Bay Area

The Lagunitas Beer Circus Is Coming To Town Again

by Jay Brooks on May 15, 2012 · 1 comment

This weekend — Sunday May 20 to be exact — the circus is once again coming to the town of Petaluma as the fourth annual Lagunitas Beer Circus will be held on the grounds of the Lagunitas Brewery. If you haven’t been to the beer circus before, it’s one of the most amazing events of the beer festival season. As their press release promises; “Come One, Come All to Petaluma! Witness death-defying aerialists acts, be amazed by human marvels, laugh at outrageous clowns, get thrilled by exotic burlesque dancers, head-spinning sideshows and so much more to dazzle your mind.”

Tickets are a reasonable $40, which includes gets you a commemorative glass and 3 tokens good for three 16oz. beers, but you can always buy additional beers. Tickets can be be purchased at either online, by phone at 707.769.4495 or at the Lagunitas Brewery Schwag Shop, located on the same spot as where the circus will take place: 1280 N. McDowell in Petaluma. The event is for adults only, goes from 1:00-6:00 p.m., and will benefit the Petaluma Music Festival and Music In Schools.

The circus acts and musical groups performing on Sunday include the Vau de Vire Society, the Extra Action Marching Band, The Moral Minority, The Ferocious Few, the Sour Mash Hug Band, Wanderlust Circus, Kehoe Nation, Cyclecide, artist Neal Barbosa painting live, “Bed of Nails, Roller Girls, Sword Swallowers, Snake Dancers, Burlesque Dancers, Contortionists … and so much more!”

But wait, there’s more, here’s the food and beer listing from the press release:

Great food! Beyond the Glory (wings, pork sliders, pork shanks), Extreme Pizza, Hog Island Oysters, Bros BBQ (bbq & paella), Sift (cupcakes), Roy’s @ the Yard (hot dogs), Tres Hombres (burritos, tacos), Toad in the Hole (bangers on a bun) Cotton Candy, and Those Fabulous Frickle Brothers… and much more!

Great Beer! Lagunitas, Moylan’s, Marin, Russian River, 3rd St. Aleworks, Stumptown, 21st Amendment, Moonlight, Dempsey’s, Anchor Brewing, North Coast, Iron Springs, Napa Smith, Henhouse Brewing, Palo Alto Brewing, Sonoma Springs, and Ace Cider.

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Beer Birthday: John Martin

by Jay Brooks on May 14, 2012 · 5 comments

in Birthdays

Today is the 52nd birthday of John Martin, one of the founders of Triple Rock Brewery & Alehouse in Berkeley. John, with his brother Reid, started on of the first five brewpubs in the U.S., and the only one that’s still owned by the same family that founded it. He’s active in the local beer community and also with the CSBA, plus he’s a great guy with a very distinctive laugh. Join me in wishing John a very happy birthday.

Christian Kazakoff, former brewer at Triple Rock (now at Iron Springs) with John during the 2008 Firkin Fest.

John, with his brother Reid, and Triple Rock brewmaster Rodger Davs at the brewpub’s 25th anniversary.

John in the brewhouse with his brother 25 years before, on opening day.

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Faction Brewing Finds Location In Alameda

by Jay Brooks on May 4, 2012 · 7 comments

in Breweries,News

I ran into Rodger Davis yesterday, who was uncharacteristically grinning from ear to ear. He had some pretty amazing news. His new venture, Faction Brewery, has found a location. He’s signed a lease on a property — a hanger, really — in Alameda right next to St. George Spirits. It’s great to see things moving forward. The next step is to move the brewery equipment from where its stored in New York and begin the process of actually building the brewery. Congratulations to Rodger and Claudia, and it can now only be a matter of time before the beer starts flowing.

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Beer Birthday: Brian Hunt

by Jay Brooks on May 2, 2012 · 8 comments

in Birthdays

Today is iconoclastic brewer Brian Hunt’s 55th birthday. Brian owns and operates Moonlight Brewing in in Sonoma County, California, as a one-man show. If you’ve never had his “Death and Taxes,” “Twist of Fate Bitter,” “Bombay by Boat,” or his fresh hop ale, alternately called “Homegrown” or “Greenbud Ale,” then you’re really missing out on some of the most unique and wonderful beers around. Plus, Brian is one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet. Join me in wishing Brian a very happy birthday.

Hildegard van Ostaden, Urthel’s brewster, one of only two female brewers working in Belgium, and Brian.

Brian in his hopyard, with Russian River’s old assistant brewer Travis (who’s now trying to open his own place), and Vinnie Cilurzo.

Shaun O’Sullivan and Vinnie Cilurzo with Brian at the Bistro in Hayward, California.

Brian at the Opening Gala for last year’s SF Beer Week.

