Today is Alec Moss’ 67th birthday, which is quite frankly still hard to believe. Alec doesn’t look a day over 40! Must be the beer and motorcycles. I first got to know Alec when I worked with him on some private label contract beers I did for BevMo when he was head brewer at the now-defunct Golden Pacific Brewery in Berkeley. Alec then spent some time at Redbird Brewing before moving to the coast to be head brewer at the picturesque Half Moon Bay Brewing, but he retired last year. Every time I see him now he seems to be enjoying his retirement enormously. Join me in wishing Alec a very happy birthday.
Alec in the brewhouse at Half Moon Bay Brewing Co.
At the Toronado for He’Brew’s release party. From left: Alec, Pete Slosberg, formerly of Pete’s Wicked Ales, Jeremy Cowan of Shmaltz Brewing and Rodger Davis, now with Triple Rock Brewing.
Last weekend at the Breastfest in San Francisco, from left: Alec, Jeff Botz, Arne Johnson, Betsey Hensley, Vinnie & Natalie Cilurzo and Abalone Rob Mika.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Happy Birthday Alec. You’re still 2 years older than me.
Barbara Groom
Lost Coast Brewery
Beer and motorcycles as the fountain of youth–I like it.
Happy birthday to Mr. Moss!
Wow, 66? I remember the first time I met Alec. I was working on my ill-fated video tour of Northern California breweries (VHS no less) and wanted to pick up some beer to drink while editing. SF Brewing was close by, but the beers could be hit and miss. I tentatively ordered a pint… porter, I think it was … and took a sip. Hmmmm…. it wasn’t bad. Took another, bigger, sip. Hell, it was actually GOOD! I looked around to make sure I was in the same place I thought I was. I guess the surprise showed on my face, because the guy on the next barstool grinned and said something to the effect of, “Is everything OK?” “Better than OK,” I said. “This beer doesn’t suck. I wonder who brewed it.” He just grinned (that sly Alec grin I came to know so well) and said, “I did.” Another beginning to a wonderful friendship over a pint of good beer.
Happy birthday and happy retirement Alec!
The guy on the right is Abalone Rob Mika (Sp?) Worked for a while at Marin and tended bar at Barclays.
happy bornday Alec!
we are still trying to find a home for your bottles!!!
:)
Alec Thanks for all you taught Bryan, Justin and I at HMB Brewery re: brewing/ABC rules/etc. But you aren’t really “retired” right??? You’re much too young for that
HMB Brewery Beer Delivery Guy
Alec’s CLASS! I’ve known him for 28 yrs as a fellow San Andreas Malt. Great brewer w/TOTAL integrity about his brews, “homey” or for sale! His former employers sometimes had no clue – 2 cases:
1) Allan Paul (SF Brewing Co, now gone – he sold & moved to TX, where his wife found & holds a high-end job) refused to dump bad brews (knowing full well that most of his financial district customers had no clue) – the beer geex knew better & stayed away.
2) Half Moon Bay has served beer in COLD glass since Day 1 – Alec gave up trying to clue the owners in on this issue. However, when sitting @ the bar, most times the Alec-clued-in bartenders found me a room-temp glass when I asked.
A couple weex ago, the Chron ran a big article on HMB’s charitable work that made no mention of Alec, but cited the current brewer. I talked to Alec about it @ the Breastfest 7/17 – he’d seen the article, & was neither surprised nor insulted by being excluded from it. That’s CLASS – I in the same situation would have been max PO’d!
Alec – belated KUDOS – you & Donn Westmoreland share the same
b’day.
Happy Bday Alec!!!! Hope you had lots of fun on it or just kicking back and relaxing, you deserve it. Mark hit the nail on the head. That is so true about SF Brewing. You always had good stuff on tap and bring great beers to the Oyster BBQ. We’ll toast one to you tomorrow at the Malts event here. Wish you could come!!!
Kim/Harry – I didn’t see your post until now – but you forgot to do it; if I remember, we’ll do it Thursday @ Pi Bar – MJK
Another year of fun! Sorry we didn’t see you at the Breast Fest, too much fun I guess. Hope to see ya before the Oyster BBQ, maybe for a pub crawl! Happy bday!
Alec, congrats! You celebrate your b-day with Arne? Practically born on the same day. Best wishes.
Happy Birthday Alec!
Hope you are enjoying your well deserved retirement!