Filipino history comes to life with canned Pilsner

May 20-Mare Island Brewing Co. co-founders Ryan Gibbons and Kent Fortner have often said that their brewery is actually a history company that just happens to make beer. Gibbons and Fortner are pouring it on once again to prove their point.

Just in time for the 40th annual Pista Say Nayon festival on June 6, the Mare Island Brewing Co. is introducing the release of Pista Pilsner in cans for the first time on Thursday. The beer has been a longtime favorite at limited events but in keg version only.

According to Mare Island Brewing Co, Pista Pilsner is a "crisp, easy-drinking lager inspired by Filipino cultural festivals with a label that has an immersive full-wrap illustration that captures the energy, culture, and community spirit that light up the Mare Island waterfront each year."

However, a recent collaboration between the brewery, local Fil-Am artist Niki Toney and organizers at Pista Say Nayon came together to create what they feel is the perfect beer and label that go together and represent the Filipino community.

"Everyone is out there making beer, but this fits in perfectly what we do in trying to tell a story," Gibbons said. "This is our opportunity to tell the Filipino story."

Fortner agreed.

"Mare Island would not be the Mare Island we have without the insane contribution of the Filipino workers," Fortner said. "It's taught to a lot of people who have been out there for a long time. It's the reason they came to Vallejo, the reason they stayed in Vallejo and it's how they paid for their kids to go to school here. They used to have distinct Filipino shops here on Mare Island. The Filipino people are super hard-working, super smart and super strong."

Fortner and Gibbons said they first got the idea for brewing the pilsner around 2024. The duo said it would be "cool" to have a beer they could have at the Pista Say Nayon event. They began by doing research and started going to San Miguel beers and went to the drawing board.

"We went to the liquor store, bought a few San Miguels and sat down and thought about what our style would be and a recipe," Gibbons said. "We created our version in that lane and make sure it was culturally appropriate but also well regarded and respected."

Fast forward two years and Fortner and Gibbons began more discussions with Pista Say Nayon officials, including Vice Chair

"We've done this for a few years, but in keg only," Gibbsons said. "It's one of the beers we get requested the most outside of our restaurant and this year we thought, 'It's time to strengthen the relationship, stand outside the box a little and put it into cans. This all came together pretty faster than we hoped as we started thinking about putting it in cans in March."

Fortner said the business philosophy is to dream big and then test small and then execute.

"In the original dream was to celebrate the Vallejo Filipino community by having a can," Fortner said. "This was the year we finally said, 'We need to put together a label for this.' It triggered the idea of a collaboration. But this is a huge step out from our brand and how we usually do our labels. But Ryan and I are, I don't want to necessarily say we're possibly outside of our comfort zone, because we are not Filipino. But it's been an amazing introduction to me talking to people and finding out the factual nature.

"Ryan and I realized, if we're going to do Pista Pilsner, we have to have a label that has the color that Filipino community celebrates," Fortner continued.

Enter Toney to the equation.

Fortner and Gibbons put out a creative brief of what they were looking for. Of four artists, it was whittled down over nearly a month process. In the end, Toney was the perfect match to provide the art on the label.

The art on the label brings to mind "Where's Waldo" illustrations, only instead looking for a man with a red and white sweater, this was an overview angle showing many people representing Vallejoans and the Filipino community.

"When Mare Island Brewing Co. reached out to me about the design, they had an original piece of mine from 2020 they were looking at," Toney. "This was painting I did for Filipino history month in Sacramento. The show was named Kapwa, which means community, and it was all female artists. The show was centered around Filipino community and was kind of a scene of Manila to street vendors, people playing in the streets, putting their laundry out on their balcony to people sitting under Mango trees and eating and reading."

Originally Mare Island Brewing Co. asked for that art, but that now resides in a dentists office. So she adjusted and drew another piece.

"This piece (on the label) is an isometric perspective and it's kind of like an aerial view and gives you the sense that you're in a video game a little bit," Toney said. "It allows for so much detail to be put in the space. We wanted to show so many characters, different scenes and vinettes and I think having it in this style lent to the beer label well and what they wanted to accomplish."

Toney saw the image for the first time on Tuesday.

"I'm stoked," Toney said, with a laugh. "As an artist you want to make sure the image comes across well on what it's printed on. I'm happy you can get lost in it. That's the goal I have. I want the work always to be more, I'm always asking, 'What more can I add to it.' I think it does a good job of showcasing the event itself and by it being set in the coalsheds with Hercules just outside and showcases characters Filipino history and Vallejo history."

On Tuesday the brewery began putting labels on the cans. Gibbons added that 40 cases were recently sent to Costco in Vallejo and that the company is looking at more ways and avenues to get the product out.

The beer will offically be available in a can at the brewery on Thursday and will available at the 40th annual Vallejo Pista Sa Nayon from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Mare Island Coal Sheds.

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