Oregon

Beer Birthday: Jamie Floyd

by Jay Brooks on February 2, 2012 · 3 comments

in Birthdays

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Today is the 40th birthday of Jamie Floyd, co-owner/brewer of Ninkasi Brewing in Eugene, Oregon. Jamie has been a fixture in the Oregon brewing scene for many years, having brewed at Steelhead Brewing, also in Eugene, before opening Ninkasi with Nikos Ridge in 2006. Join me in wishing Jamie a very happy birthday.

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Jamie at Magnolia for SF Beer Week in 2011.

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At the Oregon Brewers Festival in 2006.

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Jamie, with John Maier, from Rogue Brewing, and Nikos Ridge, also from Ninkasi, at the Sasquatch Brew Fest in 2007.

Jamie Floyd, from Ninkasi Brewing
Jamie at last year’s GABF.

Justin Crossley (Brewing Network) & Jamie Floyd (Ninkasi)
Justin Crossley, of the Brewing Network, with Jamie at the Opening Gala for the 2010 SF Beer Week.

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Beer Birthday: Jamie Emmerson

by Jay Brooks on January 18, 2012 · 0 comments

in Birthdays

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Today is the 49th birthday of Jamie Emmerson, one of the founders, and the original brewmaster, of Full Sail Brewing. Now the Executive Brewmaster, Jamie steers the ship of Full Sail along with his wife and co-founder Irene. Jamie is a terrific person and active promoter of craft beer and the local beer community everywhere, but especially in Oregon. Join me in wishing Jamie a very happy birthday.

Jamie Emmerson & Art Larrance
Jamie with Art Larrance at the OBF Parade in 2009.

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Barney Brennan, me Jamie and Irene Fermat at SAVOR in Washington, DC last year.

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With the ceremonial hammer at the opening of OBF in 2008.

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Beer Birthday: Kurt Widmer

by Jay Brooks on December 29, 2011 · 4 comments

in Birthdays

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Today is Kurt Widmer’s 60th birthday. Kurt is, of course, one of the bros in Widmer Brothers. He and his brother Rob helped found the Oregon Brewers Festival, created the style American Hefeweizen and are one of the few small brewers that have managed to retain their spirit and reputation as they’ve grown much larger. Join me in wishing Kurt a very happy birthday.

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Kurt (at left) and Rob Widmer with their wives at the Oregon Brewers Festival several years ago.

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Kurt and Rob after their win for Mid-Size Brewing Company of the Year at GABF in 2002.

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Beer Birthday: Jack Joyce

by Jay Brooks on December 10, 2011 · 5 comments

in Birthdays

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The original rogue, Jack Joyce, who founded Oregon Brewing — better known today as Rogue — celebrates his 69th birthday today. Join me in wishing Jack a very happy birthday.

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Jack (on right) at the Oregon Brewers Festival with Fred Bowman, co-founder of Portland Brewing and Tom Dalldorf, Celebrator publisher.

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At the OBF Parade in 2007, Jack Joyce with festival organizer Chris Crabb await the arrival of the mayor.

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One of the best photos of Jack I’ve seen. This was taken by Leah Nash for a New York Times article entitled Food and Fuel Compete for Land.

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Beer Birthday: Darron Welch

by Jay Brooks on November 29, 2011 · 0 comments

in Birthdays


Today is the 44th birthday of Darron Welch, brewmaster at Pelican Pub & Brewery in Pacific City, Oregon. Darron has something like a gazillion awards for his beers, including “Brewer of the Year” four times (at GABF in 2000 and 2005 for small brewpub and in 2006 for large brewpub; and at the World Beer Cup in 2008 for large brewpub). In addition to being a great brewer, Darron is also a terrific person, as well. Join me in wishing him a very happy birthday.

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At a beer dinner at the Cathedral Hill Hotel in San Francisco this January, Pelican Pub brewmaster Darron Welch with the Beer Chef Bruce Paton.

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Darron and the gang (including Ben Love at far left) from Pelican Pub & Brewery winning Gold for their Kiwanda Cream Ale at GABF in 2006.

Darron Welch (2nd from Left) with the Pelican Brewpub Team
Darron, again with the Peilcan Crew, this time at GABF in 2009.

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Beer Birthday: Brett Joyce

by Jay Brooks on November 22, 2011 · 3 comments

in Birthdays

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Today is the 39th birthday of Brett Joyce, President of Rogue. Joyce grew up in the brewery, which his father Jack founded when Brett was sixteen. Having gone off to college and made a name for himself working with Adidas, building their international golf shoe business from the ground up, he returned to work for the brewery several years ago. I’ve gotten to know Brett much better since his return, beginning with when I interviewed him a couple of years ago for an article profiling him. He also invited me to see their floor malting enterprise during OBF earlier this year, and look for some fun photos from that experience soon. Join me in wishing Brett a very happy birthday.

