# Brookston Beer Bulletin

> Jay R. Brooks on Beer


## Posts

- [Beer In Ads #5162: I'm Back Again! Duquesne Bock Beer](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-in-ads-5162-im-back-again-duquesne-bock-beer/): Two years ago I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: John Roehm](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-john-roehm/): Today is the birthday of John Roehm (January 5, 1849-June 9, 1907). He was born in Bavaria, Germany, but moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1888 and bought the brewery of Anton Stroebele (founded in 1870), renaming it the John Roehm Brewery, but also traded under the Consumers Brewing Co., at least until 1909. After Roehm’s death in 1907, his brewery appears to be sold to Henry Hess and went through several name (and probably ownership) changes until lastly it was known as the Otto Erlanger Brewing Co. from 1837 to 1951, when it closed for good. Unfortunately, I haven’t been […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Thomas Aitken](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-thomas-aitken/): Today is the birthday of Thomas Aitken (January 5, 1821-January 5, 1884). He was born in Scotland, but emigrated to Australia in 1842, when he was 19. “In 1851 he founded the Corio Brewery in Geelong, and later started the Union Brewery in Melbourne. By 1854 he was in business at Victoria Parade, East Melbourne, where he had built a new brewery, distillery and malthouse. The large complex was called the Victoria Parade Brewery,” which was later known simply as the Victoria Brewery. He also developed the formula for their most popular beer, Victoria Bitter, also in 1854. When Thomas […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Matt Bonney](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-birthday-matt-bonney/): Today would have been the 52nd birthday of Matt Bonney, formerly of Brouwer’s and Bottleworks, both in Seattle, Washington, and later the proprietor of Toronado Seattle. Bonney was one of my favorite people in the industry. You would have been be hard-pressed to find a person more passionate about good beer. He also knew how to throw a party and was always a gracious host. Unfortunately, he unexpectedly passed away in late March of 2019. Join me in drinking a toast to Bonney tonight. He is definitely missed.
- [Beer Birthday: Rodger Davis](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-birthday-rodger-davis/): Today is Rodger Davis’ 56th birthday. He’s the former head brewer at Triple Rock in Berkeley, California, among much else, and several years ago opened his own brewery in Alameda, Faction Brewing, along with his wife Claudia Pamparana. Rodger is a terrific brewer and has been very active in the local beer community and it’s great to see him at the helm of his own place. He’s one of those people always giving the craft beer world a good name, helping colleagues, organizing festivals and being a good friend to all. If only he could keep his tongue in his […]
- [Beer In Ads #5161: Uncle Ned Says: Free State Bock Beer](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-in-ads-5161-uncle-ned-says-free-state-bock-beer/): Two years ago I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Denis Holliday](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-denis-holliday/): Today is the birthday of Denis Holliday (January 4, 1917-June 2, 2016). He was born in Great Yarmouth, England, and worked as an apprentice at Greene King beginning in 1938. He then worked at Tollemache brewery in Ipswich and Bass’s Wenlock Brewery in London before being hired by Dorchester’s Eldridge Pope as head brewer in 1954. He completely cleaned up the brewery and turned the old brewery into a modern one. He also created their Royal Oak and Thomas Hardy’s Ale. In 1972, he won “a record seven International Brewing Awards, the “Oscars” of the beer industry, at the London […]
- [Beer Birthday: Derek Walsh](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-birthday-derek-walsh/): Today is the 68th birthday of Derek Walsh. Derek was born in Toronto, Canada, but has lived in the Netherlands as long as I’ve known him. He originally worked in the aviation industry, but also attended the Doemens Akademie Gräfelfing in Munich. He currently works as a consultant for BEER+, which he founded in 2002, and also works with StiBON, a beer education program. I first met Derek somewhere judging a beer competition but it was long enough ago for me not to remember when or where. But I see him frequently worldwide at various judging opportunities throughout the average […]
- [Beer Birthday: Michael Roper](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-birthday-michael-roper/): Today is the 72nd birthday of Michael Roper, who along with his wife Louise, founded and owns the Hopleaf Bar in Chicago, Illinois, one of the city’s best beer bars. His story in the beer world is quite interesting and important, and you can read more about it in an interview by All About Beer Magazine’s John Holl, a Voyage Chicago profile, or you read about the bar’s history on Hopleaf’s own website. I think I first met Michael when the Craft Brewers Conference was in Chicago, which was 2010, although our paths may have crossed before then. But I’ve […]
- [Beer In Ads #5160: Insist On The Very Best! Stegmaier Bock Beer](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-in-ads-5160-insist-on-the-very-best-stegmaier-bock-beer/): Two years ago I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Michael Sieben](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-michael-sieben/): Today is the birthday of Michael Sieben (January 3, 1835-September 5, 1925). He was born in Ebersheim, Germany, but came to America when he was 25, in 1860. In 1865, he bought the James L. Hoerber Brewery, running it until 1875, when he built a new brewery which he named the Michael Sieben Brewery. Twenty years later he sold that brewery to the Excelsior Brewing Co., but promptly built another brewery, selling that one to United Breweries Co. in 1898, though he remained its manager of the Sieben’s Branch. A brewery bearing his name continued on in Chicago until prohibition, […]
- [Beer Birthday: Rafał Kowalczyk](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-birthday-rafal-kowalczyk/): Today is the birthday of Rafał Kowalczyk, who founded the JaBEERwocky Brower in Warsaw, Poland. They also operate two pubs, one in Warsaw and the other in Poznan. I’ve judged several times and in several places with Rafał, but have only gotten to know him more recently, and he’s a terrific person. Join me in wishing Rafał a very happy birthday.
- [Tolkien's " The Man in the Moon Stayed Up Too Late"](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/tolkiens-the-man-in-the-moon-stayed-up-too-late/): Today is the birthday of J.R.R. Tolkien, the English author of The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. But he was also a poet, which shouldn’t be a big surprise to fans since most of his works include pomes and songs as a part of his stories. Tolkien was also a fan of British beer. One of the 30 Facts about J.R.R. Tolkien mentions his love of beer: As a young student at Exeter college, Oxford University, he spent his first few years often getting into debt trying to keep up with richer students, who had more disposable […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Robert F. Ballantine](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-robert-f-ballantine/): Today is the birthday of Robert Francis Ballantine (January 3, 1836-December 9 or 10, 1905). He was born in New Jersey, and was the son of Peter Ballantine, who founded the Patterson & Ballantine Brewing Company in 1840 in Newark, New Jersey. Peter Ballantine had three sons, and they joined him in the business in 1857, which is when the name was changed to the P. Ballantine and Sons Brewing Company. In 1883, when his father died, Robert became president of the brewery, outliving both his brothers and continuing to run the family business until his own death in 1905. […]
- [Beer In Ads #5159: Something Too Good To Keep To Ourselves](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-in-ads-5159-something-too-good-to-keep-to-ourselves/): Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Peter Schoenhofen](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-peter-schoenhofen/): Today is the birthday of Peter Schoenhofen (January 2, 1827-January 2, 1893). He owned a brewery in Chicago that was called the Peter Schoenhofen Brewing Co. Portrait from “100 Years of Brewing,” originally published in 1901. And here’s another portrait that included this text: “German-born Peter Schoenhofer (1827-1893) came penniless to America in 1851 and took jobs in various breweries around Chicago. Eventually he and a partner, Matheus Gottfried, opened a brewery. Schoenhofen bought out Gottfried in 1867 and the company became the Peter Schoenhofen Brewing Company. Ads bragged that the beer’s clean taste came from the artesian spring located […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: James W. Kenney](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-james-w-kenney/): Today is the birthday of James W. Kenney (January 2, 1845-?). He was born in Ireland, but followed his older brother to Boston when he was eighteen, in 1863. He was involved in starting and running several different breweries in Boston over the span of his life, starting with the Armory Brewery in 1877. Then he opened the Park Brewery, the Union Brewing Co. and finally was involved in the American Brewing Co., plus he bought the Rockland Brewery at one point. It also seems like he was involved in the Kenney & Ballou Brewery, but I wasn’t able to […]
- [Beer Birthday: Fal Allen](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/happy-birthday-fal/): Today might be the birthday of Fal Allen. I say might, because he keeps telling me that he’s not exactly sure when his birthday is — apparently the result of having hippie parents — and he had kept changing it on his Facebook page, though now he’s removed it entirely. Fal returned to his goats and to Anderson Valley Brewing several years ago, having lived in Singapore for four years, where he built and ran a craft brewery for Archipelago Brewery, a division of Asia Pacific Breweries. He blogged about his exploits there on his Brewing in Singapore blog, but […]
