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You are here: Home / Birthdays / Beer Birthday: Steve Donohue

Beer Birthday: Steve Donohue

August 3, 2025 By Jay Brooks 15 Comments

santa-clara-valley
Today is the 54th birthday of Steve Donohue, former brewmaster at Firehouse Grill & Brewery in Sunnyvale, California. Steve is an unsung brewer who deserves more accolades and fame. After Firehouse, He spent some time brewing at Hermitage Brewing while working on opening his own place. Steve’s brewery, Santa Clara Valley Brewing finally did open and, not surprisingly, seemed to be going gangbusters, but unfortunately he closed during the pandemic. Join me in wishing Steve a very happy birthday.

Steve with Peter Cogan from the Tied House, during the 2009 Celebrator party.
Hermitage assistant brewer, Steve, Peter Licht and me during a visit to the Hermitage Brewery in San Jose several years ago.
Steve at last year’s 22nd Celebrator anniversary party at the end of SF Beer Week.
Steve-Donohue-1
Pete Slosberg with Steve.
Steve-Donohue-2
Steve Altimari, brewer at High Water Brewing, Steve and Steve Shapiro, from Beer by Bart.

Note: Last two photos purloined from Facebook, taken by Arie Litman.

Filed Under: Birthdays Tagged With: California, Northern California



Comments

  1. Arie Litman says

    August 3, 2010 at 2:21 pm

    Happy Birthday Steve.. Enjoy your day!

    P.S. Yes, the last two photos are taken by me.

    Reply
  2. Jen says

    August 3, 2010 at 9:44 pm

    Steve rocks!

    Reply
  3. Derrick says

    August 4, 2010 at 5:46 am

    “Steve is an unsung brewer who deserves more accolades and fame,”

    You got that right!

    Recent seasonals from Firehouse like the OTIS Imperial Stout, their Imperial Red, and Pete’s Support Belgian IPA have been excellent and overlooked. I suppose that happens when you are located in the less than glamorous Bay Area locations of Sunnyvale and East Palo Alto.

    Reply
  4. The Duke Of Dunkel says

    August 4, 2010 at 8:37 am

    Steves and Petes. Where would the beer world be without them.

    Reply
  5. Kim and Harry says

    August 4, 2010 at 11:12 am

    We hope you have a wonderful bday Steve!!!! Thanks for the great tour when our Brit friends were here last month. That was one of the highlights of their trip! And Bren’s bday! Hope you have some great brews today!!!

    Reply
  6. Kevin says

    August 4, 2010 at 11:36 am

    A very happy birthday goes out to Steve! Keep making awesome beers Steve.

    Reply
  7. Rick says

    August 3, 2011 at 5:00 pm

    Cheers! One picture, three Steves… Nice!

    Reply
  8. fraggle says

    August 3, 2011 at 6:09 pm

    happy bornday steve!!
    see you in two weeks!

    Reply
  9. Steve says

    August 3, 2011 at 9:41 pm

    Thanks Jay. I really appreciate the well wishes! Thank you to everyone else as well!

    Reply
  10. Kim and Harry says

    August 4, 2011 at 1:27 pm

    Hope you have another great bday! Saw you in El Toro when the Internationals were there but you were with your family so didn’t disturb you. We’ll toast a few for you!

    Reply
  11. Mark Pettyjohn says

    April 22, 2012 at 11:14 am

    Good day, just wanted to give you a heads up that we here at California Cafe are Featuring Steve Donohue this Thursday, April 26th for our monthly Beer Dinner series. The menu is below, but there might be a course not on the menu at California Cafe and a Beer not on the menu at Firehouse!?!

    Firehouse Brewery
    Brewmasters Dinner
    April 26Th, 2012

    First Course

    SEARED DAY BOAT SCALLOP
    Vanilla-Grapefruit Butter, Pepper Cress
    St. Eve’s Belgesque Goldish Strong Revolutionary Ale

    Second Course

    Hefe Soaked Roast Chicken
    Banana Mole, Pickled Papaya, Crisp Plantain Chip
    Hefeweizen

    Third Course

    COFFEE CRUSTED ANGUS RIBEYE
    Wild Mushroom Risotto, Blackberry-Liquorice Demi
    Brendan’s Irish Stout

    Dessert Course

    Hardly Glazed Plums
    Pine Nut-Prune Chutney, Honey-Cinnamon Sabayon
    Hardly Thomas Barley Wine

    $45 per person exclusive of taxes & gratuities

    Reply
  12. Kim and Harry says

    August 3, 2012 at 11:28 am

    Hope you have a great bday! Can’t wait for SCVB to open!!!

    Reply
  13. Kim and Harry Graham says

    August 4, 2013 at 2:19 pm

    Happy bday Steve! Looking forward to your own place opening!!! Hope it’s soon!

    Reply
  14. Kim and Harry Graham says

    August 3, 2014 at 11:24 am

    Happy bday Steve! Hope your new place opens soon so we can check it out!! Long time no see!

    Reply
  15. Kim and Harry Graham says

    August 4, 2016 at 12:45 pm

    Happy beerday Steve! Love going to your brewery, always great beers on tap!! Keep them up and we’ll keep coming!

    Reply

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