Beer Birthday: Jason Chavez

March 18, 2026 By Jay Brooks 2 Comments

Today is the 58th birthday of Jason Chavez, who was the brewmaster at Seabright Brewery in Santa Cruz for a number of years. Chavez started homebrewing while still in high school on his family’s kitchen stove. He’s a graduate of the American Brewers Guild, and had been brewing at Seabright since 1999. I believe I first met Jason many years ago at the Rock Bottom in Denver during a GABF week, but I still run into him occasionally at events. Seabright celebrated their 25th anniversary several years ago, when I spent the day at the brewery to do a story on their silver anniversary. But three years ago, he made a big change, moving closer to home to take over the Kelsey Creek Brewing Co. in Kelseyville. Join me in wishing Jason a very happy birthday.

Me and Jason at his Kelseyville Brewery in early 2020.

Jason with Dave Heist, from HopTown Brewing, and Gene and Cindy Acevedo, from El Toro Brewing, during the Brewer’s Reception at GABF in 2002.

Jason at the helm of the brewery when I visited him in early 2013 to wrote about Seabright’s 25th anniversary.

Here’s a great shot by Dan Coyro, from an article in the Santa Cruz Sentinnel

Jason, in the center, surrounded by Seabright folks at the 10th annual Stumptown Russian River Revival and BBQ Cook-Off.

Jason, in the brewery. (Note: last two photos purloined from Seabright’s website).

Beer Birthday: Joe Tucker

March 13, 2026 By Jay Brooks 2 Comments

rate-beer
Today is the 58th birthday of Joe Tucker, the Executive Director at Rate Beer. He used to run the website from his Vineyard bunker in Sonoma, California, although a couple of years ago he relocated to the Rose city of Portland. Because I’m in the Bay Area, I used to run into Joe from time to time, and usually at the annual hop picking day at Moonlight Brewing, though we flew to San Diego together a few Decembers ago to visit Stone Brewing, too. More recently, he asked me to be the Emcee for the Rate Beer Best awards held in late January in Santa Rosa, which was great fun. Unfortunately, ABI, who bought the platform a few years ago, recently announced they were shutting it down. Join me in wishing Joe a very happy birthday.

Vinnie Cilurzo, me and Joe at the Pliny the Elder release several years ago at Russian River Brewing.

Rate Beer's Hop Press staff — Joe with some of the Hop Press staff — Ken, Ashley, Mario and Mark — at Triple Rock’s Sour Fest 2010.

P1010448 — At Fred Abercrombie’s Craft Beerd’s book launch party at Taps. Left to right; Fred Abercrombie, Ken Weaver, Anneliese Schmidt, Joe and Ron Lindenbusch, from Lagunitas.

P1000220 — The day after we tried all of Stone’s Vertical Epic’s in San Diego; with Steve Wagner, me, Joe, Jason and Todd Alstrom and Greg Koch.

joe-and-me-2017 — Joe and me at the RateBeer Best festival in Santa Rosa a few years ago.

Beer Birthday: Sayre Piotrkowski

February 21, 2026 By Jay Brooks

Today is the 45th birthday of Sayre Piotrkowski (February 21, 1981- ). Sayre’s from Oakland and has been part of the Bay Area beer scene since at least 2012, and has been an Advanced Cicerone since 2024. He’s been involved in several beer bars and restaurants, and also HenHouse Brewing. He also put on the Freshtival, a beer festival of fresh beer. He also was doing beer consulting on Beer & Soul. More recently, he’s taken over as the Executive Director at the Bay Area Brewers Guild and is putting on this year’s San Francisco Beer Week, which began yesterday. I’ve known Sayre since his days at the Hog’s Apothecary in Oakland, and he’s a great advocate for better beer. I expect him to do great things with the guild and beer week. Join me in wishing Sayre a very happy birthday.

Sayre and me at the Bistro during this year’s Double IPA Festival.

At Drake’s in early January of 2023 for an SF Beer Week collaboration.

Beer Birthday: Daniel Satterthwaite

February 15, 2026 By Jay Brooks

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.

Satterthwaite-5 — On the then-new brewhouse.

Note: Last two photos purloined from Facebook.

Beer Birthday: Dylan Schatz

February 11, 2026 By Jay Brooks

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.

P1010312 — Dylan with some of the crew from Mad River after winning Small Brewery and Brewer of the Year at GABF in 2010.

P1050660 — 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

February 7, 2026 By Jay Brooks

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.

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

Double IPAs

1st Place: Headway, by Moonraker Brewing, from Auburn, California.
2nd Place: Smokestack Lightning West, by Flatland Brewing, from Elk Grove, California
3rd Place: Hoptomic Demon Core, by Morgan Territory Brewing, in Tracy, California

People’s Choice Awards

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

Beer Birthday: Brian Ford

February 6, 2026 By Jay Brooks

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.

Brian-Ford-git-er-started — Brian and Lisa at their Get’r Started Party in 2015.

Beer Birthday: Sean Turner

January 30, 2026 By Jay Brooks

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

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

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.