- [Beer In Ads #5158: It's A Grand Cold Weather Beer](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-in-ads-5158-its-a-grand-cold-weather-beer/): Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Michael Joseph Owens](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-michael-joseph-owens/): Today is the birthday of Michael Joseph Owens (January 1, 1859–December 27, 1923). He “was an inventor of machines that could automate the production of glass bottles.” If you’ve ever opened a beer bottle, you’ve probably held something he had a hand in developing, because he made beer bottles cheap and affordable for breweries, and his company has continued to improve upon his designs. Based on his patents, in 1903 he founded the Owens Bottle Company, which in 1929 merged with the Illinois Glass Company in 1929 to become Owens-Illinois, Inc. Today, O-I is an international company with 80 plants […]
- [Beer Birthday: Alan Newman](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-birthday-alan-newman/): Today is the 80th birthday of Alan Newman. In addition to co-founding Gardener’s Supply Co. and Seventh Generation, for our purposes he’s best known for co-founding Magic Hat Brewing, an early microbrewery located in Burlington, Vermont. Newman opened the brewery in 1994, along with his partner Bob Johnson, the company’s original brewmaster. In 2005, they bought Pyramid Breweries, but today both, and others, are owned by Florida Ice & Farm Company (FIFCO), a food and beverages company located in Costa Rica. Newman later worked with Alchemy & Science, Boston Beer Company’s incubator business. I’ve only met Alan a few times, […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Gustave Amos](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-gustave-amos/): Today may be the birthday of Gustave Amos (1840-1910), but the exact month and day is unknown. He was a Protestant Lutheran originally from Wasselonne, in northeastern France. He founded the Brasserie Amos in 1868, which was located in Metz, which is part of the Moselle, which is in the Lorraine area of Eastern France. His father, Jean Amos, owned and operated a candle factory, then a soap factory, but it was his Uncle Edouard, who was a local brewer, that introduced Gustave to brewing when he was very young. The Amos brewery kept growing and doing very well, but […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Francesco Peroni](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-francesco-peroni/): Today is the birthday of Francesco Peroni (January 1, 1818-September 2, 1893) [Note: some sources say 1894]. He was born in the Province of Novara and his family made pasta. In 1846, he founded the Peroni Brewery in Vigevano. Production was moved and expanded to Rome in 1864, and was later managed by Francesco’s son, Giovanni, beginning in 1867. According to the Peroni Brewery Wikipedia page: The Peroni company was established under the founding family name in the town of Vigevano, Italy, in 1846. Due to booming business, a second brewery was built in Rome. The company was moved to Rome […]
- [Beer In Ads #5157: Bock Thillier](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-in-ads-5157-bock-thillier/): Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: John Brown](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-john-brown/): Today is the birthday of John Brown (December 31, 1795–October 23, 1890). He “was a brewer in Tring, Hertfordshire. Born in Okeford Fitzpaine in Dorset, he moved to Tring in 1826. His brewery was in Tring High Street, and he built several public houses in the area, at a period when the coming of the railway was advantageous to the business.” Almost entirely what I’ve been able to find out about John Brown’s Tring brewery is from his short Wikipedia page: In the 1830s, a railway line, of the London and Birmingham Railway, was built, which passed near the town. […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Gottfried Piel](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-gottfried-piel/): Today is the birthday of Gottfried Piel (December 31, 1852-May 1, 1935) who along with his brothers Michael and Wilhelm Piel founded Piel Bros. Beer in New York, more commonly known as Piels Beer in 1883. Gottfried Piel was more on the business side among his brothers, whereas his older brother Michael was the brewer. Here’s a short biography of Piel from a website highlighting his highly collectible personal corkscrew: Gottfried Piel was the founder of the Piel Brothers Brewing Company of Brooklyn, New York. Piel left his home in Dusseldorf, Germany in 1882 at the age of 29 to […]
- [Beer Birthday: Mitch Steele](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-birthday-mitch-steele/): Today is the 64th 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, created something of his own in Atlanta, Georgia, New Realm Brewing, but just announced he was moving into a more advisory role and is looking for new opportunities to pursue. He’s obviously a terrific brewer but is also a great person and a close friend, too. […]
- [Beer In Ads #5156: Straub Bock Beer](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-in-ads-5156-straub-bock-beer/): Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer […]
- [Beer Birthday: John Dean](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-birthday-john-dean/): Today is the 59th birthday of John Dean, who co-founded Blind Tiger Brewing in Topeka, Kansas in 1995 and has been its brewmaster for 27 of the 30 years it’s been open. Along with his head brewer Alvaro Canizales, they’ve won a hefty number of awards over the years so I was very aware of the brewery but only got a chance to finally met John this past year at GABF. He was born in Topeka and is the heart and soul of the brewery, and it great hanging out with him and a group of friends behind his booth […]
- [Beer In Ads #5155: Bock Beer Festival Parade](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-in-ads-5155-bock-beer-festival-parade/): Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: August A. Busch, Sr.](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-august-a-busch-sr/): Today is the birthday of August A. Busch, Sr. (December 28, 1865–February 10, 1934). He “was an American brewing magnate who served as the President and CEO of Anheuser-Busch, based in Saint Louis, Missouri, from 1913 to 1934.” August Busch in 1918.August Anheuser Busch was born on December 29, 1865 in St. Louis, Missouri. His father, Adolphus Busch, was the German-born founder of Anheuser-Busch. His mother, Lilly Eberhard Anheuser, was the third daughter of brewer Eberhard Anheuser, who owned the Aneuser Brewery. Here’s a short biography from Find-a-Grave: Businessman, President of Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company. Born in St Louis, Missouri on […]
- [Beer Birthday: Michael Lewis](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-birthday-michael-lewis/): Today is 88th birthday of Dr. Michael Lewis, who ran the brewing sciences department at U.C. Davis beginning in 1962, and became the Professor Emeritus in 1995, when Charlie Bamforth succeeded him, although Dr. Lewis remains active in teaching and in brewing. He was my instructor, along with Charlie, when I took the brewing short course at Davis over a decade. He’s taught countless working brewers over the years and has greatly influenced the industry as a whole. Join me in wishing Dr. Lewis a very happy birthday.
- [Beer Birthday: Kurt Widmer](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-birthday-kurt-widmer/): Today is Kurt Widmer’s 73rd birthday. Kurt is, of course, one of the bros in Widmer Brothers. He and his brother Rob 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. A few years ago, Kurt retired, which hopefully he’s enjoying to the fullest. Join me in wishing Kurt a very happy birthday.
- [Beer In Ads #5154: Springtime Is Bock Beer Time](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-in-ads-5154-springtime-is-bock-beer-time/): Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: George C. Schemm](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-george-c-schemm/): Today is the birthday of George Christoph Schemm (December 28, 1862-October 20, 1904). He was the son of John G. Schemm, who in 1866 founded what became the J. G. Schemm Brewing Co. in Saginaw, Michigan. George took over his father’s brewery in 1899, incorporating the brewery. Schemm’s wife tried to keep it going after his death, but it closed in 1919 due to prohibition, and was sold to another business who tried reopening it as the Schemm Brewing Co. Inc., but it closed for good in 1938. This is the only photo I could find of Schemm. That’s him […]
- [Beer Birthday: Marc Worona](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-birthday-marc-worona/): Today is the 58th birthday of fellow Pennsylvania transplant Marc Worona. Marc used to be the brewer at Stoudt’s Brewing in Adamstown, Pennsylvania but a number of years ago moved to California and for a long while worked with Brewers Supply Group, and was their VP of Sales and Marketing before recently retiring. For a time, he and his wife were traveling the country in an RV visiting state and national parks, though more recently he was involved in a beverage startup. Join me in wishing Marc a very happy birthday.
- [Beer Birthday: Tyler King](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-birthday-tyler-king/): Today is also the birthday of Tyler King, who was the senior director of brewing operations, and employee #1, at The Bruery in Southern California. I first met Tyler at the Boonville Beer Festival several years ago although Patrick must have kept him locked up in the Bruery making great beer, because I didn’t run into him very often after that. At the beginning of 2015, he left to open his own brewery, and spent some time consulting and brewing for the Congregation Ale House and also Iron Triangle Brewing. His new place, Brewery Rex, opened in 2016. Join me […]
- [Beer Birthday: Daniel Del Grande](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-birthday-daniel-del-grande/): Today is the 57th birthday of Daniel Del Grande, former brewer and co-owner of Bison Brewing, which as far as I can tell is now closed. I’ve known Dan a lot of years, since shortly after he bought Berkeley’s Bison Brewery in 1997. He’d been leading the charge for organic beer and made some of the best organic beers anywhere. More recently he’s been working with Concept Clean Energy. He also teaches at the American Brewers Guild, and spoke at my SSU class, as well. Join me in wishing Dan a very happy birthday.
