History

Golden Beaver Distillery was founded based on Kris Koenigs' experiences in Edinburgh, Scotland in 2010, where the Eyjafjallajökull eruption temporarily grounded air travel. After two Master Classes with the renowned Scotch writer Charlie Maclean Kris decided to become a distiller and pursue his interest in 'brown spirit'. A central part of the story is the role of rice: Golden Beaver Distillery is one of the few distilleries in the country that primarily uses rice as a base, especially Calrose rice, described as the core of their product line and as a source of the distillery's distinctive flavor profile.

The story also describes a strong local grounding: two locations in Chico, California – Golden Beaver Distillery and Park Avenue Still House – as well as a culture of environmental awareness and sustainability. They use locally grown rice, corn, wheat, rye and barley, and highlight the beavers' historical role in the wetlands of Northern California.

Habitat preservation has been a clear part of the company's philosophy: with every bottle they donate a portion of the proceeds to conservation projects such as Occidental Arts & Ecology Center Water Institute and California Waterfowl Association; for example, $40,000 was raised for the rebuilding of the Honey Run Bridge through the sale of Honey Run Honey Whiskey. Emphasis is placed on environmental responsibility; the company describes a culture of water reuse, use of clean propane, and use of spent mash for local agricultural feed. Finally they present the slogan Drink Craft Spirits. It makes a difference!!

Production / Manufacturing

Golden Beaver Distillery is located in Chico, California, near Chico Regional Airport, and has a production facility of about 6,000 square feet. They describe three stills: Maude, a 730-gallon strip still; Harold, a 300-gallon hybrid pot still; and Layla, a 150-gallon vodka still, with a total fermentation capacity of over 5,000 gallons. They emphasize Calrose rice as a central ingredient and highlight that they use locally grown rice, corn, wheat, rye and barley in their recipes. The connection to nature and the environment is also expressed in their preservation of beaver habitat and support for wetland projects.

Products / Whisky Series

• Beaver Likker Moonshine – Northern California moonshine made from Calrose rice and rice malt, double distilled in a pot still; gluten-free.
• Bība Soju- California Style – hand-crafted, double pot-distilled soju based on Calrose rice and roasted rice malt; gluten-free.
• Feather River Gin – gin with citrus notes from lemongrass and orange, three types of peppercorn for a hint of spice, juniper and coriander as the backbone.
• High Lakes Vodka – gluten-free vodka, water sourced from around 5,500 feet in elevation with glacier-formed lakes; described as the refreshing feeling of an early summer.
• Honey Run Honey Flavor Whiskey – American craft whiskey that starts as a straight bourbon with 21% rye mash bill and adds raw Northern California wildflower honey.
• Pacific Fly Way Bourbon Whiskey – bourbon made from a mash consisting of corn, rice, rye and barley; small batches and an annual limited release, honoring the Pacific Flyway.
• Pacific Fly Way Whiskey – 90 proof whiskey made from 100% Calrose rice and rice malt, aged in new American oak barrels and used bourbon barrels.
• Richardson Springs Grappa – grappa made by distilling pomace (the byproduct of wine production).
• Chico Creek Straight Rye Single Barrel – rye, straight, single barrel (750 ml); the product is labeled as Single Barrel.
• Pacific Flyway Straight Bourbon Barrel 52 – straight bourbon, aged in some barrels and offered as a limited batch.

Visits / Experiences

• Golden Beaver Distillery operates two locations: Golden Beaver Distillery (Chico) and Park Avenue Still House. The addresses are listed as Chico, CA, and Park Avenue, Chico, CA, with opening hours given for each unit.
• Park Avenue Still House offers LIVE music every Friday at 7:30 PM and Sunday brunch at 11 with live music; a new dining partnership with The Gumbo Shop is also announced.
• There are opportunities to visit and experience the production and taste different spirits in the still house environment; they also showcase products in their online shop.

Philosophy / Conservation

• Golden Beaver Distillery highlights a historical role for beavers in Northern California and the human-caused influence on the wetlands and the Pacific Fly Way.
• Commitment to habitat restoration: a portion of the sales proceeds goes to conservation projects and conservation organizations such as Occidental Arts & Ecology Center Water Institute and California Waterfowl Association; for example, the Honey Run Bridge restoration has been supported by the sale of Honey Run Honey Whiskey.
• Environmentally responsible practices include water recycling, use of clean fuel (propane) and reuse of spent mash for fodder production, as part of a goal to minimize carbon footprint and produce craft spirits with care.

Awards and Recognitions (external mentions in the content)

• The products have received various prizes and recognitions in competitions such as Honey Spirits Competition, ASCOT Awards, John Barleycorn Awards, and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition between 2021 and 2025.