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Brett at the Full Sail Smoker during OBF, after a quick interview I did with him for Beer Advocate magazine.

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Brett Joyce, accepting a medal on behalf of Rogue at the World Beer Cup in 2008.

The wedding party: Vinnie, Dave, Jennifer, Natalie, minister Brett Joyce and me, who gave the bride away
At Dave & Jen’s wedding during GABF last year: Vinnie, Dave, Jennifer, Natalie, minister Brett Joyce and me.

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Brett, me and Brian Dunn, from Great Divide, at last year’s SAVOR in Washington, DC.

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Me, Brett and Rogue’s maltster at their floor malting facility in Portland (more about that soon).

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Beer Birthday: Rob Widmer

November 5, 2011

Today is Rob Widmer’s 55th birthday. Rob is, of course, one of the bros in Widmer Brothers. He and his brother Kurt helped found the Oregon Brewers Festival, created the style American Hefeweizen and are one of the few small brewers that have managed to retain their spirit and reputation as they’ve grown much larger. [...]

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Beer Birthday: Alan Sprints

September 7, 2011

Today is the big 52nd birthday of Alan Sprints. Alan is the founder of Hair of the Dog Brewery in Portland, Oregon. Alan makes some of the most unique and wonderful beers, not just in Portland, but anywhere, all the more impressive because he brews out of an old Campbell’s soup kettle. He recently relocated [...]

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Beer Birthday: Fred Bowman

August 27, 2011

Today is Fred Bowman’s 67th birthday. Fred co-founded the Portland Brewing Co., which was bought by a few years ago byPyramid Breweries, which in turn was bought by Magic Hat and now recently again by North American Breweries. Fred continues to be very active in the craft beer community, and has been supportive of the [...]

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Beer Birthday: Megan Flynn

August 9, 2011

Today is the 28th birthday of Megan Flynn, publisher of what was originally Beer Northwest, a magazine focusing on beer in the Pacific Northwest, but which has recently been rebranded Beer West and widened its focus to include northern California. She’s done a wonderful job with her quarterly publication, though I may be slightly biased [...]

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Beer Birthday: Matt Van Wyk

August 2, 2011

Today is Matt Van Wyk’s 39th birthday. Matt was the brewmaster at Flossmoor Station but a few years ago moved to Eugene, Oregon to brew at Oakshire Brewing. He also used to co-write one of the best brewer’s blogs, the Flossmoor Station Blog and is now blogging for Oakshire. Join me in wishing Matt a [...]

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OBF Opening Ceremonies

August 1, 2011

After we marched from McMenamin’s Crystal Ballroom to the Tom McCall Waterfront Park and the Oregon Brewers Festival, the ceremonial keg was brought into the park by the Hammerheads from this year’s parade host brewery, McMenamin’s. Hammerheads and the ceremonial cask. The Hammerheads and the Ruby Witches McMenamins’ folks positioned themselves in front of the [...]

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Oregon Brewers Festival Parade 2011

July 28, 2011

Although I missed last year’s Oregon Brewers Festival for the first time in many years, it felt like it had been at least five years since I’d been back. That’s how much I missed Portland, and I was thrilled to be there again. After the Brewer’s Dinner Wednesday night, I attended the brunch, this year [...]

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Beer Birthday: John Harris

July 24, 2011

Today is John Harris’ 48th birthday. John is the head brewer at Full Sail Brewing and is responsible for many of their excellent beers. He also plays washboard with the Rolling Boil Blues Band. Plus he’s a terrific person, so join me in wishing John a very happy birthday. By the Celebrator booth at OBF, [...]

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Beer Birthday: Lisa Morrison

July 11, 2011

There is more than one reason to celebrate Portland today, because it’s also the birthday of Lisa Morrison (a.k.a. The Beer Goddess). Lisa does a radio show, Beer O’Clock with The Beer Goddess, is the Portland correspondent for the Celebrator, and also writes online for Rate Beer’s Hop Press, among much else. And her new [...]

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Beer Birthday: Don Younger

July 11, 2011

Today would have been publican extraordinaire Don Younger’s 70th birthday. He ran the famous Horse Brass pub in Portland, Oregon, along with a few others, for many years. Don was a wonderful person and his early and continuing support of craft beer helped make Portland the great beer town it is today. As you undoubtedly [...]

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