- [Historic Beer Birthday: John Molson](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-john-molson/): Today is the birthday of John Molson (December 28, 1763–January 11, 1836). He “was an English-born brewer and entrepreneur in colonial Quebec and Lower Canada. He was the founder of Molson Brewery,” the oldest brewery in North America. Here’s a biography of Molson from the Dictionary of Canadian Biography, written by Alfred Dubuc: MOLSON, JOHN (John Molson Sr), businessman, landowner, militia officer, and politician; b. 28 Dec. 1763 in Moulton, Lincolnshire, England, son of John Molson and Mary Elsdale; m. 7 April 1801 Sarah Insley Vaughan in Montreal, and they had three children; d. 11 Jan. 1836 in Boucherville, Lower […]
- [Beer In Ads #5153: Lithia Christmas Bock](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-in-ads-5153-lithia-christmas-bock/): Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Philip Ackerman](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-philip-ackerman/): Today is the birthday of Philip Ackerman (December 27, 1841-?). In Spring Field, Illinois, he founded the Ackerman Brewery in 1863. A few years later, in 1866, he must have taken on some partners because it was briefly the Ackerman & Biehl Brewery, from 1866-1869, and then the Ackerman & Nolte Brewery, from 1869-1875, before becoming the Philip Ackerman Brewery in 1876, until closing in 1880. Meanwhile, in 1877, with another partner, Frank Senn, he opened a new brewery in Louisville, Kentucky, the Frank Senn & Philip Ackermann Brewery. In 1892, they shortened it to the Senn & Ackermann Brewing […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: John A. White](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-john-a-white/): Today is the birthday of John A. White (December 27, 1839-December 17, 1916). He was born and educated in Hesse-Cassell, Germany, but came to the United States in 1856, when he was sixteen. When the Civil War began, he joined up and served with distinction for four years, participating in the battles of Gettysburg, Chancellorsville and Bull Run. After the war, he returned to baking, but a year later relocated to Pittsfield, Massachusetts and bought the M. Benson Brewery, along with Jacob Gimlich, which they called Gimlich & White, and which later became known as the Berkshire Brewing Association. It […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Paul Kalmanovitz](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-paul-kalmanovitz/): Today is the birthday of Paul Kalmanovitz (December 27, 1905-January 17, 1987). Kalmanovitz was born in Łódź, Poland, but came to America with his family before World War I. He “was a millionaire brewing and real estate magnate best known for owning all or part of several national breweries and their products, including Falstaff Brewing Company and Pabst Brewing Company.” Here’s a short biography from Find-a-Grave: Businessman. He founded the S&P Corporation of California and was the man who built the General Brewing Company of San Francisco. He owned all or part of several national breweries and their products, including […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Rudolph Rheinboldt](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-rudolph-rheinboldt/): Today is the birthday of Rudolph Rheinboldt (December 27, 1827-October 30, 1916). He was born in Germany, came to Cincinnati, Ohio, and was involved with helping to found what would become the John Kaufman Brewing Co., though for a short time, from 1856-58, it was known as the John Kaufman Rudolph Rheinboldt Brewery. It’s possible he was related to Kaufman, though it’s unclear how, although Rheinboldt did marry Magdalena Kauffman in Cincinnati, Ohio, on August 13, 1859, when he was 31 years old. Here’s the letterhead from the John Kauffman Brewing Co. Since he appears to have been involved for […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Louis Pasteur](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-louis-pasteur/): Today is the birthday of Louis Pasteur (December 27, 1822–September 28, 1895). He “was a French chemist and microbiologist renowned for his discoveries of the principles of vaccination, microbial fermentation and pasteurization. He is remembered for his remarkable breakthroughs in the causes and preventions of diseases, and his discoveries have saved countless lives ever since. He reduced mortality from puerperal fever, and created the first vaccines for rabies and anthrax. His medical discoveries provided direct support for the germ theory of disease and its application in clinical medicine. He is best known to the general public for his invention of […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Gerardus Johannes Mulder](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-gerardus-johannes-mulder/): Today is the birthday of Gerardus Johannes Mulder (December 26, 1802–April 18, 1880). He “was a Dutch organic and analytical chemist,” who wrote several technical chemical publications analyzing various substances, including one entitled “The Chemistry of Beer,” in 1856 or 57 (sources vary). “He became a professor of chemistry at Rotterdam and later at Utrecht. While at the Utrecht University, Mulder described the chemical composition of protein. He claimed that albuminous substances are made up of a common radical, protein, and that protein had the same empirical formula except for some variation in amounts of sulfur and phosphorus, long before […]
- [Beer Birthday: Jean Van Roy](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-birthday-jean-van-roy/): Today is the 58th birthday of Jean Van Roy, who took over the Cantillon Brewery in Brussels from his father several years ago, though he’d been working there all of his life. Considered a working brewery museum, they make some amazing lambics, and the tour is one everyone should take at least once in their life. Down an unassuming alley in Brussels, and not one you’d feel safe meandering along at night, Cantillon has been located there since 1900, when it was founded. I’ve met Jean a number of times, and he always strikes me as a man with beer […]
- [Beer In Ads #5152: Only 18 More Days Till "Bock Time"](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-in-ads-5152-only-18-more-days-till-bock-time/): Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer […]
- [Beer Birthday: Jeremy Warren](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-birthday-jeremy-warren/): Today is the 49th birthday of brewer Jeremy Warren. Jeremy first made a name for himself with Knee Deep Brewing, but a couple of years ago left to open his own place, Revision Brewing. Jeremy created some great beers with Knee Deep and he’s doing more of the same with his new brewery. It was initially going to be in West Sacramento, but instead Revision ended up being located in Sparks, Nevada. Join me wishing Jeremy a very happy birthday. Jeremy and me at the Bistro IPA Festival in 2017.
- [Beer Birthday: Barkley The Beer](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-birthday-barkley-the-beer/): Today is the 38th birthday of Barkley D. Beer, the mascot of the Anderson Valley Brewing Co. in Boonville, California. Be sure to toast Barkley with a bottle or can or draft of your favorite Anderson Valley beer today. And join me in wishing Barkley a very happy birthday. And here’s why, according to Anderson Valley’s website, Barkley is a “beer” and not a “bear:” It’s not a bear. Bears don’t have antlers. Of course not. Whoever heard of such a thing? It is, however, a BEER. The Legendary Boonville Beer to be exact. Barkley, by name, who could be […]
- [Beer In Ads #5151: Old Reading Bock Beer](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-in-ads-5151-old-reading-bock-beer/): Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Adam Eulberg](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-adam-eulberg-2/): Today is the birthday of Adam Eulberg (December 25, 1855-August 12, 1897). He was born on Christmas Day in Wisconsin, and was the son of Caspar Eulberg, who owned the Casper Eulberg & Sons Brewery in Galena, Illinois. Originally called Math. Meller Brewery when in opened in 1874, it appears Eulberg acquired it in 1885, changing the name to his own, at least until closed by prohibition in 1920. It tried to open after repeal, under the name Galena Brewing Co., but closed for good in 1936. Here’s his short obituary from the Daily Portage, October 1897: This short history […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Stephan Moninger](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-stephan-moninger/): Today is the birthday of Stephan Moninger (December 25, 1827-1875). He was born in Württemberg, Germany, and on December 16, 1856, was granted a license to brew commercially and founded the Brauerei Moninger in Karlsruhe, Germany. It was the same brewery he had previously worked at as brewmaster, then known as the Brauerei Ludwig Kaufmann. When his boss died in 1852, he married his widow, Marie Kaufmann, and Moniger assumed control of the brewery then but had to wait until two years later to be inspected and permitted to join the local brewers’ and coopers’ guilds, even though he’d become […]
- [Beer In Ads #5150: Santa's Gem Bock Beer](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-in-ads-5150-santas-gem-bock-beer/): Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Howard Hughes](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-howard-hughes/): Today is the birthday of Howard Hughes (December 24, 1905–April 5, 1976). He was, of course, “an American entrepreneur, known during his lifetime as one of the most financially successful individuals in the world. He first made a name for himself as a film producer, and then became an influential figure in the aviation industry. Later in life, he became known for his eccentric behavior and reclusive lifestyle, oddities that were caused in part by a worsening obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and chronic pain from a plane crash.” As a maverick film tycoon, Hughes gained prominence in Hollywood beginning in the […]
