California’s first cooperatively-owned brewpub is also the state’s most fun to say: Umunhum Brewing. The name — which comes from Mt. Umunhum, which neighbors the San Jose co-­op — has a hidden perk. Brewer and Board Member Travis Alexander jokes that “if someone gets in an Uber drunk and is asked where they’re going, they’ll probably say ‘Umunhum’” — here Alexander slurs the “um­un­hum” — “and they’ll get taken to our place.”

Only problem is, Umunhum Brewing doesn’t have a place — at least not yet. A San Jose taproom is in the long term plan, says President Bob Gulino, and with any luck, their very own brewery someday. It’s a lofty goal for the co-­op, which on March 19th unveiled its very first beer: Hismen Sii Pale Ale. Considering how far it’s come, though, it doesn’t seem unreasonable.

At its inception in 2012, the cooperative — then known as the San Jose Co­-op Brewpub — was a Meetup group with 8 members. After a few years of recruiting, Umunhum reached what Alexander now refers to as “a critical mass of members” — that is, enough members to provide the necessary time, money, and skills to get the beer brewing and the business operating. Today their members number over 400.

Vice President Christian Borglum, who concocted Hismen Sii with Alexander, estimates that Umunhum’s eventual goal of opening a San Jose brewery could cost over $1 million. They therefore remain thirsty for new members. I heard this pitch more than once and from more than one member: “(Umunhum) is the only organization in the state of California where for $150 (the price of membership) you can say that you own a bar.”

There are downsides to the co­-op model, though. Treasurer Emy Mendoza admits that “doing business as a cooperative is a slow way to do things.” Important decisions — like the brewery’s name and board members — have to be made through voting, usually done at monthly meetings.

On the plus side, when asked if members drink beer at the meetings, Borglum replied, “of course we drink beer.” And when it comes time to decide the next beer the co-­op will produce, members will have the important task of drinking many, many samples produced by the organization’s legions of homebrewers, and casting a ballot for their favorite.

Beer enthusiasts should be optimistic for the future of Umunhum, as Hismen Sii is a solid first entry. It’s an easy­drinking, fruity pale ale. Alexander describes it as the kind of beer you can have several of on a sunny summer day. “We’re not trying to ride the hop train out into the ocean like everyone else.”

Hismen Sii is now being sold at select locations, including Armadillo Willy’s and ISO Beers in the San Jose area. President Bob Gulino, perched atop a barstool at Armadillo Willy’s, toasted the crowd at the March 19th unveiling of Hismen Sii. “You drink the beer,” he proclaimed, “you should own the bar.”