A few weeks ago I was at a suburban Philadelphia branch of the Weis supermarket chain. Nice store. Big, well-lit and damn fine when it comes to offering a sweet selection of beers. Beer shopping usually is my main reason for entering Weis’s doors. I’ve dropped a lot of dough there in that pursuit.
What I buy, being a beer snob, are brews other than Budweiser and Miller and their milquetoast cousins. Over the last 25 years I’ve developed a love affair with more flavorful brews: the bright and piquant in taste; the murky and dense; and the bitter as hell, to cite a few. And Weis is a mecca for such goods.
So there I was, eyeing Weis’s beer shelves with deep interest. I’m always on the hunt for beers I haven’t had before, and I came upon one that day. It was an example of a pale ale, which is a common species of bitter beer that breweries like to tweak and play around with. Its maker was Ballast Point Brewing Co., a San Diego-based enterprise I was slightly familiar with, and the name on the label was Grunion Pale Ale. Grunion? The word rang zero of my bells. What’s more, the label pictured two fish writhing on the sands. What the f*ck was that all about? I hadn’t a clue. I bought a bottle of it, natch, along with a bunch of other brews, and went on my merry way.
Not many days after that I brought the unopened, fish-labelled bottle with me when my wife Sandy and I joined two of our top friends, Liz and Rich, at a Thai restaurant in the Philadelphia burbs. The place is a BYOB. Rich asked me what beer I’d arrived with. I showed him the bottle.
“Ah yes, grunion,” he said. “They are tiny fish that crawl out of the ocean to mate on beaches in southern California. They are quite amazing.”
I stared at him in disbelief. “Are you kidding me?” I finally asked. “You actually know what grunion are? And you know about their sex lives? How is this possible? I doubt if you’ve ever been fishing in your life.”
“What can I say?” Rich coyly intoned. “Some of us are blessed with the gift of extensive knowledge.” Those weren’t his exact words, but they are close enough.
I looked at Sandy and at Liz. I asked them if they’d ever heard of grunion before. The answer was no. I then proceeded to begin drinking the beer. It was delicious. Bitter, slightly citrusy from the hops used in its creation, and not the slightest bit fish-flavored(and that’s because grunion are not used in the brewing process. They only are on the label!).
Twenty-four hours later Sandy and I were at dinner in downtown Philadelphia with two more of our top pals, Cindy and Gene. The conversation, profane and giddy, went all over the map. After a while I started recapping the previous evening’s beer story.
“Can you believe it?” I said to Cindy and Gene. “Rich actually heard of grunion. Have either of you?”
“Not me,” said Cindy. However, Gene, a polite and non-bragging sort, had this to say: “Oh, I know about grunion. They are tiny fish that crawl out of the ocean to mate on beaches in southern California.” Those weren’t his exact words, but they are close enough.
I stared at Gene in disbelief. “Man, you’re a city boy,” I said. “Why do you know about grunion? Seems to me that they’re as obscure as can be.”
“Well, when I was younger I used to read a lot about animals,” he said.
I guess he did!
I firmly believe that in the greater Philadelphia region, whose human population exceeds the 6,000,000 mark, you’d have to search far and wide to find people who could tell you what grunion are. Yet, on successive evenings I’d broken bread with two of them. Talk about infinitesimal odds. If only, after all these years of knowing Rich and Gene, dashes of their brain power had made their way over to me.
Anyway, since those two grunion-centric meals I’ve done a bit of research into grunion. Not much, because I’m not the scholarly type, but enough to get a feel for the subject. Grunion, it seems, come in two similar but somehow different varieties. Type One lives in the ocean waters off of southern California. Type Two inhabits the Gulf Of California in the Mexican region known as Baja California. And indeed both types do crawl out of the water to mate. They do this at night during certain months of the year. You can read about grunion by clicking here.
And you can witness grunion doing their slithery, entwining beach thing by clicking below. Thanks to this YouTube video we might learn some new sex positions from the grunion spectacle. Hey you!!! You’re blocking my view!!! Sit down!!!
