About Us

The Beverage People is a family owned and operated retail and mailorder store. We have been in business for almost 33 years right here in beautiful Sonoma County. We are experienced, knowledgable, and enthusiastic about all your fermentation hobbies. Teaching and sharing information with our customers is what we do best.

Our website is designed to help you find all the products and information you need, easily and efficiently. If you need anything not addressed on our site, don't hesitate to call us. We are here to help you.

Our founders, Byron Burch and Nancy Vineyard broke ground for the good beer movement in the 1970's by searching out products for home use and teaching thousands of customers how to make great beer, mead, wine, and now cheese, at home.

They led the local Homebrew club to 10 consecutive national club championships from 1986-1995.

Bob Peak, who began working with the Beverage People in 2003 and became a partner with the company in 2006, comes well prepared to assist our customers with technical questions.

With a B.S. in chemistry from Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California, Bob served as General Manager at Vinquiry, the well-known Sonoma County wine laboratory, for three and a half years before arriving at The Beverage People.

Our approach to business is reflected in the style of our newsletter and catalog. We bring you both products and information, at prices that compete with any nationwide mailorder firm. Our retail store is a mecca for enthusiasts like yourself, stocked with all the great products you need for your next fermentation.

As to the quality of our products, you'll find we guarantee them for one year. Yeast is a perishable product and should be refrigerated upon arrival. Best used in 60 to 90 days.

Byron Burch, the owner is also the author of Brewing Quality Beers, a textbook for homebrewing that has sold over a quarter million copies.

Our catalogs are available for you to download, or you may call us toll free at 1.800.544.1867 to receive your copy in the mail. We think you'll like doing business our way.