An hour north of Lake Tahoe on the California/Nevada border, in an area referred to as The Lost Sierra, is an unusual car in an unusual brewery. This make and model of Subaru appears far from home. Normally, it would serve as a delivery vehicle on the roads of Osaka, Japan.
The vehicle’s owner, Charlie Johnson of Ronin Fermentation Project, did some consulting for a large beverage company there. The name “Ronin” was actually gifted to him by his Japanese clients, who explained the term meant a samurai without a master. An expert in ancient practices beholden to no one. Charlie had traveled the world for his job, and was able to save enough money to purchase his land and state-of-the-art brewing equipment outright. Given he had no debt and no investors telling him what to make, he thought the name was fitting.
While working at a facility in Japan, Charlie and some of the employees were caught by the CEO racing these cars in the parking lot. On his next birthday, one showed up at the brewery in Graeagle, California.
Recently, I was visiting with my friend Bobby, a professional brewer in the Bay Area. I was excited to show him all the bells and whistles Charlie had installed on his shiny new custom brewhouse, and couldn’t wait to get up on the brew deck. Bobby, however, was distracted once he saw the car. It conjured fond memories of touring Japan with his band, and admiring all the vehicles you don’t see in California. Here was one in the last place he expected.
Me, I still don’t know how to drive stick.
Words + Photoby Tim Decker