Beer Birthday: Sean Turner

January 30, 2026 By Jay Brooks Leave a Comment

mammoth-crown
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.

Tom-and-Sean-at-Matteos — Sean with Tom Dalldorf, from the Celebrator, at Matteo’s Public House in Nevada City for an event in 2010.

Tom-and-Sean-at-fest — Getting the thumbs up from Tom McCormick, executive director of the CCBA.

Beer Birthday: Peter Kruger

January 27, 2026 By Jay Brooks 2 Comments

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, Peter, and Agus Blanco at GABF a couple of years back.

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.

ezryder-2 — 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

January 24, 2026 By Jay Brooks 1 Comment

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 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: Rich Norgrove

January 8, 2026 By Jay Brooks

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.

rich-norgrove-1 — At an unknown beer festival with his daughter many years ago.

drakes-fest06-07 — Vinnie Cilurzo from Russian River and Rich at Drake’s Summit Hop Festival several summers ago.

gabf06-wed-08 — Jeremy Cowan (He’Brew) and Rich at Falling Rock in Denver.

gabf06-awards-11 — 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.

P1000803 — 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

January 5, 2026 By Jay Brooks

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!)

Rodger & me at his surprise birthday party at The Trappist several years ago for his 40th. (photo by Mike Condie.)

Beer Birthday: Fal Allen

January 2, 2026 By Jay Brooks

Today might be the birthday of Fal Allen. I say might, because he keeps telling me that he’s not exactly sure when his birthday is — apparently the result of having hippie parents — and he had kept changing it on his Facebook page, though now he’s removed it entirely. Fal returned to his goats and to Anderson Valley Brewing several years ago, having lived in Singapore for four years, where he built and ran a craft brewery for Archipelago Brewery, a division of Asia Pacific Breweries. He blogged about his exploits there on his Brewing in Singapore blog, but since returning stateside, he’s been blogging at The Goat Rodeo, and we were certainly happy to have him back stateside. But more recently, he’s moved back to his native Hawai’i and is brewing on Kauai at Napali Brewing Co. Join me today, tomorrow or perhaps the next day in wishing the ageless Fal a very happy birthday.

Fal and me in Chico a couple of years ago.

Fal showing oiff a new Anderson Valley beer, Kan Kicky Wheat, in 2015.

Also at OBF, with Daniel Bradford, then of All About Beer Magazine, and Dave Buehler from Elysian Brewing in Seattle.

With a bevy of brewers touring Stone Brewing during CBC in 2008, that’s Fal at the far right.

fal-al-5 — While still GM at Anderson Valley, launching Brother David at the Toronado in San Francisco. Clockwise from left: Fal, Mark Cabrera, David Gatlin, me and Dave Keene, the beer’s namesake and Toronado owner.

Fal-1 — Fal during a recent hop harvest. No wonder that batch of Anderson Valley tasted so “fal-ish.”

Beer Birthday: Michael Lewis

December 29, 2025 By Jay Brooks

Today is 88th birthday of Dr. Michael Lewis, who ran the brewing sciences department at U.C. Davis beginning in 1962, and became the Professor Emeritus in 1995, when Charlie Bamforth succeeded him, although Dr. Lewis remains active in teaching and in brewing. He was my instructor, along with Charlie, when I took the brewing short course at Davis over a decade. He’s taught countless working brewers over the years and has greatly influenced the industry as a whole. Join me in wishing Dr. Lewis a very happy birthday.

Michael receiving an award for a lifetime of achievement at the 2008 CBC in San Diego.

Michael at the podium receiving his recognition award from the Brewers Association in 2008.

Michael J. Lewis, front row, right, and his brewing lab class in Sonoma, in the mid-1970s, with Jack McAuliffe, left, at his New Albion Brewing Co., the first microbrewery in the United States. Photo taken by UC Davis student Doug Muhleman, who would earn a bachelor’s degree in 1977 and a master’s in 1979 and go on to become vice president of brewing operations and technology for Anheuser-Busch.

Lewis1 — Michael with Ruhstaller founder J.D. Paino at Sudwerk (photo from the Davis Enterprise).

Lewis2 — Michael (at far left) with the gang at Sudwerk Privatbrauerei in Davis (photo from the Davis Enterprise).

Beer Birthday: Jeremy Warren

December 26, 2025 By Jay Brooks

Today is the 49th birthday of brewer Jeremy Warren. Jeremy first made a name for himself with Knee Deep Brewing, but a couple of years ago left to open his own place, Revision Brewing. Jeremy created some great beers with Knee Deep and he’s doing more of the same with his new brewery. It was initially going to be in West Sacramento, but instead Revision ended up being located in Sparks, Nevada. Join me wishing Jeremy a very happy birthday.

Jeremy and me at the Bistro IPA Festival in 2017.

jeremy-warren-bar — Jeremy with Dean Hanson at Final Gravity in Auburn. [Note: photo purloined from Facebook.]

Beer Birthday: Barkley The Beer

December 26, 2025 By Jay Brooks

Today is the 38th birthday of Barkley D. Beer, the mascot of the Anderson Valley Brewing Co. in Boonville, California. Be sure to toast Barkley with a bottle or can or draft of your favorite Anderson Valley beer today. And join me in wishing Barkley a very happy birthday.

Alice and Porter posing with Barkley at the Boonville Beer Festival a number of years ago.

And here’s why, according to Anderson Valley’s website, Barkley is a “beer” and not a “bear:”

It’s not a bear. Bears don’t have antlers. Of course not. Whoever heard of such a thing?
It is, however, a BEER. The Legendary Boonville Beer to be exact. Barkley, by name, who could be considered a cross between a bear and a deer (thus a beer). Barkley and his brethren are often seen about Anderson Valley by lovers of truly fine beers (especially if they’ve had a few).
So now you know. Never again will you be tormented by friends and relations who know the secret of the Beer and won’t give. Now you can go out and torture your friends and relations.