Today is the 61st birthday of Mitch Steele, former production manager/head brewer at Stone Brewing. Mitch started out at the tiny San Andreas Brewery in Hollister, California but spent a number of years at one of the much larger Budweiser breweries when he brewed for Anheuser-Busch, before finding a home at Stone. More recently, he’s left that job to create something of his own, in Atlanta, Georgia. New Realm Brewing opened officially in January of 2018. He’s obviously a terrific brewer but is also a great person and close friend, too. He has been my roomie for GABF judging a couple of years and is also the author of IPA: Brewing Techniques, Recipes and the Evolution of India Pale Ale. He’s a big advocate for craft beer and always willing to help out a fellow brewer or homebrewer. Join me in wishing Mitch a very happy birthday.
Mitch with Stone co-founder Steve Wagner at the Craft Brewers Conference in 2007.
Mitch picking up his 3rd Place award on the floor of GABF 2009 for Stone’s Levitation Ale on cask at a special judging at the Great British Beer Festival in 2009 (and which I had the pleasure to judge).
Betsy Hensley, Judy Ashworth, Mitch, Brendan Moylan & Bruce Paton at the Celebrator’s 22nd Anniversary Party.
Mitch and 21st Amendment brewer Shaun O’Sullivan practicing their pointing during a collaboration brew in 2008 in San Francisco.
Outside the Bistro IPA Festival in 2007 with Publican Judy Ashworth, Former San Andreas Brewing owner Bill Millar, Mitch and Bistro owner Vic Krajl.
Pete Slosberg, Marty Velas, George Reisch and Mitch at Grillshack Fries and Burgers in Nashville during CBC.
And no birthday post is complete without a blast from the past. Here’s Mitch’s high school prom photo in all its living color glory. It’s from Northgate High School Class of 1980 in Walnut Creek, CA (special thanks to Mitch for updating the old black & white photo with the glorious color one!). Love the powder blue tux.
Happy bday Mitch!!!! We sure remember those San Andreas days!!! What time but such a longggg time ago!!!!! The beers, the live music, Bill and Carol, we spent many hours there. It was good to see you at Stone a couple years ago. Here’s to a great birthday!!!!
Happy Birthday Mitch! I hope that your holidays were good and best of luck for 2011!
Happy Birthday Mitch! Although I don’t know you, I know a lot about you — my in-laws are Bill and Carol from the San Andreas Brewery!
Have a great day!
Hope you have a great birthday!! I still have a bottle from your wedding belle ale!
Another year, another greeting!!! We still have some of my San Andreas t shirts and sweatshirts. And hats, and glasses…… Sure glad you’re back in CA. Harry went to your talk at the NHC in San Diego with one of the shirts on and wanted to talk to you but so did everyone else, you’re a popular guy!!! Hope you have a great day!!! And lots of great beers!
Thanks Jay for posting this! Wow, it’s nice to see these comments from my friends in Hollister- I miss San Andreas!
Happy bday Mitch! Sure hope you had a great bday! Harry wore his San Andreas sweatshirt on our trip to Sac. recently and mine was in the laundry, wear it so much. Good luck in your new venture!!!!! Sure it will be a change going to Georgia but an exciting one. Cheers, Kim and Harry, San Jose, CA
Funny today’s your email Mitch as I have on a San Andreas sweatshirt, still wear it a lot and get asked about it. Hope you’re having a great beerday! Will toast you tonight! Cheers!
Hoppy Beerday Mitch! Still wearing my San Andreas Sweatshirt, one of my favs! Hope you have a great day and all is going well at New Realm, must check it out sometime.
Cheers
Kim and Harry