Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment
Brewery · St. Helena ·

Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment

Brewery · St. Helena ·

Brewery offering extensive beer tastings with knowledgeable hosts

Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment by null

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393 La Fata St, St Helena, CA 94574 Get directions

$$$

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393 La Fata St, St Helena, CA 94574 Get directions

+1 707 968 5058
madfritz.com
@madfritzbrewing
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@madfritz

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Last updated

Dec 16, 2025

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Napa’s Most Interesting Brewery To Open St. Helena Taproom | Eater SF

"Opening a small new taproom in downtown St. Helena at 1282 B Vidovich Lane (just across the street from the Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch), Mad Fritz offers 11 taps of very, very local beer following a “mushy soft opening” in April. Owners Nile Zacherle and Whitney Fisher, who are deeply rooted in the local wine world, started Mad Fritz in 2012 and by 2014 were malting and in some cases growing their own barley, drying locally grown hops, and brewing in an industrial park just off St. Helena’s main drag. Their terroir-driven philosophy aims to make completely single-origin beers (Zacherle has brewed one each for Mendocino, Napa, and Sonoma) and they practice almost compulsive label transparency: the Mad Fritz Terroir Series Sonoma Ale lists Cascade hops (from Capricopia-Occidental/Green Valley of Russian River), Pinnacle 2 Row Barley (Healdsburg-grown and malted at their malt house next door to the brewery), Kolsch-style yeast, and H20 from Fisher winery (the Sonoma side). The brewery has developed a passionate following through a bottle membership program with about 500 members and a serious waitlist, places some beers in local bars and Napa restaurants, offers tastings by appointment, and intends the new centrally located taproom to be “somewhat hosted and experiential” like a wine tasting, with beer flights, vinyl soundtrack, and the Bruschetteria Food Truck next door for bites." - Caleb Pershan

https://sf.eater.com/2018/2/28/17059902/napa-beer-mad-fritz-st-helena-taproom
Mad Fritz Brewery and Malthouse -By Appointment

Kristen Y.

Google
Amazing experience! We weren't sure what to expect, but we were placed at a table in the room where all the fermentation and brewing happens, and given 12 beers to sample. Very cool! Our host was gracious about the time mix-up (daylight savings weirdness!), and very friendly. He walked us through the process of beer-making and gave us unique tasting notes and insight. All the beer was insanely good (coming from someone who doesn't drink beer). We took a few bottles home and look forward to our next trip to Napa.

Jaclyn H.

Google
Such a great, intimate experience featuring incredible brews. Perfect way to spend an afternoon!

josh L

Google
We had an amazing tasting experience while visiting Mad Fritz brewery. Very popular and highly recommend signing up for it in advanced. Tasting came with a large variety to try and worth the price.

T L.

Google
We made reservations for the brew tastings online and so glad we did. Tons of pours for a very good price at this tasting. The story behind the company name and the bottles are pretty cool. Private and personal experience and the beer ranged from end to end. It was a nice end to our week after being wined out. It’s not a restaurant or pub… it’s a brewery and they are fantastic. Porter - the brew dog was a nice touch too. Thanks for hosting us. We loved it!!! Cheers.

Rick F.

Google
My wife and I took some visitors from the East Coast wine tasting but sought out a beer tasting for some variety, and we are so glad we did. This place was the most enjoyable stop we made all day. The service was first rate, and the plentiful pours were some of the best craft beers we’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting. Looking forward to breaking open the bottles we brought home. Thanks for a wonderful tasting experience!

Stephen Y

Google
Second time visiting and just like the first, was made to feel like at home. The beers are fantastic! Just like at a winery, special attention is paid to each ingredient in each beer. Your tasting is done in the production room so you are sitting right where the beer was made. Customer service is top notch from the team. Nile is great and a blast to nerd out with on beer.

Catherine M.

Google
My coworker and I stopped by Mad Fritz in Yountville this evening for a glass of Rose Graft, and we had a fantastic experience. The beer was absolutely delicious, showcasing their craftsmanship. What truly made our visit memorable, though, was the exceptional service from Justin. He was friendly, attentive, and incredibly down to earth, making us feel like we were catching up with an old friend despite having just met him. If I didn’t have to head home, I could have easily spent hours there enjoying both the beer and Justin’s company. It was a delightful evening, and we look forward to returning!