Alas, it’s time for me to wrap up these proceedings. Before doing so, though, I’ll add that Ballast Point Brewing Co. was founded by a bunch of cool guys. They like to fish almost as much as they like churning out beers, which is why they name most of their products after fish and other occupants of the seas, and picture said creatures on many of their labels. I’m on the lookout for Ballast Point’s beers now that I’ve sampled Grunion Pale Ale. Supporting those who not only are talented but lean toward the offbeat side is a good idea, don’t you think?
(Don’t be shy about adding your comments or about sharing this story. Thanks.)
Yeah, Another Blogger 
I’ve heard about grunion before. Didn’t know about the beer. 🙂
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Hello Lynette.
Thanks for the visit.
It’s a terrific beer (for those who like bitter brews).
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I Like Grolsch but grunion will do too.
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HI Gerard. I doubt if Ballast Point distributes to your part of the globe. But if they do, give Grunion Pale Ale a try.
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Yeah, and they only come on the beach at night on certain tides and moon phases. When I was a kid, my parents would take us with flashlights to gather the fish, waiting till the mating was complete. Then they brought them home ostensively to eat. These are the most boney inedible fish you have ever tasted. I still remember them wrapping their bodies around each other on the sand by moonlight and wondering why we couldn’t just leave them alone.
My husband bought the beer too, and asked me.
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Cindy, I should have hired you as a consultant for this story!
Have a good day. Thanks for adding your thoughts.
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Fascinating video. I knew grunion were fish but I had not seen their mating acrobatics. Their silvery colour makes for a beautiful spectacle. Fish names for beer. What a great idea. It would be hard to forget that name. Glad you enjoyed the brew.
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Hello there. I’ll buy Grunion again if I come across it. I looked for it last week but couldn’t find it.
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Ooh, I do like a factoid from the world of nature and hadn’t heard of grunion before either – Nothing surprises me when it comes to the world of mating in the aquatic world however.
As for the beers, just so many nowadays with very interesting names (that can’t be quoted here as just too rude!) from small independent breweries. I particularly like when they use the word “hop” as a play on words – eg. Audrey Hopburn, Belgian IPA.
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Audrey Hopburn.
That’s a good one.
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Totally. Cool. Footage! Wow, who knew??
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I know. Pretty amazing.
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Will look for it.
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Ah ale made from slithering fish! What an odd odd thing 🙂 I am an ale enthusiast and I don’t know if I want fish in mine but sure sounds interesting as an experience. That sight of the heads of the fish sticking out from the beach reminded me of this pie that they bake in Cornwall, UK, called Stargazy Pie, in which the heads of the fish stick out just so from the pie. Just a random observation 🙂
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Hi. Later today I’ll edit my story, because I didn’t make it clear that the fish aren’t part of the brewing process. The brewers put grunion on the label only because they are fishing enthusiasts.
Thanks a lot for stopping by. Appreciated.
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My pleasure. Now that does take off the bother of downing fishy pints.
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I didn’t know about grunion, either, and don’t care for beer (my husband claims I wasn’t really born in Germany), but I like innovative labels and names. And my husband would love to enjoy some of Philadelphia’s craft beers.
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Hi Tanja.
These are great times for beer lovers. There are an amazing number of real good breweries in many parts of the globe.
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We actually have a number of craft breweries in Colorado, much to Coors’ chagrin, no doubt. And my husband has brewed his own in the past.
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…cool video, too. Thanks for the link.
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Hi Neil, I’m not a beer drinker but I enjoy some beer drinking songs – google Cal Smith The Lord knows I’m Drinking, Jim Ed Brown Pop A Top and Webb Pierce There Stands the Glass – And the big question – can beer make you smarter? I don’t know but it made Bud Wiser. Rim Shot! Have a great day!
Jerry
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Absolutely worthy of a rim shot!
See ya’, Jerry.
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Beer and fishing. A perfect match.
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Hello Greg. Thanks for stopping by. Drinking a Grunion Pale Ale while watching grunion do their thing sounds like a good idea too.
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That grunion video gave me the creeps! But Gene and I do always enjoy your talented and offbeat writing (as well as our giddy and profane conversations with you and Sandy).
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Morning, Cindy.
Sandy and I are looking forward to our next get-together with you and Gene.