- [Twas The Beer Before Christmas: A Brewery Visit From St. Nicholas](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/twas-the-beer-before-christmas-a-brewery-visit-from-st-nicholas/): While not widely known, St. Nicholas, among his many patronages includes brewers. He is a patron saint of brewers. The way we think of St. Nick in America begins with the publication of Twas the Night Before Christmas: A Visit From St, Nicholas by Clement C. Moore in 1823. So with my tongue firmly set in my cheek, I decided to rewrite Moore’s masterpiece, moving his visit from the home to the brewery. Hoppy Christmas. Enjoy. For more detail on how this came about, and about the original poem, see below. Twas the Beer Before Christmas: A Brewery Visit From […]
- [Beer Birthday: Aron Deorsey](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-birthday-aron-deorsey/): Today is the birthday of Aron Deorsey, who for a lot of years was the brewmaster at the Beach Chalet Brewery & Restaurant in San Francisco, along with the Park Chalet and the Lake Chalet in Oakland. I got to know Aron much better a few years back when we roomed together attending Sierra Nevada’s Beer Camp for SF Beer Week. He had been making great beer at the beachside brewpub for a number of years, and is great fun to hang out with, but earlier last year he’s opened his own place, a brewpub in San Francisco called the […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Henry Rahr](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-henry-rahr/): Today is the birthday of Henry Rahr (December 24, 1834-April 14, 1891). He was born in Wesel, Germany, but came the U.S. in 1853, when he was 19. He worked in his uncle’s brewery in Manitowoc, and then opened his own brewery near Green Bay with a partner, August Hochgreve, which they called the Bellvue Brewery. They later had a falling out, and in 1866 Rahr left to start his own brewery in Green Bay, which was initially called the East Rivery Brewery. When he died in 1891, his sons continued the business, but renamed it the Henry Rahr Sons […]
- [Beer In Ads #5149: Merry Christmas From The Brewers Of Gem Bock Beer](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-in-ads-5149-merry-christmas-from-the-brewers-of-gem-bock-beer/): Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Philipp Jung](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-philipp-jung/): Today is the birthday of Philipp Jung (December 23, 1845–July 10, 1911). He was born “in Dorn-Assenheim, Hesse-Darmstadt, which today is a part of Reichelsheim in Wetteraukreis, Hesse, Germany,” but came to the U.S. when he was 25, in 1870. He came first to New York City, then Cincinnati before settling in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. “Jung married Anna D. Best, daughter of the brewer Jacob Best, and they had six children.” Here’s a history of his career, from his Wikipedia page: After his arrival in the United States, Jung was employed by Rogge and Feigenhaln Brewing Company in New York. He […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: John Roessle](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-john-roessle/): Today is the birthday of John Roessle (December 23, 1808-October 3, 1873). He emigrated from Germany at fifteen, eventually settling in Boston, where he founded the John Roessle Brewery in 1846. It was one of the earliest lager breweries in the country, though they also used the name New England Brewing Co. from 1890 through prohibition. After repeal they became known as the Haffenreffer & Co., presumably having been bought by the Haffenreffer Brewery, which was also located in Boston, before closing in 1951. There’s not personal information I could find out about Roessle, though there’s plenty on his brewery. […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Conrad Binding](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-conrad-binding/): Today is the birthday of Conrad Binding (December 23, 1846-December 17, 1933). He was a German brewer, entrepreneur and sponsor, and founded the Binding brewery in 1870. “After 1919 the Actien brewery Homburg vd Hoehe was transferred to the Binding brewery, which merged in 1921 with the Hofbierbrauerei Schöfferhof from Mainz and the Frankfurter Bürgerbrauerei to form the Schöfferhof-Binding-Bürgerbräu AG. In 1939, the first barrel of the “Römer Pils” brand, which is still well known today, was tapped. The brewery was 70 percent destroyed in an air raid during World War II. The brewery has belonged to the Oetker Group […]
- [Beer In Ads #5148: Frontenac Christmas Bock Beer](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-in-ads-5148-frontenac-christmas-bock-beer/): Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer […]
- [Beer Birthday: JoAnne Carilli](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-birthday-joanne-carilli/): Today is the 59th birthday of JoAnne Carilli, who within the beer industry most recently was the Head Of Business Development at White Labs, but nore recently she’s again left us for a position with EP Climbing, a climbing wall manufacturer. I first met JoAnne when she was the marketing director for the old Association of Brewers in the late 1990s and she became a good friend. After that, she spent the better part of a decade at White Labs as their Sales & Marketing Director. But she spent a number of years outside the beer industry while raising her […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Frederick Krug](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-frederick-krug/): Today is the birthday of Frederick “Fred” Krug (December 22, 1833-November 18, 1919). He “was the German-immigrant founder of the Frederick Krug Brewing Company of Omaha, Nebraska. Krug is often cited as one of the early settlers of Omaha. In addition to operating the brewery for almost the entire duration of his life, Krug operated Krug Park in the Benson community and was the president of the Home Fire Insurance Company, which was founded in Omaha in 1884.” Here’s a short biography of Krug from Find-a-Grave: Born in Germany. Married Anna. Came to Omaha in 1859 and became the pioneer […]
- [Beer Birthday: Denise Jones](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-birthday-denise-jones/): Today is the birthday of Denise Jones, longtime brewer in the Bay Area. A few years back, Denise had started with a new brewery, Napa Point Brewing before it closed, but brewed for long stints at Moylan’s and Third Street Aleworks, among others, before moving to Bamberg, Germany and working with Weyermann, but more recently she’s moved back stateside more recently and last I heard was living in Southern California. She’s a very talented brewer, and makes especially great stouts. Join me in wishing Denise a very happy birthday.
- [Beer In Ads #5147: Schmidt's Old Style Bock Beer For The Holidays](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-in-ads-5147-schmidts-old-style-bock-beer-for-the-holidays/): Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Peter Schreihart](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-peter-schreihart/): Today is the birthday of Peter Schreihart (December 21, 1825-<1916). This is an odd one, insofar as there are conflicting or accounts which are odds with one another, and I suspect there’s some truth somewhere, I just don’t know what that might be. Anyway, Peter Schreihart was probably born in Austria and may have founded the Schreihart Brewing Co., most likely along with his son John Schreihart, in Manitowoc, Wisconsin in 1879. The confusion begins with his being mentioned in “The Brewers’ Journal and Barley, Malt and Hop Trades’ Reporter, and American Brewers’ Gazette, consolidated, Volume 41,” published on November […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Heinrich Beck](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-heinrich-beck/): Today is the birthday of Heinrich Beck (December 21, 1832-June 10, 1881). He was born in Eislingen, Germany, but emigrated to America, settling in Indiana, and worked as brewer there. When he was 32, in 1864, he moved back to Germany and got a job in Bremen working as the brewmaster in the St. Pauli Brewery. In 1873, he co-founded Beck’s Brewery, formally known as Brauerei Beck & Co. “The brewery was formed under the name Kaiserbrauerei Beck & May o.H.G. in 1873 by Lüder Rutenberg, Heinrich Beck and Thomas May. In 1875, Thomas May left the brewery which then […]
- [Beer In Ads #5146: Christmas Bock Beer](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-in-ads-5146-christmas-bock-beer/): Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Joseph Liebmann](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-joseph-liebmann/): Today is the birthday of Joseph Liebmann (December 20, 1832-March 26, 1913). He was born in Schmiedelfeld, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany. His father owned the Castle Schmiedelfeld, but when Joseph was seven, the family moved to Ludwigsburg and operated the Zum Stern Inn there, which also included a brewery. For political reasons, some of the family moved to America around 1850 to build a home, and the rest followed in 1854. Initially he ran the old Maasche Brewery, but later built a new brewery in Bushwick. Originally, it was called the Samuel Liebmann Brewery, but when his sons joined the brewery, it […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Charles William Bergner ](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-charles-william-bergner/): Today is the birthday of Charles William Bergner (December 20, 1854-May 4, 1903). He was the son of Gustavus Bergner, who bought into the brewery Engel & Wolf, and renamed it Bergner & Engel, and it later became the Bergner & Engel Company.” William Bergner, as was best known, was born in Philadelphia, but learned to be a brewer in Germany. “He was president of the United States Brewers’ association from 1897 to 1899, and for many years was president of the Philadelphia Lager Beer Brewers’ association.” This is his obituary from Ambler Gazette, of May 7, 1903: Businessman. He co-founded […]
- [Beer Birthday: Ron Silberstein](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-birthday-ron-silberstein/): Today is the 65th birthday of Ron Silberstein, the founder, and original brewer, of Thirsty Bear Brewing in San Francisco (before it closed during Covid), and also co-owner of Admiral Maltings. I’ve known Ron for a number of years but got to know him better working on SF Beer Week the first few years when we working hard to get it going. We also spent a weekend together at Sierra Nevada’s Beer Camp, which was an awesome experience for everybody who attended. Join me in wishing Ron a very happy birthday. Ron and Beer Camp head brewer Scott Jennings.