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Beer Birthday: Fraggle

by Jay Brooks on March 26, 2012 · 3 comments

in Breweries

Today is also Fraggle’s 45th birthday, or as he often refers to them, his 45th bornday. Fraggle, along with his wife Rebecca, own and operate the terrific Beer Revolution, their beer store in Oakland, near Jack London Square on 3rd Street. I first met Fraggle when I featured them in an article I did for Beer Advocate magazine on beer geeks several years back. It’s been great to see them turn their passion into their livelihood, and go from civilian to pro over the last few years. Join me in wishing Fraggle a very happy bornday.

Rebecca and Fraggle at Santa Rosa’s Beerfest in 2007.

Why does everyone look so much more serious in black and white?

Fraggle and Rebecca in line … somewhere.

Raising a toast. [Note: last three photos purloined from Facebook.]

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Tasting The Bay: SF Beer Week 2012

by Jay Brooks on March 5, 2012 · 3 comments

in Beers,Breweries,Events,Just For Fun,SF Beer Week

Here’s yet another video showcasing SF Beer Week. This one is brought to you by the Top Shelf Society. It has great production value and music, including what I can only assume is an original song, Beer by the Bay, “written and performed by Jefferson Bergey.” There’s a lot from the opening celebration and then a few other events are highlighted. Nice job.

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Beer Birthday Again: Jay Brooks

March 3, 2012

Today was my 53rd birthday, and I’ve once again been overwhelmed by an embarrassment of riches from well-wishers sending me notes via e-mail, Twitter and Facebook. My sincere thanks to one and all. As it’s usually me posting embarrassing photos of my friends and colleagues, for the fourth year in a row, here’s some howlers [...]

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Master Cicerone Chosen For SF Zagat 30 Under 30

February 22, 2012

At last week’s Three Ring Circus beer dinner, Nicole Erny teased that she had big news coming this week, but told us she was sworn to secrecy. Well today she could finally reveal her news. Erny, who recently became the first female Master Cicerone — and only the fourth overall — has been selected by [...]

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Celebrator 24th Anniversary Party

February 21, 2012

Steve Atkinson, who does great video work for the Celebrator and others, put together this fun video from last night’s SF Beer Week closing celebration at the Trumer Brauerei in Berkeley. I should give you fair warning; you will have to suffer through not one, but two interviews with yours truly. Enjoy.

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Beer Birthday: Brendan Moylan

February 16, 2012

Today is Brendan Moylan’s 51st birthday. Brendan owns both his eponymous Moylan’s Brewing as well as Marin Brewing. He’s a very active part of both the local and beer community, and each year puts on the Breasfest to benefit breast cancer awareness. Join me in wishing Brendan a very happy birthday. Arne Johnson sporting his [...]

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Beer Birthday: Bruce Joseph

February 13, 2012

Bruce Joseph, who’s been at Anchor Brewery for many, many years turns 56 today. There’s a big picture of him when he was very young in the stairwell at the brewery that I see every time I’m there. He’s been doing the distilling for Anchor’s whiskey and gin for a while now and plays bass [...]

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SF Beer Week Opening Celebration 2012

February 11, 2012

Steve Atkinson, who does great video work for the Celebrator and others, put together this fun video from last night’s SF Beer Week opening celebration at the Concourse Exhibition Hall in San Francisco. Enjoy.

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Bistro Double IPA Winners 2012

February 11, 2012

Knee Deep Brewing‘s Hopologist DIPA was chosen best in show at the 12th annual Double IPA Festival today at the Bistro in Hayward, California. The full winner’s list is below. 1st Place: Hopologist DIPA, Knee Deep Brewing 2nd Place: Pliny the Elder, Russian River Brewing 3rd Place: Ruination, Stone Brewing And for the second straight [...]

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Beer In Ads #540: SF Beer Week 2012

February 10, 2012

Friday’s ad couldn’t be more new, less historical, if it tried. It’s the new poster for this year’s SF Beer Week, which begins today. This year’s poster may be the best yet. Each of the objects, people, places, things represent the name of a local beer, so it’s game, as well as a piece of [...]

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New Sour Beer Brewery In Bay Area Announced

February 8, 2012

Yesterday I received the word that there’s a new brewery opening soon in the Bay Area. It’s called The Rare Barrel and they’ll be a gypsy brewery specializing in sour beers. By gypsy, they mean to brew at area breweries and then ferment, age, package and serve their beers at their own facility, with that [...]

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What’s SF Beer Week Like?

February 3, 2012

John Heylin, of the Nor Cal Beer Guide, along with several other BABB members, created a little spoof or homage film for SF Beer Week entitled What’s SF Beer Week Like? Drawing on Reservoir Dogs and the cult status of Russian River’s Pliny the Elder, the minute and a half video might make you cry, [...]

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