Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

Socialize

Archives for April 20, 2020

Beer In Ads #3326: Amstel Blonde

By Leave a Comment

Monday’s ad is for Heineken Beer, from around 1950. From the late 1800s until the 1980s, poster art really came into its own, and in Europe a lot of really cool posters, many of them for breweries, were produced. I’ve been posting vintage European posters all last year and will continue to do so in 2020. This one was created for Amstel Brewery, which was founded in 1870 in Amsterdam, in The Netherlands. The Heineken family bought the brewery in 1968. The poster was created by Dutch artist Jan Wijga.

Beer Birthday: Drew Beechum

By 3 Comments

maltose-falcons
Today is the 46th birthday of Drew Beechum, who’s a past president of the Maltose Falcons homebrewing club and its current webmeister. He’s also the author of The Everything Homebrewing Book: All you need to brew the best beer at home! and writes a regular column for Beer Advocate magazine. Join me in wishing Drew a very happy birthday.

drew-beechum-1
Drew’s Facebook Profile picture.

drew-beechum-2
Drew at 21st Amendment.

drew-beechum-3
Drew in a Jayne hat — from Firefly — with his wife, Aymee. (NOTE: All photos purloined from Facebook.)

Beer Birthday: Des De Moor

By Leave a Comment

Today is the 59th birthday of Des de Moor, who’s a London-based freelance beer writer. I honestly can’t recall exactly when we met, but we’ve been judging together at beer competitions and attending other beer events around the world for a number of years, and Des is great fun to share a pint with. He’s also the author of the CAMRA Guide to London’s Best Beer Pubs & Bars. Join in wishing Des a very happy birthday.

Des having a Harvey’s Sussex Bitter at The Royal Oak earlier this year for his Flagship February essay.
During one of our side trips during the Brussels Beer Challenge in 2016. Des is on the right, next to Yuri, while I’m on the opposite side, leaning against the cases of beer.
This is the face of a man with an empty glass who wants it filled.
And this is his Flagship February shot from 2019.

Beer Birthday: Brenden Dobel

By Leave a Comment

thirsty-bear
Today is the 50th birthday — the Big 5-O — of Brenden Dobel, head brewer at Thirsty Bear in San Francisco. Brenden grew up in the Bay Area, but learned brewing in Bavaria, at Doemans. He also brewed at Reccow and Broken Drum, before coming to Thirsty Bear over ten years ago. Brenden’s a terrific guy to share a pint with and discuss arcane subjects like history or English literature. If he hadn’t found brewing, he most likely would have ended up a teacher, or perhaps a sailor. Please join me in wishing Brenden a very happy birthday.

Shaun O'Sullivan, from 21st Amendment, and Brendan Dobel, Thirsty Bear
With Shaun O’Sullivan at the SF Brewers Guild festival in 2010.

thirsty-bears
Brenden at some old unknown event.

Lars Larson (Trumer) & Brendan Dobbel (Thirsty Bear)
With Trumer brewmaster Lars Larson at the Celebrator’s 22nd anniversary party in 2010.

Clockwise from Left: Rich Higgins, John Tucci, Brenden Dobbel & Aron Deorsey with the 4 bottles of dessert
Clockwise from Left: Rich Higgins, John Tucci, Brenden & Aron Deorsey with our 4 bottles of dessert at a Sierra Nevada beer dinner after beer camp a few years ago where we made a beer for SF Beer Week.