- [Beer In Ads #5145: Extra! Just Out! Peter Doelger Bock Beer](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-in-ads-5145-extra-just-out-peter-doelger-bock-beer/): Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Frederick Sehring](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-frederick-sehring/): Today is the birthday of Frederick Sehring (December 19, 1834-July 2, 1892). He was born in Germany, but came to America with his parents when he was thirteen, in 1847, and settled in Joliet, Illinois. After careers in the service industry and politics, he bought the Columbia Brewery, and eventually incorporated it as the Fred Sehring Brewing Co. Here’s a short biography of Sehring from a breweriana website: Frederick Sehring was born in 1834 in Hesse, Darmstadt Germany. He moved to the U.S. in 1847, and settled near Joliet. Following a career in the hotel business and county treasurer, he […]
- [Beer In Ads #5144: Here's Pickwick's Holiday Gift To Bock Beer Lovers](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-in-ads-5144-heres-pickwicks-holiday-gift-to-bock-beer-lovers/): Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Peter Stroh](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-peter-stroh/): Today is the birthday of Peter Stroh (December 18, 1927-September 17, 2002). He was the great-grandson of Bernhard Stroh, who founded Stroh’s Brewing Co. in 1850. When he became president of Stroh’s in 1968, he was the sixth family member to run the business. Here’s Stroh’s obituary from Find-a-Grave: Peter Stroh, former chief executive of the Stroh Brewery Co., died of brain cancer on September 17th at his home in Grosse Pointe Farms, MI. Mr. Stroh is remembered as a gracious elder statesman in the brewing industry. “Peter Stroh was truly a gentlemen’s gentleman,” said Mac Brighton, chairman and COO […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: George K. Schmidt](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-george-k-schmidt/): Today is the birthday of George K. Schmidt (December 18, 1869-January 1, 1939). He was the son of Kasper George Schmidt, who founded the K.G. Schmidt Brewery. He and his father also founded a bank and he opened a branch brewery in Logansport, Indiana. Here’s a short biography from Find-a-Grave: President of Chicago’s Prudential State Savings Bank, Vice-President of Chicago’s Board of Local Improvements, member of Chicago’s Board of Assessors, City Controller of Chicago. Ran for Mayor of Chicago as the Republican candidate in 1931 against encumbent Mayor “Big Bill” Thompson. Owned the K G Brewery in Chicago, and the […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Peter Hood Ballantine](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-peter-hood-ballantine/): Today is the birthday of Peter Hood Ballantine (December 18, 1831-September 16, 1882). He was the son of Peter Ballantine, who founded the Patterson & Ballantine Brewing Company in 1840 in Newark, New Jersey, which is better known by its later name, the P. Ballantine and Sons Brewing Company. Peter Hood helped run the business with his father and brothers until his death in 1882. Given that he was the eldest son, there’s surprisingly little information about him, and I couldn’t find an image of him, while there are plenty of his brothers, Robert and John. So I don’t know what […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Henry Boddington](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-henry-boddington/): Today is the birthday of Henry Boddington (December 18, 1813-August 19, 1886). After joining the Strangeways Brewery in Manchester as a salesman in 1832, Boddington became a partner sixteen years later, in 1848, but in 1853, he bought out the partners and became the sole owner, renaming it Boddington’s. Here’s a short biography of Boddington: Although Boddington’s ale is associated with Manchester, his family were originally from Middle Barton in Oxfordshire. He was born in Thame in 1813, where his father was the miller. Times were hard in agriculture and the corn-milling business suffered. The family decided to escape the […]
- [Beer In Ads #5143: Like Bluebirds In The Christmas Tree Bock ... Beer Is Here](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-in-ads-5143-like-bluebirds-in-the-christmas-tree-bock-beer-is-here/): Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Thomas Cooper](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-thomas-cooper/): Today is the birthday of Thomas Cooper (December 17, 1826-December 30, 1897). He was born in England, but moved to Australia when he was 26. He initially worked a variety of jobs, but in 1862 founded the brewery known today as Coopers Brewery “at his home in the Adelaide suburb of Norwood. He brewed his first recorded batch on 13 May 1862.” This biography of Cooper is from the Cooper Brewery Wikipedia page: [He] was born in Carleton, North Yorkshire, the youngest of 12 children of Christopher and Sarah (née Booth). His parents died when he was young (Sarah in […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Michael Edward Ash](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-michael-edward-ash/): Today is the birthday of Michael Edward Ash (December 17, 1927–April 30, 2016). He “was a British mathematician and brewer. Ash led a team that invented a nitrogenated dispense system for Guinness stout, which evolved to become the beer now sold globally as Draught Guinness. As the manager in charge of the Easy Serve project, Ash is credited as the inventor of nitrogenated beer (sometimes known as “nitro beer” colloquially).” Michael Ash in the 1950s. “Following graduation from Cambridge, Ash lectured in mathematics at The Bedford College for women for three years before joining Guinness & Co. at their London […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Balthas Jetter](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-balthas-jetter/): Today is the birthday of Balthas Jetter (December 17, 1851-May 9, 1915). He was born in Engstlatt, Zollernalbkreis, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, but moved with his family to Omaha, Nebraska when he was nine, in 1860. In 1887, he and a partner founded the Jetter & Young Brewery in South Omaha. In 1890, Jetter bought out Young, the brewery was renamed B. Jetter, although it also traded under the name South Omaha Brewing Co. In 1902, it became the Jetter Brewing Co., which it remained until prohibition. It reopened in 1933 and remained in business util 1994, when it closed for good. […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: George Frey](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-george-frey/): Today is the birthday of George Frey (December 17, 1826-1872). He was born in Ober-Saulheim, Germany, but moved to Buffalo, New York when he was fourteen, in 1840, and worked for a brewery there, before moving to Erie, Pennsylvania, to build his own there. Most brewery history, especially breweriana-focused sources, claim the George Frey Brewery was only called by that name in 1855, and the following year became known as the Eagle Brewery. But “One Hundred Years of Brewing” states that Frey built the brewery in 1842 but sold it to Henry J. Kavelage in 1854, who sold it to […]
- [Beer In Ads #5142: It's Bock Beer Time!](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-in-ads-5142-its-bock-beer-time/): Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer […]
- [Beer Birthday: Bryan Selders](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-birthday-bryan-selders/): Today is the 51st birthday of Bryan Selders, who until 2011 was lead brewer of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and one-half of the hip hop duo The Pain Relievaz, before leaving the industry temporarily to do web design at Inclind. He later returned to brewing, and became the brewmaster at Post Brewing in Colorado. But more recently, he’s returned to Dogfish Head as their brewing ambassador. I first met Bryan at Hop School in Yakima, Washington years ago and he’s a terrifically talented and fun person. Join me in wishing Bryan a very happy birthday. Note: All but first photo […]
- [Beer Birthday: Nicole Erny](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-birthday-nicole-erny/): Today is the 42nd birthday of Nicole Erny, a certified Master Cicerone and passionate beer lover, who used to work at The Trappist and as a “Beer Ambassador” at the CommonWealth Cafe & Public House, both in beautiful downtown Oakland. She also used to work with Ray Daniels’ Cicerone program, but left that position and is currently doing QA/QC lab work at Faction Brewing. Nicole and I almost worked together on a great-sounding beer project, but alas it fell apart. She is also working on the side as a consultant. She’s a great advocate for better beer and has more […]
- [Beer In Ads #5142: Quiet Please! It's Dec. 15 Today Bock Goes To Bed At Leisy's](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-in-ads-5142-quiet-please-its-dec-15-today-bock-goes-to-bed-at-leisys/): Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Joseph Fallert](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-joseph-fallert/): Today is the birthday of Joseph Fallert (December 15, 1841-July 4, 1893). He was born in Achern in Western Baden-Württemberg, Germany in 1841 (though at least one source claims it was 1842, and was December 16), but moved to New York City when he was fifteen, in 1856, and worked for several different breweries in Brooklyn, before buying a building from his employer, brewer Otto Huber, and founded the Joseph Fallert Brewery in 1878. Incorporating in 1884, he renamed it the Joseph Fallert Brewing Co. Ltd. but it closed in 1920 for good when prohibition began. I couldn’t find very […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: John Fritsch](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-john-fritsch/): Today is the birthday of John Fritsch (December 15, 1827-July 2, 1906). He was born in Germany, but came to America, settling in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1846, when he was 19 years old. He became foreman of the Blaess & Burgman Brewery, and later married the boss’s daughter, Elizabeth Blaess. He thereafter opened his own brewery, John Fritsch Brewing, but when his son Emile joined him in the business, changed the name to the John Fritsch and Son Brewery. The brewery closed for good a year after his death, in 1907. Here’s his obituary from the Western Brewer and Journal […]
