Today is the birthday of John Gillooly, who until recently was the brewmaster at Drake’s Brewing. I’m not sure where I first met John. It may have been when he was brewing at Speakeasy, but I feel like I must have run into him when he was at Golden Pacific years before. In between he spent time at Trumer, Dogfish Head and Sonoma’s sadly short-lived Siena Red. More recently, he left to open his own place in the East Bay, which is called Brix Factory Brewing. Join me in wishing John a very happy birthday.

John with Kushal Hall during a visit to Speakeasy in 2009.

Tim Clifford, from Sante Adairius, with John, in 2015.

At Beachwood BBQ & Brewing in 2014, John, Julian Shrango and photographer Nick Gingold.

Tasty, John and Collin McDonnell at Drake’s Session Fest.

[NOTE: Last three photos purloined from Facebook.]