Meet the Brewer.
Arne Johnson.
Every beer on our board starts with one guy, a lot of opinions, and a serious respect for the ocean out front.
25 Years, One Namesake Beer
After a quarter century in the industry, Arne figured he'd finally earned the right to put his own name on a label. Here's the story behind a few of the beers he's brewed at Rockaway.
Arnebräu & Pacifica Pils
"Throughout my career, I've always wanted to make more lager beers, but it has not always been possible. Production has usually been near capacity, and proper lager beer requires 3–4 times more time conditioning in the tanks than ales."
Arne started both beers from traditional German recipes, then amplified the flavors slightly while keeping the balance intact. Arnebräu — a nickname his friends gave him as a teenager, and a nod to the classic Löwenbräu — was his Munich-style Helles Lager, built to be an easy, everyday beer anyone can enjoy. Pacifica Pils took the same approach further: a souped-up Northern German-style Pils with considerable hop flavor and aroma.
Beach Fuzz Hazy IPA
The first beer Arne ever brewed at Rockaway — and not exactly his home turf. "I was not particularly known for my Hazy beers (many of us OG brewers call them Lazy IPAs), but I knew there was a demand."
New to the system and the brewery, Arne brought in two friends to help design the first batch: Kim Sturdavant, former Pacifica Brewery brewer and current Admiral Maltings Brand Ambassador, and Tim Sciascia, founder/brewer of Cellarmaker Brewery and now Brand Ambassador for Berkeley Yeast. Between the three of them, Beach Fuzz has been the top seller ever since.
Pacificus IPA
Most modern IPAs lean on a simple malt bill of mostly Pale or Pilsner malt. Pacificus didn't. It was brewed with a considerable percentage of malted rye alongside Golden Promise — a flavorful heirloom barley variety from the UK — with Citra and Cascade hops layering in pine and citrus.
The can label carried a message that matters to Arne as much as the recipe: a plea for respect for the environment and the ocean out front, so this tiny seaside brewery doesn't become part of it in future generations.
Cans & Crowlers To Go
Grab 16 oz 4-packs and 32 oz crowlers of what's pouring — fresh from Arne's tanks to your fridge.