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Probably your best take since I’ve been following. Is it true that like the tequila in Mexico with the worm in the bottle that you can get a Grunion in your bottle. CB would go for that.
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I think you’re onto something. Ballast Point could put a grunion inside each bottle of Grunion Pale Ale. That definitely would shake up the brewery’s fan base. (But maybe not in a good way!)
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To late they’ve been doing it in Europe for years. It’s called “rollmops’. Whoa!
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I will have to give that beer a try.
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Hi Joyce. If I run across it again, I’ll get a bottle for you.
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Now you’re into posting fish porn Neil??? Shaking…my…head and laughing out loud. I really like this story, actually.
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Evening, Kathy.
Hey, I think that video is from PBS. Which means it can’t be porn!
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Lol okay okay
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Though I’m from the mountain west, I’m ahead of you on this one, Neil. I became familiar with grunion when in 1983 my first husband and I spent 5 months living on the Baja peninsula where local people interrupted the reproductive efforts of grunion to snatch them up for a fish fry. On nights they appeared, our Mexican friends would alert us that the grunion were running; but in their accented English, it sounded like the grunion were runion, which seemed appropriate and poetic.
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Hello Janet. It seems, from the various comments that people have written, that grunion are a lot better known than I thought.
Thanks a lot for stopping by. I appreciate it.
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Never heard of grunion. Nor do I find fish images that appealing on beer bottles. But then again I ‘m a big fan of Flying Fish brews.
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Hello, Ken. If you like pale ales, then I think you’ll enjoy this one. I liked it a lot.
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I know nothing about grunion, but did have a similar experience with Naked Gobies!
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Hi.
What are they?
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Fish. 🐟 Bottom dwellers like catfish. I then titled a screenplay I was working on “Naked Gobies” because it was a murder mystery. Maybe you should write a short story!
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Excellent. I shall look out for Grunion pale ale. It sounds just my kind of thing and I’d course I can entertain everyone with an explanation of what a grunion is, although I’ll be spooked if half of them already know!
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Hello, George.
Thanks for the visit.
Some of your friends, just like mine, might know all about grunion. You never know what info is inside somebody’s head!
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Caguama! This is a beer share that is light, light almost no alcohol. But great fizz with seafood and fowl! Great post!
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Hello there.
You know, I don’t think I heard of Caguama before. I had to Google it.
Thanks for the visit. Appreciated.
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When I was a young hottie on the scene of Los Angeles, it was not uncommon for a man to ask me to come see the grunion races at the beach at night. 🙂 Wish our Weis Market sold beer–we’re down here in Liquor-Board-Gestapo/Tax Hell Maryland.
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Evening, Susan. I’m more and more surprised by how many people know about grunion. I thought they were obscure, but I guess not.
Thanks for adding your thoughts. Appreciated.
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Offbeat beers are usually good. But then, almost any craft beer is good to me.
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Hi. I agree. So many brews taste good to me. For beer lovers, these are great times.
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I’m from southern California and I frequently visit Ballast Point breweries in San Diego. Not only do they have great beer but also great food and an awesome atmosphere! Thanks for sharing though, I had no idea what a grunion was!
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Hi.
I’ve been noticing BP beers here and there in the Philadelphia region, which is where I live. Maybe BP is expanding its distribution.
Thanks a lot for adding your comments.
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Just caught up with your great, informative Grunion expose. I’d say, “Who knew?” Obviously, however, a lot of people besides Rich and Gene did know about these intriguing fish…..
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Afternoon, Liz.
Right, it seems that grunion have lots of human followers!
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I learnt something new!
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Hello there.
An odd thing about grunion (or so it seems to me) is that they inhabit a relatively small section of the seas. I wonder why they haven’t taken hold in other areas.
Anyway, thanks for stopping by.
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“grunion are not used in the brewing process. They only are on the label!” lol! Nice one. Glad you found a tasty beer and learnt something !
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Hello there. I appreciate your stopping by.
I’ve run across Grunion Pale Ale only that one time. Hopefully I’ll find it again.