- [Beer In Ads #5141: Eichler's Holiday Bock Beer](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-in-ads-5141-eichlers-holiday-bock-beer/): Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Simon Fishel](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-simon-fishel/): Today is the birthday of Simon Fishel (December 14,1846-January 31, 1917). He was born in Bohemia, came to the United States, and was married to Rosa Zucker (also originally from Bohemia) in 1870. In 1892, Wenzl Medlin founded the Bohemian Brewery and hired Fishel to manage it. Three years later, Fishel bought it from Medlin, who stayed on as brewmaster. A few years later, in 1904, he renamed it the Fishel Brewing Co. In 1907, his brewery became part of the Cleveland & Sandusky Brewing Co. and Fishel became the conglomerate’s manager, and then president. Here’s a short biography of […]
- [Beer Birthday: Vic Kralj](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-birthday-vic-kralj/): Today is the 66th birthday of Vic Kralj, who is the co-owner of The Bistro in Hayward, California. Celebrator publisher Tom Dalldorf used to own the Bistro, which was originally a wine bar that Tom re-invented for beer, and then Vic and Cynthia bought it from Tom (with one deadbeat in between) and set it on its present course. Vic added the IPA Festival, then championed Double IPA with a second festival, helping it get style recognition. The Double IPA Festival also became one of the anchors for SF Beer Week. He also used to do a Wood-Aged Beer Festival […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: John Frederick Wiessner Sr. ](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-john-frederick-wiessner-sr/): Today is the birthday of John Frederick Wiessner (December 14, 1831-January 1, 1871). He was born in Bavaria, but emigrated to the U.S. and settled in Baltimore, Maryland. He founded the John F. Wiessner Brewery in 1863, renaming it the John F. Wiessner & Sons Brewing Co. after his sons joined he business in 1888. It remained that name until closed by prohibition in 1920. It reopened after repeal in 1933 as the American Brewery, and went through a variety of name changes until closing for good in 1973. Here’s a newspaper story about his will after he passed away. Baltimore […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Jim Parker](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-birthday-jim-parker/): Today would have been the 65th birthday of Jim Parker, who had been a fixture in the national, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington beer scenes for over 25 years. He founded the Mountain Tap Tavern in 1992, in Colorado, and also worked for the IBS (formerly part of the Brewers Association), was director of the American Homebrewers Association, editor-in-chief of Zymurgy and New Brewer, Executive Director of the Oregon Brewers Guild, as well as starting and working at many different breweries. Jim was also the first person I know to put Tot-chos on a menu, and for that alone he gets […]
- [Beer Birthday: Colby Chandler](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-birthday-colby-chandler/): Today is the 58th birthday of Colby Chandler, who until the pandemic was the brewer at Ballast Point Brewing for over twenty years. When he moved from Hawaii to San Diego in the early 1990s, he began homebrewing and eventually took a job with the Home Brew Mart and then eventually with its sister business, Ballast Point Brewing when he went full time, running the Linda Vista location for 16 years and helping to open the first Ballast Point restaurant in Little Italy. Chandler was also President of the San Diego Brewers Guild for six years, and before leaving Ballast […]
- [Beer In Ads #5140: Buckeye Bock Beer Has Been Put To Sleep...](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-in-ads-5140-buckeye-bock-beer-has-been-put-to-sleep/): Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer […]
- [Historic Beer Birthday: Anton Zahm](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-anton-zahm/): Today is the birthday of Anton Zahm (December 12, 1841-January 9 or February 8, 1901). He was born in Knebelburg, in the Rhenish Palatinate, in what today is Germany. When he was 25, in 1866, and initially settled in Toledo, Ohio, where he had a brewery with a partner, Finlay & Zahm. I’m not sure what happened to it, but in 1881, he relocated to Syracuse, New York, to take a job as president of the Haberle Brewing Co., where he remained for the remainder of his life. A little over a decade later, Haberle merged with another local brewery, […]
- [Beer Birthday: Greg Koch](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-birthday-greg-koch/): Today is around the 60ish or so birthday of Greg Koch, though it’s not actually his birthday today. I mean, it’s possible it is but the odds are against it. I tried to get it out of him, but I still don’t know the actual date, and I’m only guessing at the year. So because I love celebrating everybody’s birthdays, this will be Greg’s until id and when I get a better date. Greg started at Ohio State, but moved westward to pursue a career in music, and ended up starting a business renting rehearsal space for musicians, which is […]

## Pages

- [Weevil Way](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/weevil-way/): If you’ve already read the introduction, feel free to Go Directly to the Weevils or to the Current Weevil. People who know me or follow me on social media will remember that my son graduated from West Point last year, and is currently stationed at Fort Novosel, the home of Army Aviation, where he’s training to be a helicopter pilot. The fort is in, naturally, the middle-of-nowhere Alabama, but is surrounded by several small towns. One of these is Enterprise, Alabama, a town of around 28,000. People, of course, have stereotypes of almost every place, and I remember how much […]
- [Monte Cristo Manifesto](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/monte-cristo-manifesto/): My favorite sandwich is a Monte Cristo. It’s decadent, perhaps a little unhealthy, but delicious. Unfortunately, it used to be a more popular item at restaurants, especially diners, across the country, but in more recent years it has become harder and harder to find a proper one. What do I mean by proper? Let me explain. But first a digression that’s necessary to answer that question. What is a Monte Cristo sandwich? Defining a Monte Cristo is harder than you might imagine. Most sandwiches have a simple recipe so that if you order one, you can pretty much know what […]
- [Flagship Friday](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/flagship-friday/): What is Flagship Friday? If you’re reading this, you’re probably already familiar with the project that Stephen Beaumont and I launched in February of this year called Flagship February. One of the aspects of that effort was inviting beer writers from around the globe writing essays about their favorite flagship beers. We felt it was a great success and may, many people responded very enthusiastically. We’re planning on continuing it next year, but in the meantime, we wanted to figure out a way to keep the conversation going, at least a little bit, between then and now. In the final […]
- [What Is A "Flagship" Beer](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/what-is-a-flagship-beer/): The origins of a flagship are appropriately nautical, befitting a beverage that’s as much as 95-percent water. According to Merriam-Webster, its first definition comes from the Navy, with the flagship being “a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, characteristically a flag officer entitled by custom to fly a distinguishing flag. Used more loosely, it is the lead ship in a fleet of vessels, typically the first, largest, fastest, most heavily armed, or best known.” Over time, the definition has moved onto land and is now more commonly used as “the finest, largest, or most […]
- [Brewery In Other Languages](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/brewery-in-other-languages/): The origin of the word “brewery” is simpler than that of “beer,” and appears to have originated “mid 17th century: from brew, probably on the pattern of Dutch brouwerij,” while another source states its first use was “circa 1648.” The definition seems to be fairly similar, with just a few variations. Here’s a few representative ones: brewery American Heritage: “A place where beer is brewed, especially commercially.” Cambridge Dictionary: “A company that makes beer or a place where beer is made.” Merriam-Webster: “A plant where malt liquors are produced.” O.E.D.: “A place where beer is made commercially.” But, like beer, […]
- [People's Beer Names](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/peoples-beer-names/): A few years ago I wrote an article for the Brewer’s Association I called Papa’s Got A Brand New Beer that was for Father’s Day. It featured a number of names that beer people have given their kids, celebrating their love of beer. My old friend, Adam Lambert — who I’ve known since he was in college and working part-time for SLO Brewing — recently tweeted “I think we need a blog for beer related kid names.” While setting up an entire new blog on that topic seemed too much, at least for me, I figured a page of People’s […]
- [Papa’s Got A Brand New Beer](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/papas-got-a-brand-new-beer/): This is a piece I wrote for the Brewer’s Association six years ago, in 2011. It ran online on the BA’s Craft Beer consumer website around Father’s Day. It’s about beer people giving their kids’ beer names, which is something my wife and I did with our son, Porter. A friend recently asked to see this article, and since the CraftBeer.com website was upgraded, it appears that they didn’t archive earlier articles. So I popped it into this page. Enjoy. Papa’s Got A Brand New Beer After an arduous eighteen hours of labor, my first-born son finally made his appearance […]
- [How to Drink Like a Gentleman](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/how-to-drink-like-a-gentleman/): H.L. Mencken “was an American journalist, satirist, cultural critic and scholar of American English. Known as the “Sage of Baltimore”, he is regarded as one of the most influential American writers and prose stylists of the first half of the twentieth century. As a scholar Mencken is known for The American Language, a multi-volume study of how the English language is spoken in the United States. His satirical reporting on the Scopes trial, which he dubbed the “Monkey Trial”, also gained him attention. He commented widely on the social scene, literature, music, prominent politicians and contemporary movements.” Although he wrote […]
- [SSU Beer Appreciation Course Archive](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/ssu-beer-appreciation-course-archive/): Welcome Students to Beer Appreciation Welcome to Beer Appreciation Certificate – SCI 800; # 4141 through Sonoma State University. I created this space to share additional resources, links and further reading for each session (or one-hour time) of the 36-hour course. This is a private space and is available only to students of this course. Please do not share the link. About Welcome to Beer Appreciation Certificate – SCI 800; # 4141 through Sonoma State University. I created this space to share additional resources, links and further reading for each session (or one-hour session) of the 36-hour course. This is a private space and […]
