Today is the 67th birthday of Keith Lemcke, who was the Vice-President of the Siebel Institute of Technology from 2000 until 2017. He was also the Marketing Manager for the World Brewing Academy and a founding member of the Draught Beer Guild. These days he’s out on his own as an Education Specialist, I’ve been running into Keith off and on for a number of years now, and it’s always a good time. Join me wishing Keith a very happy birthday.
[Note: Last five photos purloined from Facebook.]
Two years ago I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer became known as ‘Bock.’ A goat often appears on bottle labels.” And presumably because they were special releases, many breweries went all out promoting them with beautiful artwork on posters and other advertising.
Friday’s poster is for Gambrinus-Böck, which was created in the 1930s. This one was for the Brauerei Gambrinus, of Langenwetzendorf, Germany, one of many trading under the Gambrinus name. This one was originally founded in 1876. At least one source suggests the lithograph was created by Eckert & Pflug of Leipzig.
Today is the birthday of Elmer E.L. Hemrich (September 18, 1890-January 20, 1937). He was raised in the Seattle, Washington area, and was the son of Alvin Hemrich, a prominent businessman and brewery owner in Seattle. His son worked for several of his businesses, before strking out on his own and founding Elmer E. Hemrich’s Brewery in 1935. Unfortunately, an unexpected heart attack killed him two years later, in 1937, and his brother Walter took over his brewery.
Here’s his father’s business history. In 1891, he moved to the Seattle, Washington area, and began working for breweries there and in Canada, including the Seattle Brewing & Malting Co. His brother Andrew (Elmer’s uncle) bought the Bay View Brewery in Seattle, and later Alvin bought the North Pacific Brewery (also known as the old Slorah brewery), and renamed it the Alvin Hemrich Brewing Co. in 1897. Two of his brothers soon joined him in the enterprise, and it was renamed again, this time to Hemrich Brothers Brewing Company. They did well enough that he began buying out other area breweries. When prohibition closed the brewery, they were ready, having retooled their plants for near-beer and also having divested into some other businesses. They reopened when prohibition was repealed, and two of Alvin’s sons went into the family business, too, including Elmer, but their father died just two years later.
There’s also a photograph of Alvin M. Hemrich and his son, Elmer E. Hemrich, taken around 1910 that can be seen at Brewery Gems’ biography of Alvin Hemrich, shared with him by the Hemrich family. As is typical for Pacific Northwest breweries, Gary Flynn has a thorough composite biography culled from numerous sources at his Brewery Gems website.
Today is the birthday of Louis X, Duke of Bavaria (September 18, 1495-April 22, 1545). Louis X (or in German, German Ludwig X, Herzog von Bayern), “was Duke of Bavaria (1516–1545), together with his older brother William IV, Duke of Bavaria. His parents were Albert IV and Kunigunde of Austria, a daughter of Emperor Frederick III.”
Here’s another short account of Louis X’s life:
Ludwig (Louis) X, Duke of Bavaria (Herzog von Bayern), was conjoint ruler of Bavaria with his brother Wilhelm IV (1493-1550) from 1516 to 1545. Louis was born 18 September 1495, son of Albert IV, Duke of Bavaria (1447-1508) and Kunigunde of Austria (1465-1520), a daughter of Emperor Frederick III. When his father Albert IV died in 1508, he was succeeded by his eldest son Wilhelm IV. It was Albert’s intention to not have Bavaria divided amongst his sons as had been the practice with previous successions. However, Louis became joint ruler in 1516, arguing that he had been born before his father’s edict of the everlasting succession of the firstborn prince of 1506.
Although his brother, William IV, Duke of Bavaria, wrote and signed the Reinheitsgebot, also known as the Bavarian Beer Purity Law, and later the German Beer Purity Law, Louis X as co-ruler of Bavaria also had a hand in it, and was co-signatory on the historic document.
In the Bavarian town of Ingolstadt on April 23, 1516, William IV, Duke of Bavaria wrote and signed the law, along with his younger brother Louis X, Duke of Bavaria. That 1516 law was itself a variation of earlier laws, at least as early as 1447 and another in independent Munich in 1487. When Bavaria reunited, the new Reinheitsgebot applied to the entirety of the Bavarian duchy. It didn’t apply to all of Germany until 1906, and it wasn’t referred to as the Reinheitsgebot until 1918, when it was coined by a member of the Bavarian parliament.
Today is he birthday of Henry Stuart Rich (September 18, 1841-March 18, 1929). He was born in upstate New York, but moved to Chicago as a young man, and co-founded The Western Brewer in 1876. By 1887, he and some partners bought the trade journal and was its president until his death.
This is his obituary from his own publication, The Western Brewer:
And this obituary appeared in Ice and Refrigeration in April of 1929.