John W.

Google
I have been to a ton of breweries inluding some of the best. This place was an amazing experience. Highly recommend!
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Elisa G.

Yelp
I finally found my dream gluten free beer and it's $11 and so crisp and refreshing! The ambience is super upbeat and I love the turntable and record collection!! I spun a Tom Petty album and sipped my beer then took it to go.
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Marios D.

Yelp
Super experience with lots of tasting options. Come prepared as the pours are generous The place is in a quiet lot but the food corriendo e and the beers are excellent I am not. Abre drinker but those who are raved about rh range and quality I highly recommend this place.
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Adam V.

Yelp
What a great way to spend the day, this place has been on my radar since I tried one of their beers and it did not disappoint! Nile (Proprietor/Brew Master) led the tasting and it was filled with a variety extremely highly crafted beers. This farm to glass style beer experience was exceptional and I would recommend this to any beer lover in the area, a wine tasting type service with a superior hands on touch.
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Daniel L.

Yelp
Mad fritz was an amazing and very fun experience. This was one of the first extensive beer tasting I've had and this was exceptional, and I was surprised by how amazing the experience was. I was not expecting so many beers to taste here and had about like 14 of them and was able to get extra of one I like. I believe it was about 3 ounces so that's plenty of beer for the price I paid for $35. No one was here that day so we basically had the brewery to ourselves. All the beers here were fabulous and easy to drink some beer that generally don't drink but not too bad and drinkable. I really enjoyed the pills with the Kiefer lime and the West Coast IPA. The only issue here was that their AC was broken that day, but it was fine. Accompany the bottle so you can read it served myself into the beer club afterwards so hopeful for more fun and delicious experience. Recommend this spot and will be back.
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Patty P.

Yelp
Drive and come by Mad Fritz! It is a tasting menu of usually 10-15 options, but that can be modified if you are looking to drink a little less. The beers were delicious, we loved the Napa Ale, one with Plums, and the Rye IPA. But every one we tried was delicious! There is no food at the brewery, but the beer is great! You can also buy a bottle if you love something, which I think you will!
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Clayton T.

Yelp
We absolutely loved the way the tasting structure was set up at Mad Fritz. The there were so many beers to try that you're bound to find one that you enjoy! Such an interesting story about the owner's process in setting up this brewery. You'll have to ask your tasting guide to tell you!
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Corinne G.

Yelp
Oof. Going to be honest here, both of these stars are for the AMAZING service. The beer was terrible but my goodness did our server Zach kill it at selling them. He was going on about every single one in vivid detail, it was captivating and so fun but unfortunately it didn't make up for how bad the beer was. It's honestly on the same level as something you could find at a 7/11 just 1000 times more expensive.
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Arthur G.

Yelp
This place is amazing. A welcome view in brewing. Very very tasty selections wonderful staff. Damn good beers!! Very knowledgeable about their unique take on a timeless beverage.
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Laura E.

Yelp
This place is SO cool for a tasting. It's $35 to taste ~12 beers and revisit any you really like. It's a super personal and private tasting - your group is the only one in the brewery (where they actually make some of the beer!). There are also a few standing tables outside but inside is awesome. The beer itself is very good - they have varieties for every type of drinker. This is such a nice place to break up a day of wine tasting with something different. I definitely recommend it!
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Rachel W.

Yelp
First off, the tasting list is plenty!!! Almost every beer is superb, and the staff is very friendly. We brought snacks with us, thank god because if you do the full tasting, you get a little tipsy. Be sure to ask how much a bottle of your liking is because they are not inexpensive! We picked a favorite for purchase, not thinking about the price, and we did a $35 tasting, and got a final bill for $75! What are you gonna do? The beer was that good!
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Garrett Z.

Yelp
Firstly, it must be said that Zack the server/host was exemplary and is worthy of 5 stars all on his own, but, unless one goes to breweries for more than just service, a two star rating is more than generous. The beers, with the exception of the zodiac, abbey-style, and a violet oddity all tasted similar to brews one would create for the first time without comprehending the need for fermentable sugars extracted from malt and proper hop-time. You can make a bourgeois label, hyper-charge for product, and cash-in on the 'small batch' motif, but if your brews taste like hop-water and one charges $40 per person to try an ounce or two per taster, i can hardly rationalize a reason to drive all the way up to Napa for something PBR does better. Truly a disappointment.

