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.]
Today is also the 28th birthday of Nicole Erny, a certified Cicerone and passionate beer lover, who used to work at The Trappist and as a “Beer Ambassador” at the CommonWealth Cafe & Public House, both in beautiful downtown Oakland. She now works with Ray Daniels’ Cicerone program. Nicole and I almost worked together on a great-sounding beer project, but alas it fell apart. She’s a great advocate for better beer and has more energy than any two people I know. Join me in wishing Nicole a very happy birthday.
Rodger Davis, Nicole and Claudia Davis at Triple Rock’s Sourfest last year during SF Beer Week.
Dan Shelton and Nicole during GABF in 2009.
Toasting the End of GABF Week with Matt Brynildson at the Falling Rock in 2009.
A great shot for Nathan Smith and Nicole’s Beer School at The Trappist last year. (photo “borrowed” from Jon Weber’s Beer Obsessed, in the hopes he won’t mind.)
I was really hoping to avoid writing about the Occupy Oakland horrors currently going on in the city I used to call home. But last Thursday, Oakland Police apparently injured yet another war veteran — two tours, one each in Iraq and Afghanistan — simply trying to walk to his home, rupturing his spleen in the process and refusing him medical attention for eighteen hours! It turns out the man, Kayvan Sabeghi, is a co-founder of Elevation 66 Brewing, a new Bay Area brewpub which opened in nearby El Cerrito this past September. As a result of his beating, Sabeghi ended up in intensive care fighting for his life, but nobody knew about it until Friday, because the police that beat him bad enough to give him a lacerated spleen and a few broken ribs ignored his pleas for help, instead hurling insults at him and calling him a heroin addict, an alcoholic and a diabetic, none of which were true.
So that means the police injured not only another war veteran, but also a small business owner — in right wing parlance a “job-creator” — who according to what I’ve read posed no real threat to the peace at all. What’s perhaps most disturbing of all is the comments on news websites where many are suggesting his story is not true, or he deserved it or simply applauding the police for hurting him. That people can be so cruel is not exactly news to me, but it’s still pretty hard to stomach.
The Daily Kos posted a story, now updated three times, on Friday, which includes an interview with the victim’s sister. There are also reports on the UK’s Guardian, Reuters and the Huffington Post.
The El Cerrito Patch also covered the incident, as they’d previously written about his brewpub, Elevation 66, in Made-In-El Cerrito Beer: Elevation 66 Brewer Describes New Pub’s Approach. In addition to the brewpub’s website, their Facebook page also has updates about Sabeghi’s progress. Let’s all wish him a speedy recovery. And if you’re hankering for a beer, perhaps a trip to El Cerrito is in order.
Today is the 59th birthday of Don Gortemiller, brewmaster for Pacific Coast Brewing in Oakland, California. Don’s been making beer there since the very beginning, back in 1988, helping to put Oakland and the Bay Area on the beer map. Join me in wishing Don a very happy birthday.
Pacific Coast founder Steve Wolfe with Don at their 2009 annual Holiday Beer Tasting.
Don toasting with his beer.
Bruce Joseph with Don at Anchor Brewing.
Don rockin’ out as a young man.
Note: the last three photos purloined from Facebook.
Just got some great news. Steve McDaniel, co-founder of the soon to be open Oakland Brewing, and his lovely wife Justine Nguyen, had their first child yesterday. Justine gave birth to Merritt just after Noon on October 30. It sounds like mother and son are doing great, as Justine is up and using Facebook. Join me in wishing the happy couple all the best on their birth of their son. Congratulations Steve and Justine!
Particulars:
Original Gravity: 7 pounds, 11 ounces
IBUs: 21 in.
Style: Boy
Release Date: October 30, 2010
Label: Merritt Anh Xbalanque McDaniel
Steve McDaniel and Justine Nguyen’s new son Merritt.
A sleeping Merritt Anh Xbalanque McDaniel.
A new Bay Area beer festival will be held this Saturday, May 1, from Noon to 3:00 p.m., at Jack London Square. It’s sponsored by the local radio station KGO. It will be called the Craft Beer and Fine Food Celebration and will a benefit for the Alameda County Food Bank. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. According to the website, you’ll be able to “taste 30 different craft and specialty beers, along with delicious food from fine Bay Area restaurants.” So far, nineteen breweries are listed on the website along with ten food providers. There’s also a Facebook event page with additional details.