Today is the 69th birthday of Jeff Lebesch. Although now retired, Jeff was co-founder, and original brewer, at New Belgium Brewing in Fort Collins, Colorado. Here’s how New Belgium explains their founding:
Our historic roots started with a bicycling trip through Belgium in 1986, when our co-founder Jeff Lebesch discovered the magic of Belgian beers spending an afternoon in a little bar called Bruges Beertje. By the end of the session sampling beers and chatting with the proprietors, Jeff had committed his brewing efforts to the playful experimentation for which Belgian brewers are famous.
Upon returning home to Fort Collins, CO, Jeff and New Belgium co-founder Kim Jordan, developed two beers in their basement: Abbey, a Belgian dubbel, and Fat Tire, a Belgian ale. Belgian-style beers in the U.S. were non-existent at the time and the beers did so well in home brew competitions that they gave it a go as commercial brewers.
To read more about New Belgium’s beginnings, check out Tom Acitelli’s piece written earlier this year for their 25th anniversary in All About Beer. Join me in wishing Jeff a very happy birthday.
And here you can listen to Jeff explain how the New Belgium brewery was started, in 2008, the 20 year anniversary of his bicycle trip through Belgium that inspired starting the business.
Today is the birthday of legendary brewer Don Barkley. Barkley’s first brewing job was as assistant brewer at New Albion Brewing in Sonoma, California, America’s first modern microbrewery back in the late 1970s. He went on to help found Mendocino Brewing, and created most of their iconic brands, like Red Tail Ale and Eye of the Hawk. In 2008, Don became the brewmaster for Napa Smith Brewery in — you guessed it — Napa, and he was been making great beer there, too, although more recently he’s retired from brewing. Although he’s been dragged back a little, by the gentleman who bought the Mendocino Brewing labels out of bankruptcy, who last I heard had tapped Don to re-brew Red Tail Ale, but I’m not sure if that’s still going on. I also think he may be doing some brewing in, of all places, Florida, at Alcatraz Brewing. Anyway, join me in wishing Don a very happy birthday.
Two years ago I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer became known as ‘Bock.’ A goat often appears on bottle labels.” And presumably because they were special releases, many breweries went all out promoting them with beautiful artwork on posters and other advertising.
Thursday’s poster is for Frank Fehr Bock, which was created in the 1890s. This one was for the Frank Fehr City Brewery of Louisville, Kentucky, which was originally founded in 1849 as the William Tell Brewery. Frank Fehr appears to have joined the brewery in 1872 and after 1876 it became known as the Frank Fehr City Brewery.
Today is the birthday of John Fitzgerald (1838-September 17, 1885). No one is sure of his actual birthdate. Not even his tombstone gives it, listing only the date he died and saying he was age 47 in 1885. So today will have to do. There isn’t much biographical information about John Fitzgerald. His brother Edmund acquired in 1866 the Troy, New York brewery that was founded in 1852 which was first known as Lundy & Ingram Brewery, but went through several name changes before it was changed to the Fitzgerald Bros. Brewery when John and their other brother Michael joined the business. Michael left the business in 1870, but Edmund and John soldiered on and the family business, although they stopped brewing in 1963. The brewery survived prohibition and continued brewing afterwards until 1963, when the family shut down the brewery and became a Pepsi bottler and distributor, among other products, and for 25 years was a Coors distributor. Today the company is known as Fitzgerald Brothers Beverages, Inc. – Glens Falls Bottler and Beverage Distributor.
This account of the brewery is from “The City of Troy and Its Vicinity,” by Arthur James Weise, published in 1886:
This is the history presented on the current company’s website:
Fitzgerald Brothers Beverages, Inc. was founded in 1857 in Troy, New York. It is currently in its 6th generation of ownership.
The Company started out distributing various liqueurs, gins, whiskeys and brandies. A decade later, it began brewing it’s own brand of beer, Fitzgerald Beer and Ale. During the next 150+ years, the Company continued to adapt and change based upon the needs of it’s customers.
In 1961, Fitzgerald Brothers Beverages, Inc. purchased the Pepsi Bottler located on Dix Avenue in Glens Falls and continues to operate out of this location.
In 1986, as Coors Brewing Company expanded east of the Mississippi River for the first time, Fitzgerald Brothers Beverages, Inc. was awarded the distribution rights in the Albany Capital District for all Coors brands, which it serviced for 25 years until 2011.
In 1996 Fitzgerald Brothers Beverages, Inc. acquired two Full-Line Vending businesses to expand its services into Full-Line Vending. After 18 years, in April 2014 Fitzgerald Brothers Beverages, Inc. divested its Full-Line Vending business.
Today, Fitzgerald Brothers Beverages, Inc. continues to provide a full portfolio of beverages to nearly 1,750 customers in Warren, Washington and northern Saratoga counties.