Jim L.

Yelp
It was a great tasting, their beers have really good smoothness and texture. The flavors are there for any pallet, I am sure everyone will find something they will love.
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Eddie W.

Yelp
To be a member here is a privilege and an honor Nile and his team are the easiest going and most generous brewers I have met. Every time there is an allocation party I definitely want to make it a point to go and say Hi, even if I can't stay long I hope the word continues to get out on the amazing work they do and look forward to many more beers to come Overall Thoughts Well worth signing up to be a member, you won't regret it!
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Melissa Z.

Yelp
Been tasting here a few times already and love it! Nile is awesome and is brewing up some righteous beers! We always leave with bottles. So unique and the fact the he grows his own malt is special all on its own. Will continue to be a fan and love trying all his new experiments.
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Justin C.

Yelp
Awesome selection of unique beers, with an ever-present influence of the wine industry. Knowledgeable host, tastings by smaller volumes (taste more variety), and overall a great experience. You could purchase a few smaller volume tastes, then purchase a full serving of what you enjoyed most. Whether you enjoy beer, or you're visiting Napa for the wine, this is a must taste in the Napa Valley.

Daisy K.

Yelp
A must for beer lovers. Great experience and an amazing price! We got to taste 11-13 beers for $35 pp. Our server even encouraged us to revisit any additional beers we liked, too. Even though it's pricey, we also bought a bottle to take home. They were also able to accommodate our request for a time not originally on the schedule - hopefully next time we can sit inside and see more of the process behind the beer making.
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Andrey T.

Yelp
Let me start out saying I am not a beer drinker. And who ever heard of single source beer? But this place is the brain child of a genius. A word about this creative genius. He is the head winemaker at a high end winery, his wife and her family own and operate Fisher vineyards, he has 2 small children, and in between all this, comes up with this fantastic product and concept, and then implements it. Plus he is a super nice guy. Each ingredient is from an identified single source, down to the water. Seriously, the source of the water is different for each beer and the label provides the info. Each beer is more of a journey akin to a wine tasting. Each is very different and unique. A must try.
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Nina P.

Yelp
We had the most wonderful tasting at Mad Fritz this past week! Not only is the beer amazing, but everyone who works there is incredibly kind. What a fun afternoon - highly recommend taking a pause from wine in Napa to enjoy some incredible beer!
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Jeff B.

Yelp
Fantastic beer and very knowledgeable staff. Beer brewed in small batches that tastes amazing. This is a place to stop and check out when in Napa and you need a wine break.
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Jason S.

Yelp
If you love beer and miss this place it will be something you regret for many years. simply some of the best beers I have EVER had. The larger brewers are fine but Mad Fritz is for beer LOVERS. Ran into the owner Niles when we accidentally ended up at the brewery instead of their tap room. He let us see and smell some ingredients that were headed to his next batch. My favorites were the Rye Ale (The Kite, Frog and Mouse) - bought two bottles, and the Grisette Ale (The Lion and Other Beasts) - nabbed a bottle. The tap room allows you to bring in food and there is an awesome food truck in the corner of their street.
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Samantha W.

Yelp
PSA: I am not a beer drinker. We made a reservation here based on a recommendation from a friend. We decided to mix up our day of wine tasting and it did not disappoint. Now even though I didn't fall in love with a beer, everyone I was with found something for them. The brewery is named after the owners kids. He was there hanging out and cleaning some stuff up. The tasting was fun and we tried at least six different beers. Very unique flavors and they always have something different based on what's aging and what's available. They're working towards growing all of their own grains, which I find neat. We left with 3 bottles of pricey, and cool beer.
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Myles L.