- [Beer Typology: Robust Porter](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-typology-robust-porter/): Robust Porter Robust Porter is part of a family of beer, Porters, for which I have a personal bias. My son is named Porter. But it’s also a favorite style because I love the chocolate and sometime coffee notes that are usually smoother and less harsh than stouts. Deschutes Black Butte Porter was probably the one that really helped me love the style, but Anchor Porter and St. Bridget’s Porter from Great Divide are also early favorites. What follows is information about robust porter, collected from a variety of sources. If you know of any additional resources about this type […]
- [Beer Typology: Saison](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-typology-saison/): Saison
- [Beer Typology: Irish-Style Dry Stout](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-typology-irish-style-dry-stout/): Irish-Style Dry Stout Irish-style or Dry Stout is Guinness, or at least originally was. Guinness didn’t start out making only stout, but started out making ales, introducing a dark porter in 1778. It wasn’t until the 1840s that they began referring to their beer as stouts. Other breweries, of course, capitalized on their success, and brewed their own versions, creating the style. The first time I had a Guinness was in a jazz club in the Village, when I was stationed in New York City with an Army Band in the late 1970s. What follows is information about Irish-style dry […]
- [Beer Typology: Bock](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-typology-bock/): Bock Bock is a traditional lager style that I’d never been too fond of, until at least, I drank it in Germany. I still prefer the bocks that have more restrained sweetness, and more nutty character, but I have grown to like them a lot more than I did when I was younger. Christopher Morley wrote “Oysters going out, the new brew of Bock beer coming in; so do the saloons mark the vernal equinox.” And although they signal spring, I tend to prefer them in late winter, just before the weather turns warmer, when the air is crisp and […]
- [Typology](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/typology/): Beer Typology Master List Barley Wine Bock Irish-Style Dry Stout Robust Porter Saison [Under Construction]
- [Typology Logo](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/typology-logo/): This is the logo that I created for use with Typology Tuesday. Feel free to use them, but please don’t hotlink to them. Instead, please download them and host them on your server or use a photo hosting website like Flickr or Photobucket. I realize I’m no great artist so if someone more graphically talented wants to have a go at something more elegant, have at it. The idea, at least, with this logo was to show the diversity of both ingredients and kinds of beers that can be brewed. With Text Without Text
- [Typology Tuesday](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/typology-tuesday/): What is Typology Tuesday?   Typology is “the study of types,” in this case, of course, I mean types of beer, or “Beer Typology.” I have a love/hate relationship with beer styles. In many ways I believe them to be unnecessary, especially for brewers. But for consumers, they can be quite useful, and provide some sense of consistency for ordering. If you’re thirsty for a hefeweizen or a pale ale, knowing what those are and what you’ll be getting if you order a frosty beverage calling itself by one of those names seems pretty important. And of course, for commercial […]
- [Beer Typology: American Barley Wine](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-typology-barley-wine/): American Barley Wine American Barley Wine is one of my favorite styles, and I really miss the days when I judged it for the Toronado Barleywine Festival in San Francisco. Several times I’ve had the pleasure of judging barley wine at both the World Beer Cup and GABF, especially one year when my table did three rounds of barley wine in a row, including the final medal round. That table included Rich Norgrove, from Bear Republic, and George Reisch, from Anheuser-Busch. I love the complexity of barley wines, which make them great sipping, sharing beers. I think of it as […]
- [SSU Reading List](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/ssu-reading-list/): This Reading List includes suggested reading in a variety of topics related to the course, and the beer industry as a whole. I have also put as asterisk next to the books I think are particularly useful or most highly recommend. Amber, Gold & Black: The History of Britain’s Great Beers by Martyn Cornell Ambitious Brew by Maureen Ogle* American Sour Beers by Michael Tonsmeire The Audacity of Hops: The History of America’s Craft Beer Revolution by Tom Acitelli The Barbarian’s Beverage: A History of Beer in Ancient Europe by Max Nelson Barley Wine: History, Brewing Techniques, Recipes by Fall […]
- [Sonoma State University Beer Appreciation Course Info](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/sonoma-state-university-beer-appreciation-course-info/): Craft Beer Appreciation Certificate Here’s some more information about the class I’ll be teaching at Sonoma State University (well, not at SSU, actually the classes will be taught at the Lagunitas Brewery, which sounds much better, doesn’t it?). There’s more at the official Craft Beer Appreciation Certificate Program page at SSU, and you can also register online. Below is a lot of the same info you’ll find over there, though a little less formal. The certificate program of Craft Beer Appreciation will provide students with a comprehensive and thorough understanding of the beer industry, and will include the brewing process, […]
- [Tasting Beer: The ANTMODE System](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/tasting-beer-antmode-system/): TASTING BEER There are many ways to taste beer, believe it or not. The easiest way, and by far the most enjoyable, is to simply drink it, without giving it much thought at all, beyond just knowing that you like it. Beer is perhaps the perfect beverage for simple enjoyment. It fits nearly every need, from lifting your spirits after a hard day to celebrating one of life’s milestones, such as a birthday or the simple fact that it’s Friday and you made it through another week of work. It matches perfectly with most foods, enhancing the experience of both. […]
- [Promoting the Positives Resource Page](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/positives/): Resources and Links from the Talk Given by Jay R. Brooks & Lester Jones The Craft Brewers Conference Denver, Colorado April 11, 2014 Prohibitionist Groups Alcohol Justice (f.k.a. Marin Institute) American Council on Alcoholism American Council on Alcohol Problems Alcohol Concern (UK) Biblical Prohibition CalCAP CAMY CASA Citizens Against Drunk Driving CPAP CSPI Department of Health FACE International Organization of Good Templars Join Together League Against Intoxicants Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) NAADD National Families in Action NCADD Point. Click. Drink. Robert Wood Johnson Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) Underage Drinking Enforcement Prohibitionist Political Groups Prohibition Party Women’s Christian Temperance […]
- [Beer Gods & Goddesses](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-gods-goddesses/): Long before the catholic church and related christian religions started declaring beer and brewing saints, many different civilizations and peoples had deities dedicated to beer or brewing, or some related endeavor. Below is a list of the beer gods and goddesses that I know of, along with other mythological creatures or people with an association to beer, brewing or a related aspect. Try as I might, I couldn’t find any gods or goddesses associated with either hops or yeast specifically, probably because by the time we were using them in beer, or had a better understanding of them, civilization was […]
- [Puke Words](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/puke-words/): After compiling a list of drunk words, it was a short trip to overindulgence’s consequences so I’ve compiled a list of slang terms for puking, vomiting or throwing up. The list is alphabetical and you click on a letter below to take you to that letter’s retching words. If you know of one that’s not listed here, please drop me a note and I’ll add it. Thanks. A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q […]
- [Beer In Other Languages](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-in-other-languages/): The origin of the word “beer” is not as simple as might believe, and is somewhat hotly disputed in etymological circles. Here’s one possibility: beer O.E. beor, a word of much-disputed and ambiguous origin, but probably a 6c. W.Ger. monastic borrowing of V.L. biber “a drink, beverage” (from L. infinitive bibere “to drink;” see imbibe). Another suggestion is that it comes from P.Gmc. *beuwoz-, from *beuwo- “barley.” The native Germanic word for the beverage was the one that yielded ale (q.v.). Beer was a common drink among most of the European peoples, as well as in Egypt and Mesopotamia, but […]
- [Beer Slang](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-slang/): In addition to drunk words and puke words, this list is slang for beer itself as well as other slang involving beer and/or alcohol more generally. Some entomological sources list the dates when there are records of the word being in use, and those are listed in parenthesis, along with any other additional information provided. If you know of one that’s not listed here, please drop me a note and I’ll add it. Thanks. Slang for Beer | Beer Types | Other Beer Slang | Foreign Slang Alcohol Slang | Other Slang | Bar Slang Slang For Beer: æfterealo (Old […]
- [The Campaign For Newspaper Beer Coverage Parity](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/the-campaign-for-newspaper-beer-coverage-parity/): Newspapers That Still Don’t Get It CA: San Francisco Chronicle Food & Wine CA: San Jose Mercury News Food & Wine NY: New York Times Dining & Wine WA: Seattle Times Food & Wine Newspapers That Partly Get It CA: Napa Valley Register Food & Cooking [separate wine section, but no beer, but then it is Napa] TX: San Antonio News-Express Food [Name OK, but section includes food calendar, wine calendar but no beer or spirits calendar] VT: Burlington Free Press Savorvore [Name OK, but has wine and spirits/cocktail blog, but no beer] Newspapers That Get It CA: L.A. Daily […]
