
Today is also the 33rd birthday of Travis Smith, who recently opened his new brewery in San Diego, Societe Brewing Co., earlier this year. Before that, Travis brewed at Russian River Brewing for a number of years, before moving south, where he brewed at both The Bruery and the La Jolla Brewhouse. I had a chance to stop by a few days before he opened, and his beers were, as expected, really tasty. Join me in wishing Travis a very happy birthday.

Travis “MacGyver” Smith showing off the cork gun he made with spare brewing parts lying around the Russian River brewpub. It shot a beer cork a pretty fair distance and would pierce cardboard at 100 feet.

Travis with Patrick Rue, from The Bruery, at GABF in 2009.

Agostino Arioli, from Birrificio Italiano in northern Italy, with Vinnie Cilurzo and Travis, at Russian River Brewing in 2008 working on a fun collaboration beer, La Fleuette.

Travis behind the handmade redwood bar at Societe a few days before they opened earlier this year.
At the current rate the Feds are sitting on permits, it will probably be late this year or into next. 2 months ago I read a post from Corralitos Brewing that their permit was 2 months late. 2 days ago I talked to someone who stopped by there last Monday & they said it would be November before the would have the permit. So much for the government encouraging job creation.
As Travis doesn’t look 232 years old, are sure you got his age correct?
Ha, yeah that’s correct
I think it’s closer to 32 though by the time he gets his brewery opened it will seem like 232.
He looks like he’s holding up pretty well for a guy who was born during the Revolutionary War.
Travis, Happy Birthday. We miss you at the Russian River
That’s not right in so many ways. Anyone in the Federal Chain reading this??
At the current rate the Feds are sitting on permits, it will probably be late this year or into next. 2 months ago I read a post from Corralitos Brewing that their permit was 2 months late. 2 days ago I talked to someone who stopped by there last Monday & they said it would be November before the would have the permit. So much for the government encouraging job creation.