Yelp
Mad Fritz has a small, intimate taproom right behind Clif Family Winery. The service was good and personal. The 3 beers that I sampled were fair. The porter was alcoholic at 7.9, but a bit weak in body. The honey ale was light and refreshing on that hot day. Because they don't serve food, they allow carry-in, which, in our case, was bruschetta from the Clif Family food truck parked outside. I'd give it another try in order to taste more of their beers. Every beer is named for an Aesop fable. Labels on the bottles include the story.
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Sandy L.

Yelp
If you love good beer, this is a place you must visit. These people take craft brewing to a new level. In fact, they take beer to a new level. There are other craft brewers in the Bay Area, and a few very good ones in the Napa Valley none come close. I made an appointment for my first visit. I spent an enjoyable hour with EJ learning about the operation and sampling the product. To tell you the truth, their product is more than beer. Each different brew is special. You can taste the unique ingredients and special care they take in producing their product. I have had their product on tap at a few local restaurants and at the local movie theater. Wish I could have it on tap at home. Lacking the room and equipment I just drop by when I am in the neighborhood. I guarantee that if you stop at Mad Fritz you will not be sorry. Nice people and the best beer I have ever tasted.
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Trevor M.

Yelp
Don't pass this place if you like beer! Mad Fritz' is a creative brewery that pays attention to all the small details. Flavorful and distinctive! Stefan was a great host. He was attentive to every guest and clearly had a passion for beer, wine, and food. Just the right guy that needs to be running a tap room! I personally fell in love with the saison and bought a few bottles to take home to share with friends.
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Brian C.

Yelp
Great beer and bottle design. Tasting room was very personal and enjoyed it. Ej was very friendly and knowledgeable. This place is appointment only so don't just drop in. Totally worth stopping by.
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Chris P.

Yelp
Mad Fritz Brewing is a MUST if you are visiting the Napa Valley, or even if you are a local! Being the only brewery nestled in the town of Saint Helena, Mad Fritz does not disappoint. Nile is a mastermind in the brewing game, mixing innovative and traditional techniques to give his beer the perfect unique taste that it has. He locally sources all his ingredients, and is malting his own barley. Go and give it a try if you haven't already!
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Ryan T.

Yelp
My wife and I were up the road camping, and are always searching for a new craft beer experience. My brother happened to mention Mad Fritz was in St. Helena near where we were staying, so we called and set up a visit with EJ and couldn't be happier. It was casual and warm and we felt all the beers were something special and worth enjoying. We will return when we are in the area again, and for those looking for a new beer experience, this is one to explore!

Shannon D.

Yelp
This was our favorite stop in Napa Valley....and I don't even really like beer! Don't let that stop you though. The host/owner/master brewer was personal, funny and generous with his time AND beer! So fun and different! Highly recommend!

Alice D.

Yelp
Best find ever!!!! Beer is outstanding! Great variety. Single origin is fantastic. So cool that you know exactly where the beer you are drinking comes from, hops and water included. Super sweet! Emily is a straight up boss. She is knowledgeable, personable, and overall a pleasant individual to interact with. Thank you for making my day awesome!!!! Will definitely be back!!

Wm L.

Yelp
If you appreciate good beer, you must visit. It is evident that they 1. Know how to make beer 2. care about the quality and 3. love what they do. This is a nice break from wine tasting too.

Jena W.

Yelp
Went by there today because we were wanting to try some local brewed beer. We weren't sure if we would be able to walk in because it isn't a brew pub it is the actual Brewery. They were beyond welcoming even though we didn't have an appointment. They let us try all of their beers and told us all about their history. The beers were so good. We bought a large bottle of The Wind and the Sun as well as a t-shirt. Would definitely recommend.

Jude F.

Yelp
We've had the pleasure of drinking MadFritz out in the community, and it is amazing. Deep flavors and great Mojo.

Manfred C.

Yelp
Simply awesome we've been coming back annually since 2015, Niles has something new, extremely tasty and refreshing each and every year. He's been extremely successful in recreating the original brewing style and using locally grown ingredients. Even if your not a Bier enthusiast, Niles and EJ will entice you! A consummate host, extremely informative. Ausgezeichnet - schmeckt wie grauzig guter Boarishe Bier!! Prost bei nant - thank you EJ and a happy birthday!! - Manfred Fritz

Ajay S.

Yelp
Really small operation but amesome beer and people who really really care about there beer. Definitely will revisit!!