Just in time for the start of summer, also known as the beer-drinking season, Auburn Alehouse Brewery and Restaurant makes its formal debut today. A year's worth of restoration went into the landmark building that long housed the Shanghai Restaurant and Bar in Auburn's downtown historic district to prepare it for the brewpub.

Brian Ford, former longtime brewmaster at Beermann's Beerwerks Brewery Company of Lincoln and Roseville, and more recently of Stonehouse Brewery in Nevada City, has pulled together the project and is overseeing the brewing. He's prepared five beers for the premiere.

Executive chef Luis Gomez, formerly of Rio City Cafe in Old Sacramento and Cafe Via d' Oro in Sutter Creek, has assembled an unusually ambitious and varied brewpub menu, which is to include a "martini" of poached tiger prawns, a tri-tip chili, roasted pork tacos, grilled swordfish, and grilled stuffed peppers.

Auburn Alehouse, 289 Washington St., Auburn, is open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight Fridays and Saturdays; (530) 885-2537.