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Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Beer Birthday: Daniel Satterthwaite

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Today is the 50th birthday — The Big 5-O — of Daniel Satterthwaite, who’s been brewing in the Bay Area since the 1990s. After graduating from UC Santa Cruz, he learned brewing at the Siebel Institute in Chicago and worked for a time in the Black Forest of Germany at a small, family-owned brewery that’s over one hundred years old. Returning home, he worked for years at Gordon Biersch and Trumer Brauerei, and he also helped co-found the Seven Bridges Cooperative home brew supply store in Santa Cruz, was Executive Director of the South Bay Brewer’s Guild. More recently, he co-founded his own place, New Bohemia Brewing in Santa Cruz, and was making great beer there. Unfortunately, he recently decided to close the business but is still working on some brewing projects abroad. Join me in wishing Daniel a very happy birthday.

Me and Daniel at New Bohemia a couple of years back.
Steve Shapiro, Daniel, and me at the Celebration of Craft event at Trumer in 2017.
At Trumer Brewing at the end of SF Beer Week in 2018.
Dan, in the middle, picking up his first medal for New Bohemia at GABF in 2015.
And waiting in line to go up on stage to pick up his medal.
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On the then-new brewhouse.

Note: Last two photos purloined from Facebook.

Beer Birthday: Dylan Schatz

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Today is the 54th birthday of Dylan Schatz, who when I first met him was the brewmaster at Mad River Brewing in Blue Lake, which is where he’s originally from. Dylan started in 1999 in the brewery’s packaging department, on the bottling line, and immediately fell in love with the beer industry. He took classes at UC Davis and became a brewer, and in 2005 was named head brewer. He’s a terrific person, one who often doesn’t get all the credit he deserves, especially since he had been making some amazing beers. He’s now brewing at Powers Creek Brewing, also in Blue Lake. Please join me in wishing Dylan a very happy birthday.

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Dylan with some of the crew from Mad River after winning Small Brewery and Brewer of the Year at GABF in 2010.
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Behind the bar at Mad River’s tasting room during a visit there several summers ago, when I was in the research phase for my latest book, California Breweries North.
Dylan and Vic at the Double IPA Fest in 2016.

Bistro Double IPA Winners 2026

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Earlier today, the 26th annual, silver anniversary, Double IPA Festival was held at the Bistro in Hayward, California. I got there early for judging again this year, and spent the morning holed up in the basement, where we judged Double IPAs for most of the morning, before choosing our top three favorites.

In the cellar of The Bistro this morning.

It was a cool day in Hayward, with some warming help from the sun as the day wore on.

The Double IPA Festival.

At 2:00 pm., owners Vic and Cynthia Kralj announced the winners:

Double IPAs

People’s Choice Awards

Super Secret Sauce, by Shred Beer Co., from Rocklin, California.

Beer Birthday: Brian Ford

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Today is the 62nd birthday of Brian Ford, owner/brewer at the Auburn Alehouse near Sacramento, California. Brian previously brewed at Beermann’s Beerworks, but left before they closed well over a decade ago. His new place is in an old historic building, a really cool space, where he’s making some more great beer. Join me in wishing Brian a very happy birthday.

Brian pouring his beer at the Raley Field Beerfest in 2007.
Rich Norgrove, from Bear Republic and Brian, bookending Dave Morrow from DBI, at the Celebrator’s 25th Anniversary Party in 2013.
And here’s Brian with Glynn Phillips, from Rubicon, at the same event.
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Brian and Lisa at their Get’r Started Party in 2015.

Beer Birthday: Sean Turner

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Today is the birthday of Sean Turner, who is the owner of Mammoth Brewing Co., which also recently acquired Lead Dog Brewing. I first met Sean when he worked for another brewery (Deschutes, maybe?) but he worked for a few different breweries, representing them in and around the Bay Area. But in 2007, he bought Mammoth, and really turned it around, expanding the business and building a new, larger and more modern brewery in the ski resort town. He also took over running Mammoth Festival of Beers and Bluesapalooza, and if you haven’t made the trek there, it’s an amazing event. Join me in wishing Sean a very happy birthday.

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Sean with Tom Dalldorf, from the Celebrator, at Matteo’s Public House in Nevada City for an event in 2010.
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Getting the thumbs up from Tom McCormick, executive director of the CCBA.

Beer Birthday: Peter Kruger

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Today is the 56th birthday of Peter Kruger, who for many years was the head brewer at Bear Republic Brewing. Peter was an early brewer at Full Sail in Hood River, Oregon. He came to California to become the original brewer at Stumptown Brewery when they opened in 2001, but left in 2005 to join Bear Republic. Peter has become an integral part of Bear Republic’s success since joining the team, and is a terrific person to share a pint with. More recently, after the changes at Bear Republic, he’s moved to Flagstaff, Arizona to become the COO at Mother Road Brewing. The only downside to that is we don’t see as often these days. Please join me in wishing Peter a very happy birthday.

