Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Historic Beer Birthday: Jack Curtin

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Today is fellow Pennsylvania beer writer Jack Curtin’s birthday (November 9, 1932-October 1, 2013), who passed away in 2013 at the ripe old age of 81. You could read his writings and rantings on a variety of subjects at his Liquid Diet Online, Curtin’s Corner, I Have Heard the Mermaids Singing, and The Great Disconnect. If you think I don’t know when to stop, check out Jack’s voluminous output. Plus Jack was one of my favorite people to kvetch about politics with, over a pint, of course, and, also like me, worked in comics for a time, too. Join me in drinking a toast to Jack tonight.

Jack and me at Nodding Head during Philly Beer Week many years ago.
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Jack, at right, with fellow Pennsylvanians Don Russell (a.k.a. Joe Sixpack) and Lew Bryson. I’m originally from Pennsylvania, too. What is it about the Commonwealth and beer writers?
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Tomme Arthur and Jack.
Jack Curtin, Sam Calagione, Ed Friedland and Curt's assistant brewer
Jack with Sam Calagione, Ed Friedland and Nodding Head’s then-assistant brewer.

Historic Beer Birthday: Edward George Bremer

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Today is the birthday of Edward George Bremer (November 8, 1897-May 4, 1965). He was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota and was the son of Adolf Bremer and the nephew of Otto Bremer, who together owned the Jacob Schmidt Brewing Co. after Adolf married the daughter of Jacob Schmidt. Because of his wealthy father, Edward was kidnapped in 1934 and held for ransom in a case that attracted national attention.

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Below is his obituary from the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner in 1965.

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Edward with his father, Adolf Bremer.

Beer Birthday: Jason Petros

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Today is the 47th birthday of Jason Petros, who is part of The Brewing Network, and co-host on the Session, host of Dr. Homebrew, plus he inexplicably has a podcast about Disneyland called EarzUp Podcast. He really likes the happiest place on earth. He even has a side business, covears, selling colorful covers for your mouse ears. Oh, and he’s the social media director for the Brewing Network, not to mention an avid homebrewer, of course. Join me in wishing Jason a very happy birthday.

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Jason (far left), at the 3rd anniversary party for the Brewing Network in 2008 at Downtown Joe’s in Napa.
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See, I told you he liked Disneyland … and churros.
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Men in Plaid: Justin Crossley, Shaun O’Sullivan and Jason at an SF Beer Week opening a few years ago.
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Jason and his wife Taren at Drake’s Dealership a couple of years ago.

Beer Birthday: Steve Altimari

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Today is the 65th birthday of Steve Altimari, until recently the founder and brewmaster of High Water Brewing. I first met Steve when he was still brewing for Valley in Stockton, before that went spectacularly south, and we’ve been good friends ever since. When Steve was working on the new brewing company, I even suggested the name and he graciously gave me a few shares in the company as a thank you. Of course, he’s also smart enough to never ask my business advice so I’m hardly involved and can remain in impartial. Though to be fair, the fact that he makes uniformly great beers helps. Join me in wishing Steve a very happy birthday.

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Stephen Beaumont, Steve and me at Barclay’s during SF Beer Week 2010.
Peace Or 2 Medals: Steve Altimari, from Valley Brewing
A very happy Steve at the Falling Rock Taphouse in Denver, after winning two medals at the 2009 Great American Beer Festival.
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The Three Steves: Steve Altimari, Steve Donohue and Steve Shapiro, from Beer by Bart, at the Breastfest. (Photo by Arie Litman.)
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Craig Cauwels, from Schooner’s, with Steve at the Celebrator’s 18th anniversary party in 2007.
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Peter Hoey, looking about twelve, with Steve, at the first Raley Field Beer Festival in 2007.

Beer Birthday: Gary Fish

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Today is the 69th birthday of Gary Fish, founder of Deschutes Brewing in Bend, Oregon. Gary grew up in Northern California wine country, but relocated to Bend to start the brewery in 1987, opening the original brewpub the following year. Since then, they built a production brewery and have gone on to open two additional brewpub locations, one in Bend and one in Portland. As of last year, they were the 5th largest craft brewery and the 11th largest brewery in America. Not bad for a brewery with a Porter as its flagship. Plus, Gary is a great person to discuss politics with, preferably over a beer. Join me in wishing Gary a very happy birthday.

