Thursday’s ad is for Schlitz, from 1959. It’s from a series using the slogan “Know the Real Joy of Good Living.” A man holds up a glass of Schlitz, while the woman looks up at in a way that I can characterize as way to longingly. Her hair also looks like there are two doughnuts on her forehead.
Wow, Jesse Houck, who used to brew at 21st Amendment, and most recently was at Drake’s, is moving to Los Angeles to become the new brewmaster at Golden Road Brewing. According to the press release:
Houck and Golden Road President, Meg Gill, first met at 21st Amendment Brewery in 2008, where they bonded over their mutual love for canned beers and California IPAs.
Golden Road has experienced a rapid expansion since opening in October of 2011, doubling the size of their brew house and brewing capacity, releasing four canned beers and over fifteen specialty brews, opening over 500 draft accounts throughout the greater LA area. Says Golden Road President Meg Gill: “As we look forward to 2013, we have big plans for the direction we want our beers to go. We’re thrilled to bring Jesse’s leadership and dry, hoppy, clean-beer loving palate to LA.”
Adds Houck, “I am looking forward to sharing Meg and Tony’s vision of crafting quality beers for LA, and excited to be part of one of the fastest growing craft beer scenes on the West Coast.” A long time bay-area brewer, Houck brings a blend of chemistry and artistry to his brewing, having studied Chemical Engineering before becoming fascinated — and later obsessed — with home-brewing and beer.
Co-founder Tony Yanow has also been a fan of Houck’s for years, commenting, “Jesse has created some of my favorite beers, and we’re excited to bring his creativity and brewing expertise to our team.”
That’s awesome news for Jesse. He’s a terrific brewer and should be a good fit at Golden Road.
Jesse (2nd from the left) at the Triple Rock Firkin Fest in 2008.
Today is the 44th birthday of Todd Alström, co-founder of Beer Advocate. With his brother Jason, Todd has created one of the killer apps of the beer world online and the only monthly beer magazine. Though we only run into one another from time to time, we also shared a week in Bavaria on a press junket in 2007, and had a terrific fry crawl in Boston a number of years ago. Join me in wishing Todd a very happy birthday.
Todd (at right), with brother Jason and Jaime Jurado, head brewer from Gambrinus, at the 2008 GABF.
During a trip to Bavaria in 2007, the gang of twelve plus three at the Faust Brauerei in Miltenberg, Germany. From left: Cornelius Faust, me, Lisa Morrison, Johannes Faust, Julie Bradford, Andy Crouch, Peter Reid, Horst Dornbusch, Jeannine Marois, Harry Schumacher, Tony Forder, Candice Alström, Don Russell, Jason Alström and Todd Alström.
Todd with Rhonda Kallman at the Blue Palm in L.A., after the premiere of Beer Wars.
Me, Todd, Jason Alström, Joe Tucker and Greg Koch showing off our sample bottles of Enjoy By 12.21.12 in San Diego last December.
Today’s infographic is courtesy of Travel Insurance, and is entitled A Beer Tour of America. It’s geared toward the big boys and a few of the larger regionals, but if you were shopping for travel insurance, this would still be a far better way to spend your time.
You can see the chart full size at Travel Insurance.
Today is Nancy Johnson’s birthday. Nancy is the Events Director for the Brewers Association, which includes being the director of the Great American Beer Festival, among others. She’s been doing that thankless job for a lot of years now and always manages to keep a smile on her face. Join me in wishing Nancy a very happy birthday.
George Wendt, Nancy, and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper at the 2009 GABF Awards Ceremony.
Nancy with Chris Black, the owner of Falling Rock, at GABF in 2006.
With Tom McCormick, from the CSBA, at the Roadhouse in Boston, Mass.
Tom Nickel (owner of O’Brien’s in San Diego), Nancy and Danny Williams, also from the Brewers Association, at Slow Food Nation 2008 in San Francisco.