A new brewery has opened in the Clovis countryside. Horses and Harleys are welcome
The area’s newest brewery isn’t in the Brewery District in Fresno. It’s not in Old Town Clovis, either.
It’s out in the country, at Shaw and Academy avenues.
Two Ravens Brewery & Taproom is next door to The Red Caboose cafe, and just down from Longhorn Feed & Supply.
The brewery opened Saturday selling its Norse-themed beer, with plenty of games to play and a unique menu from its restaurant neighbor.
The 3,600-square-foot brewpub is the brainchild of co-owners Marc Dyson and Blake Pierce.
Dyson is a self-proclaimed geek when it comes to Norse mythology. Hence the name Two Ravens, a reference to the birds that brought news from the world to the Norse god Odin.
The beer
You’ll see that influence in the beer names, too.
There’s a big variety, with something to drink for people new to beer and hardcore beer nerds.
“I don’t want to be Budweiser and make the same thing over and over,” Dyson said.
The 3.5-barrel system makes beer that’s only sold at the brewpub.
His favorite on tap? Ragnar Red, a Czech-style amber lager with 4.8% alcohol.
There’s a “smok’n hot blonde” blonde ale made with smoked malt and fresh jalapeños that has just a hint of spice.
There are also easy-drinking hazy IPAs and the “assertive” West Coast IPA dubbed Stormbreaker. Hard seltzers and a root beer are coming.
Dyson got started in craft beer by brewing at home. He got so into it, he’d throw open his garage door and put up a sign to the neighborhood that he had beer to share. They’d come and taste and give him feedback.
That hobby eventually turned into the business, a complete change from his career in the home health industry.
The location
The brewery is family friendly, meaning you can bring the kids.
There are electronic dart boards and a machine that lets you try your hand at a punching bag. A shuffleboard is on the way.
There are TVs that will show NFL football and other big games.
Dyson, who lives nearby, deliberately wanted to create a place with something to do. The shopping center Two Ravens is in — about 20 minutes from central Fresno — is surrounded by pasture and other ag land.
“Being out here and isolated like this, there’s nothing to do out here,” he said.
The rural area has a mix of people passing through, not just from Clovis, but from Auberry to Sanger. There are people on their way to Pine Flat Lake, cyclists on long rides, and locals from the nearby community of Quail Lake who use golf carts to get around.
“There’s going to be people on horses, Harleys, quads, golf carts,” he said.
And plenty of room to park them all.
“There’s going to be a lot of stuff for people to do out here finally. ... I just wanted to have a place we could call our own.”
The food
As for the food, it comes from The Red Caboose next door. It’s known for its breakfast (though it’s open til 9 p.m. most days) and homestyle cooking.
But the menu for Two Ravens is totally different.
Expect gourmet sliders, flatbread pizzas and appetizers like coconut shrimp.
Visitors can scan a QR code at their table, order food from their phones, and it will be delivered right to their table or their spot at the bar.
Details: Two Ravens is at 5054 N. Academy Avenue Suite B, Clovis. Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays through Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 559-314-8550.