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Larry Sidor, former brewmaster at Deschutes (and now at his Crux Fermentation Project), with Alan Sprints (from Hair of the Dog) and Gary at their downtown Bend brewpub when we visited there last summer on a family vacation.
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Gary Fish, Kurt Widmer (from Widmer Brothers) and beer writer Fred Eckhardt at Don Younger’s memorial (photo by Tom Dalldorf).
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Gary accepting the OBF hammer after the parade in 2009.
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Presenting a World Beer Award for “World’s Best Stout” a couple of years ago in Bend to Gary and his crew at Deschutes.
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U.S. Representative Peter DeFazio, Gary, and Representative Greg Walden — all from Oregon — enjoying craft beer at a Capitol Hill reception when the Small Brewers Conference held their first meeting.

Historic Beer Birthday: John N. Straub

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Today is the birthday of John N. Straub (November 6, 1810-November 1891). He was born in Darmstadt, Germany, and emigrated at age 20 to the U.S., in 1830, landing initially in Baltimore, but as soon as he was able moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1831, he founded the John N. Straub Brewery and became what is believed to be the first lager brewer there. As far as I can tell, he is not related to the Straub Brewery in nearby St. Marys, Pennsylvania, although its founder Peter Straub did work for John N. Straub when he first came to America, before starting his own brewery. The John N. Straub Brewery also had a branch in Allegheny, and in 1899, it became a branch of the Pittsburgh Brewing Co.

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This biography by his son is from “100 Years of Brewing:”

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This short obituary is from the Brewers Journal:

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And this is a short history of the brewery itself, also from “100 Years of Brewing.”

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Beer Birthday: Greg Hall

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Today is the 60th birthday — The Big 6-O — of Greg Hall, former brewmaster at Goose Island Brewing. Goose Island, of course, made some incredible beers. Founded by Greg’s father John Hall in 1988, Greg became brewmaster a few years later and has been setting high standards ever since, though he left after the family business was acquired by ABI. His new venture is Virtue Cider. Join me in wishing Greg a very happy birthday.

Wil Turner, also with Goose Island, me and Greg at the 2006 GABF.
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Greg with Alex Puchner, head of brewing operations for BJs.
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Greg with the owners of Monk’s Kettle in San Francisco.
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Greg pulling a proper pint of English brewed Honkers Ale at the Crosse Keys in London (this last photo purloined from Facebook).

Beer Birthday: Kim Sturdavant

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Today is the 46th birthday of Kim Sturdavant. He was born in Eugene, Oregon and got his professional brewing start at Marin Brewing Co. before taking over at Social Kitchen & Brewery in San Francisco in 2011. While there he invented the Brut IPA sub-style, which was a popular type of IPA for a time. He left in 2019 and for a time was brewing at Pacifica Brewery, but more recently he’s joined Admiral Maltings as a Technical Sales Representative. Kim’s a great brewer and a terrific person. Join me in wishing Kim a very happy birthday.

Kim at Pacifica Brewery.
Kim for a newspaper article I did about him and Brut IPA a few years back.
Kim on stage with Charlie Papazian, Brendan Moylan and Arne Johnson picking up a medal during GABF in 2011.
Kim serving at the opening gala for SF Beer Week, also in 2011.
Kim with a few fellow brewers at the Celebrator Beer News Anniversary Party in 2009.

Historic Beer Birthday: William G. Jung

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Today is the birthday of William Gustave Jung (November 5, 1886-September 17, 1947). I couldn’t find very much information about Jung, though I believe he was born in Germany. After seeking his fortune in America, he apparently worked at the Silver Creek Brewery, which also became known as the Chas. Hamm Brewing Co. in 1910. Unfortunately, Charles Hamm died of pneumonia while an American soldier in Europe in 1918. Jung, who was a brewmaster, leased the brewery from the Hamm family after Charles Hamm’s death (including making non-alcoholic drinks and soda during prohibition as the Jung Beverage Co.) until 1932, when he bought it from the family, renaming it the William G. Jung Products Co. Brewery, but a few years later shortening that to the Jung Brewing Co. It remained in business until 1958, when it closed for good.

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Beer Birthday: Rob Widmer

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Today is Rob Widmer’s 69th 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. Join me in wishing Rob a very happy birthday.

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Kurt and Rob Widmer with ther 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.
Rob with the Ralph’s (Olson and Woodall) from HopUnion at the 15th Anniversary Party for the Celebrator Beer News.
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Rob with the late, great Don Younger at Wynkoop during GABF in 2009.