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Haha! Well, anyone who was ever a fan of Three’s Company would also know what a grunion is, as well as a ‘grunion run’, both real and suggested as far as Southern California and the dating scene. Asking someone to a grunion run would be tantamount to inviting them up to Lover’s Lane to look at the constellations or, as in the smaller city case, going to the airport with a sixpack and park there- to ‘watch the planes land and take off. 😏I am a beast for craft beers and recently have had some amazing varieties. About the only one that gets nod for creativity but a big thumbs down as far as interest from me are the new sour brews. I mean, if I want to drink spiked pickle juice, I’ll just pou gin into my pickle jar and save the $$. Rogue has some nice choices as far as beers that have been around awhile. I found them years ago while visitng my sons in Lincoln, NE. Not a lot to do in NE but drink and eat. They do both very well there! 🍻
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In retrospect, I should have watched Three’s Company!
I know what you mean about sour beers. I have yet to develop a taste for them.
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PS. Thanks for the video. Awesome!
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Thanks for the fascinating info on grunion. I, for one, have never heard of them which is surprising because I’m a great fan of David Attenborough shows. Didn’t know about the beer either. An entertaining post.
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Hi Robyn.
Thanks a lot for stopping by.
I appreciate it.
I’m still on the hunt for Grunion Pale Ale. I found it only that one time. I hope that I cross paths with it again pretty soon.
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Good luck with the hunt
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I grew up in SoCal, and in my teens and early 20s we’d always head for the beach when we heard “the grunion were running.” Slippery–and safer–than the running of the bulls.
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It’s a California thing!
Hi Mitch. Thanks for stopping by.
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We used to go grunion running on the beaches, although it was mostly a teenage thing. It gave us an excuse to stay late at the beach on moonlit nights. The only time we actually saw any was when we went as adults with a ranger. Some people picked them up barehanded, but I was fine with just seeing them. Quite a singular event. 🙂
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Hello there. Once again I’m amazed by how many people are familiar with grunion. I’ll have to rewrite my essay!
Thanks for stopping by, Cathleen. Enjoy the day.
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I, too, am all about “supporting those who not only are talented but lean toward the offbeat side” 🙂 Fun post, Neil!
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Thanks for stopping by, April. Appreciated.
Enjoy the rest of the day.
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I had heard about grunion and knew they were a California fish, but that was the extent of it until now. I followed your links and am glad I did. How fascinating!
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Hello Marie.
Thanks a lot for adding your thoughts. Take care.
Neil S.
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Never heard of Grunion before, and I don’t drink beer. But I learned a bit about both today.
Cheers!
/thumbs up
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Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate it.
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Haha. I’d make such a boring drinking companion. I grew up on Coors and never got much past Corona and Red Stripe. But at least the grunion are leading more interesting lives than I am, evidently!
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Hello there. Thanks for dropping by.
Yes, those grunion are something else!
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Hey Neil: You can add me to your pals who knew about grunions. But, I’d be cheating because I lived in L.A. for years, where people would annually gather on the beaches to see the sex orgy take place. I never saw it myself, but was well aware it was going on because it would be on the local news. Cheers, Muriel
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Muriel, you’re hip!
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Same with me, Muriel — & I have less excuse for not having seen them as I still live close to where they do it. What the video leaves out, Neil, is that they make the shoreline glow blue 🙂
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Hello there.
I didn’t know about the blue aspect.
Amazing!
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A good excuse for a vacation? Lol
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Reblogged this on Bolton Brewer.
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Thanks, BB.
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I’ll probably never seek out the beer – I’m more of a cider fan, but what a great idea, a bottle with a conversation embedded in it. I know I’m getting here a little late, but I’m so glad I did 🙂
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You know, I haven’t run across that beer since writing the story. But I hope to someday drink it again!
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loved your grunion story, Neil; to be honest I would have found the name off putting: too much like ‘bunions’ which my mother and aunts always used to bang on about but you rose above that and discovered a great beer. Cheers, Neil
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Hi. Speaking of beer: hoppy beers such as IPAs have become popular in the USA over the last 20 or more years. Are hoppy beers popular in Australia?
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don’t know, Neil; haven’t heard of them: I’ll ask at the pub on Friday
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