And this is the history of the brewery ownership, since it’s a bit complicated:
James Lundy, North River Brewery 1852-1853
Lundy & Ingram Brewery 1853-1855
Lundy & Kennedy Brewery 1855-1857
Lundy, Dunn & Co. Brewery 1857-1859
Dunn & Kennedy Brewery 1859-1866
Fitzgerald Bros. Brewery 1866-1899
Fitzgerald Bros. Brewing Co. 1899-1920
Brewery operations shut down by National Prohibition in 1920
Issued U-Permit No. NY-U-221 allowing the operation of a brewery 1933
Fitzgerald Bros. Brewing Co. 1933-1963
And this is John’s obituary:
I got a call from John Martin this morning. He’s the co-owner of Triple Rock Brewery in Berkeley, along with his brother Reid. It was one of the first brewpubs in the country, and now that others from that time period have either closed permanently or temporarily, it’s the “oldest continuously operating brewpub” in the U.S., which is admittedly quite an achievement. John told me they’ve decided to wind down the business, with an eye toward closing after the Fall semester at Berkeley concludes, which is December 18. So most likely they’re close before Christmas. He told me it’s not really economical and that the brewery itself is doing fine. They’ve certainly weathered worse market down-turns, but it’s more of having too many irons in the fire with other projects and businesses. John is my age, and is starting to think about retiring, so this is more of a first step in that goal.
Since it will be at least three months until they close the doors for the last time, that should give you plenty of time to stop by for a beer and pay your respects to Triple Rock’s place in beer history. They’ve got some fun things planned for beers and possibly collabs with former brewers over those next few months. Should make for a memorable send off. Perhaps I’ll see you there.
Here’s the press release:
BERKELEY, Calif., September 16, 2026: Triple Rock Brewery & Alehouse, the oldest continuously operating brewpub in the United States, expects to conclude its run towards the end of 2026, after more than 40 years of brewing beer, serving up burgers, and bringing people together in Downtown Berkeley.
Founded by brothers John and Reid Martin, Triple Rock opened on March 14, 1986, when they were just 25 and 28. Originally established as Roaring Rock Brewery, it was among the first five brewpubs to open in the United States after Prohibition.
From the beginning, Triple Rock helped shape what would become today’s craft beer industry. “In the early days, many times we would have to explain what a ‘brewpub’ actually was,” said John. “The City of Berkeley didn’t understand it and told us that our microbrewery needed to be in an industrial part of town, not in the Downtown business district. “Reid added, “you have to remember that in those days there was very little small-batch beer made in America, it was almost all industrial stuff produced by huge breweries.”
What began as two brothers’ shared passion for brewing, neighborhood taverns, and great beer grew into one of the landmarks of the American craft beer movement. Over four decades, generations of customers have gathered at Triple Rock for rounds of beers, first dates, college reunions, Cal game celebrations, after-work pints, late-night burgers, and countless afternoons that, for many, have become lifelong memories. Triple Rock brewed 5,884 batches – equal to more than 41,000 total barrels and over 10 million pints.
The decision to close comes as the brothers begin looking toward retirement. “After 40 years, we are ready to spend less time navigating the day-to-day and more time exploring some of the other things we have put off along the way,” said co-founder John Martin.
Triple Rock expects to remain open through the end of the Cal fall semester. The Martins, who own the building, say that the Downtown Berkeley property will likely be offered for sale or lease. Triple Rock’s influence extends far beyond the beer served in Berkeley. Many brewers who developed their craft at “The Rock” went on to establish or lead respected breweries across the country, among them Shaun O’Sullivan (21st Amendment Brewery), Rodger Davis (Faction Brewing), Christian Kazakoff (Canyon Club), and Teri Fahrendorf (Steelhead Brewing Brewmaster and founder of the Pink Boots Society). As Fahrendorf has often said, “I believe that in American craft brewing, there are only about six degrees of separation between almost any craft brewer and the legacy of Triple Rock.”
Present Brewmaster Jeff Kimpe, formerly of Pyramid Ales and Drake’s Brewing, has been stirring the mash and creating a cutting-edge beer lineup for over 12 years. “Jeff’s contribution in the brewery cannot be understated,” said Reid. “His creativity, and his ability to build on Triple Rock’s traditions, has always made for a unique and delicious beer board.”
The Martins are equally proud of the hundreds of bartenders, cooks, servers, managers, and support staff who helped make Triple Rock what it became. “Triple Rock was never just the two of us,” John Martin said. “It was built by generations of incredible employees who gave so much of themselves to this place, and it was supported by our community that kept showing up year after year. We are enormously proud of the people who worked here and deeply grateful for everything they contributed.”
For now, Triple Rock is open and operating as usual, with fresh beer flowing from the taps and burgers and pub favorites coming out of the kitchen. Rather than treating the coming months as a prolonged goodbye, John and Reid hope customers will see this time as an opportunity for reunion. “We would love to see the community stop in to enjoy a few pints with friends, tell stories, and take in the old-school atmosphere while it remains,” said John. “Oh man, there are too many Triple Rock memories for just one final visit,” added Reid.
The infamous Thursday Monkey Head Nights will continue, along with special throwback celebrations featuring 1980s pricing, the return of favorite seasonal and specialty beers from Triple Rock’s brewing archives, and other events celebrating the brewery’s long Berkeley history. Current and former customers, employees, and friends are also invited to contribute a story, memory, or photograph to the Triple Rock Memory Wall at: https://www.triplerock.com/memory-wall.
