodbridge, CA, in the heart of the Lodi wine region. It was the first business in the area which featured 12 rotating taps, over 50 bottled beers along with wines from the area and pub food. It quickly became clear that the BEER was the star! Within 3 months, Grant started planning his next venture…a brewery. Seeing the overwhelming interest of the locals and the influx of microbreweries in surrounding regions, Grant wanted to open a craft brewery in Lodi!
After 2 years of dreaming and research, the pieces started to fall into place. The old Giant Discount Tire on 100 S. Sacramento Street in downtown Lodi was available and the perfect location for IDOL Beer Works (Lodi spelled backwards). In July of 2016, the dream became a reality when the City of Lodi approved the plans. That’s when the wild ride began! Countless hours of demolition, planning, designing and construction finally culminated in the FIRST BREW DAY! On September 2, 2017 the first beer, a German-style Blonde Ale called Smutty Fräulein, was put in the tanks. Finally, on September 29, Idol Beer Works opened to the public!