Me and Peter at GABF in 2025.
Me, Peter, and Agus Blanco at GABF a couple of years back.
Peter at the brewery in 2008.
Peter explaining one Bear Republic’s beers at their annual GABF Tasting at the brewpub in 2009.
Peter (2nd from the left) with the Bear Republic gang accepting another award at GABF in 2007.
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Bear Republic brewers Rich Norgrove, Jode Yaksic, Peter and Ray Lindecker during a visit in 2008.

Rich Norgrove and Peter at the New Albion re-launch at Russian River Brewing a couple of years ago.

Beer Birthday: Ted Vivatson

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Today is the 69th birthday of Ted Vivatson, founder of Eel River Brewing. I first met Ted a bunch of years ago, when he was still making one of my favorite porters, their Ravensbrau Porter. Now it’s Organic Porter, and while it’s still a good porter, I really loved the Ravensbrau. Not the first time I’ve been in the minority. Ted’s a great brewer and has many other fine beers I still love, plus he’s a terrific person, too. Join me in wishing Ted a very happy birthday.

Ted rockin’ GABF in 2006.
Ted at the Celebrator Anniversary Party in 2009.
Ted with Ken Allen, former owner of Anderson Valley Brewing, at the Celebrator’s 20th Anniversary Party.
Picking up an award from Charlie Papazian at the 2006 Great American Beer Festival.

Beer Birthday: Michael ‘Motor’ Kiesling 

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Today is the 60th birthday — The Big 6-O — of Michael Kiesling, better known to most of us as “Motor.” While not technically in the beer industry, he’s adjacent enough in the Bay Area beer world that I felt he should have a birthday post. While by day Motor is an architect at this own firm, Architecture 21, and is almost as much of a train geek as my son, by night and/or in his free time he can be found at numerous watering holes and beer events throughout the Bay Area. I took a memorable trip to England for the Old Ale Festival at the White Horse in 2007 with Motor and a few others, and I love running into him whenever it happens. Join me in wishing Motor a very happy birthday.

Motor at the Best of the West Beer Festival in 2009 with Sarah Knopp and Jen Garris.
Shaun O’Sullivan, from 21st Amendment, with Gabby, Justine, and Motor playing golf at the 3rd annual Sasquatch Brew Am in 2007.
Motor and Shaun O’Sullivan with a couple of Burgundian Babble Belt members at the festival at the Old Ale Festival in London in 2007.
Rodger Davis, Dave Keene, Melissa Myers, James Costa, and Motor at the Drake’s Summit Hop Festival in 2006.
At the White Horse in London.
Delicious.
Motor, with Adrienne, Gabby, and Steve, at the Toronado Barley Wine Festival in 2007.
The poster from Strong Beer Month in 2014. See if you can find Motor?

Beer Birthday: Rich Norgrove

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Today is the 57th birthday of Rich Norgrove, the founder and brewmaster at Bear Republic Brewing Co. in Cloverdale, California. Rich won big several years ago at GABF, winning the award for Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year in 2006, amounting to validation that he’s been making some great beer for many years. Red Rocket and Racer 5 were some of my first favorite hoppy beers back in the 1990s, when few brewers were making the big, hoppy beers that are nearly ubiquitous nowadays. Did I mention that Rich is also one of the coolest, nicest people in the beer business? Join me in wishing Rich a very happy birthday.

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At an unknown beer festival with his daughter many years ago.
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Vinnie Cilurzo from Russian River and Rich at Drake’s Summit Hop Festival several summers ago.
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Jeremy Cowan (He’Brew) and Rich at Falling Rock in Denver.
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Rich and the Team from Healdsburg, California won four awards and the big award for Small Brewery Company and Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year in 2006.
Rich Norgrove, from Bear Republic, and Vic Krajl, co-owner of the Bistro
Rich and Vic Krajl at the Bistro IPA Festival in 2010.
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At a Giants game a few years back, Porter and I joined Rich and his son for a game, where we ran into Steve and Gail, from Beer By Bart, before the game began.
At the Rohnert Park brewpub a few years ago for a speakeasy-themed night.
Rich and his wife Tami at my 60th birthday party a couple of years ago.
Running into Rich at a basketball tournament where both of our sons’ were playing.

Beer Birthday: Rodger Davis

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Today is Rodger Davis’ 56th birthday. He’s the former head brewer at Triple Rock in Berkeley, California, among much else, and several years ago opened his own brewery in Alameda, Faction Brewing, along with his wife Claudia Pamparana. Rodger is a terrific brewer and has been very active in the local beer community and it’s great to see him at the helm of his own place. He’s one of those people always giving the craft beer world a good name, helping colleagues, organizing festivals and being a good friend to all. If only he could keep his tongue in his mouth. Join me in wishing Rodger a very happy birthday.

Rodger at a Berkeley Museum event a few years ago, in 2009, pouring Triple Rock beer.
Rodger with his wife Claudia at a Beer Chef beer dinner for Allagash in 2009.
Rodger at the 2009 Triple Rock Firkin Fest.
Rodger and Claudia shortly after Faction Brewery opened, with Rodger doing his best not to make a goofy face. (You should see the outtakes!)
That’s more like it….
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Rodger & me at his surprise birthday party at The Trappist several years ago for his 40th. (photo by Mike Condie.)