- [Samples & Disclosure Policy](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/samples-disclosure-policy/): Policy Regarding Samples Yes, I do accept samples and am always happy to receive samples of beer or related products. Please e-mail me to get shipping information, and thanks! Disclosure Policy In October of 2009, the Federal Trade Commission published an update to their guidelines governing endorsements and testimonials, broadly defined. The changes primarily effected “Testimonial Advertisements, Bloggers, [and] Celebrity Endorsements.” While I do blog, and the Brookston Beer Bulletin is a blog, my primary source of income comes from writing elsewhere, usually in print for newspapers, magazines and books. As a result, I believe I am largely exempt from […]
- [The Sierra Nevada Story](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/the-sierra-nevada-story/): The Sierra Nevada Brewery Story As Presented by Co-Founder Ken Grossman On December 17, 2010, Sierra Nevada Brewing hosted the last of that year’s quarterly beer dinners held in the Big Room at the Brewery. One of the highlights was a presentation given by Sierra Nevada co-founder Ken Grossman. Throughout the dinner, in between courses, he told the story of how Sierra Nevada Brewery began, complete with slides. By complete happenstance, I happened to be sitting on a riser directly in front of the presentation, so I set up my Flip camera and taped most of it. The talk is […]
- [Brooks On Beer #33: Summer Beer Reading](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/brooks-on-beer-33-summer-beer-reading/):    Summer Beer Reading Originally published June 30, 2010 Now that summer is officially here, it’s time to pull out the beer cooler and head to where the water is, be it ocean, lake or swimming pool, and don’t forget to take along something to read. That beach read doesn’t have to be the latest celebrity tell-all, political thriller or romance, though, not when so many great beer books have been published in the last six months. Beer basics If you want to learn more about the beer you’re sipping, “The Naked Pint, An Unadulterated Guide to Craft Beer” (Perigee […]
- [Brooks On Beer #32: SAVORing Beer](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/brooks-on-beer-32-savoring-beer/):    SAVORing Beer Originally published June 16, 2010 Last week I attended SAVOR, in Washington, D.C., an event which is part of an effort to showcase craft beer and artisanal food together in a setting more elegant or sophisticated than the average beer festival. The event, subtitled “an American craft beer and food experience,” has grown wildly popular and this year — the third annual — sold out in 10 minutes. Of course, there were only 2,000 tickets available. This, again, is an effort to set it apart from other festivals, where too many people can often spoil the experience. […]
- [Brooks On Beer #31: Betsey's Belgians](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/brooks-on-beer-31-betseys-belgians/):    Betsey’s Belgians Originally published June 2, 2010 If you’ve gone to an event at the Toronado, one of San Francisco’s best beer bars, during the last seven years, chances are you’ve met Betsey Hensley. Up until recently, she could be found behind the bar or behind the scenes, coordinating the Toronado’s special events, and that’s where I met her, years ago. But these days, the former Air Force fighter mechanic and space shuttle guard is on a new mission: she’s a Belgian beer disciple, out to spread the word by importing little-known lambics and tripels for Waterloo Beverages. It’s […]
- [Brooks On Beer #30: How To Taste Beer](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/brooks-on-beer-30-how-to-taste-beer/):    How To Taste Beer Originally published May 19, 2010 While wandering around the Boonville Beer Festival last weekend, I overheard someone explaining the tongue map to an apparent newbie, loudly and with authority. If you’ve ever tasted anything critically and seriously, you’ve probably encountered the tongue map. Essentially, it explains how different tastes are experienced on different parts of your tongue. According to the map, sweet is tasted at the tip of the tongue. Bitter is sensed in the back. On the sides toward the front, we taste salty and toward the back, sour flavor. And that’s been the […]
- [Brooks On Beer #29: Fritz Maytag Sells His Anchor Brewery](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/brooks-on-beer-29-fritz-maytag-sells-his-anchor-brewery/):    Fritz Maytag Sells His Anchor Brewery Originally published May 5, 2010 THE CRAFT BEER movement may have grown at a phenomenal pace — 9 million barrels of beer were produced last year alone — the industry itself remains surprisingly small. Everyone knows everyone else, giving it a more collegial feel than most businesses. So when big news about craft beer happens, it travels fast. Last week, one of the biggest stories of the year was leaked and spread like wildfire. Rumors began last Monday just before lunch. By midafternoon, a news release scheduled for release this week was posted […]
- [Beer Saints](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-saints/): The catholic church and related christian religions have a number of saints whose patronage has something to with beer, brewers, brewing ingredients or related occupations. By my reckoning, there are at least 31, possibly 32, of them. If you know of one I’m missing, please drop me a line. Alphabetical List of Beer Saints St. Abdon: Patron saint of barrel-makers or coopers Feast Day: July 30 St. Abdon is on the left, painting by Jaume Huguet (1459-60) Links: Catholic Online / Lives of the Saints / Patron Saints Index / Wikipedia St. Adrian of Nicomedia: Patron saint of brewers and […]
- [Odonata Saison-Steamed Mussels](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/odonata-saison-steamed-mussels/)
- [Brooks On Beer #28: Aging Beer](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/brooks-on-beer-28-aging-beer/):    Aging Beer Originally published April 28, 2010 Ninety-nine percent of the world’s beer is brewed to be enjoyed as soon as possible after it has been bottled, canned or kegged. There’s no doubt that fresh beer is best — but then there’s that remaining one percent that proves the exception to the rule. But if most beers are best served fresh, why age beer at all? Like vintage wines and spirits, beers that have been stored properly for a period of time mature into amazingly complex beverages. Older beer becomes drier and more vinous. It develops rounder, mellower flavors, […]
- [Brooks On Beer #27: India Pale Ales](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/brooks-on-beer-27-india-pale-ales/):    India Pale Ales Originally published April 14, 2010 ONE OF THE most popular craft beer styles today is the I.P.A. or India Pale Ale, which is enjoying a renaissance that began roughly two decades ago as a taste for increasingly hoppy beers gripped beer lovers across the country, perhaps nowhere more so than along the West Coast. Contrary to what the name might suggest, India Pale Ales did not originate in India, but in England. And the original IPAs were not brewed specifically for the Indian market, either. In the 18th century, George Hodgson’s Bow Brewery in London was […]
- [Monty Python's The Philosopher's Song](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/monty-pythons-the-philosophers-song/): Monty Python’s “The Philosopher’s Song“ Immanuel Kant was a real pissant Who was very rarely stable. Heidegger, Heidegger was a boozy beggar Who could think you under the table. David Hume could out-consume Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, [some versions have ‘Schopenhauer and Hegel’] And Wittgenstein was a beery swine Who was just as schloshed as Schlegel. There’s nothing Nietzsche couldn’t teach ya ’bout the raising of the wrist. Socrates, himself, was permanently pissed. John Stuart Mill, of his own free will, On half a pint of shandy was particularly ill. Plato, they say, could stick it away— Half a crate of […]
- [Brooks On Beer #26: Out Like A Lambic](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/brooks-on-beer-26-out-like-a-lambic/):    Out Like A Lambic Originally published March 31, 2010 March may have come in like a lion, but with any luck, it will go out like a lambic. Lambics are an unusual style of beer brewed exclusively in Belgium. This almost winelike beer is unlike any other kind of beer in the world — and they’re perfect for the unpredictable weather of April, which is cool and breezy one moment and blisteringly hot the next. But lambics are not easy-drinking beers and they can be a challenge to most palates. Many people drink them for the first time and […]
- [Brooks On Beer #25: Stout Day](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/brooks-on-beer-25-stout-day/):    Stout Day Originally published March 17, 2010 St. Patrick’s Day may be an official holiday in Ireland, but around these parts it’s often just an excuse to hoist a pint or four of Guinness and pretend to be Irish for a day. As I prefer drinking less but better beer, I tend to be a bit of a curmudgeon about the way many American celebrations have become more about overconsumption and less about the event or person they were originally created to commemorate. St. Patrick’s Day is a good case in point. It’s an official holiday in both the […]
- [Brooks On Beer #24: Springtime For Beer](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/brooks-on-beer-24-springtime-for-beer/):    Springtime For Beer Originally published March 3, 2010 One of the best things about living in Northern California is that the spring weather arrives a little earlier than in many other parts of the country. Spring beer also arrives early, with strong, heavy beers giving way to lighter, though still flavorful seasonal styles. March used to signal the end of the brewing season in the days before refrigeration, when the weather became too warm to brew. In Germany, they brewed beer for Oktoberfest, known as Marzen — German for March — in the waning weeks of the season. Today, […]
- [Brooks On Beer #23: Beer & Food, A Magnificent Pairing](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/brooks-on-beer-23-beer-food-a-magnificent-pairing/):    Beer & Food, A Magnificent Pairing Originally published February 17, 2010 More people are coming to discover great craft and imported beer through the seemingly magical power of food. As a chef friend of mine likes to say, “Everybody has to eat” — and that has allowed him and many others to present flavorful beers in a fine dining setting. But pairing food with beer hasn’t been new since the dawn of civilization, when beer was safer to drink than water. It wasn’t until the early 19th century that the very concept of gourmet food was first articulated, encouraging […]
- [Brooks On Beer #21: SF Beer Week](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/brooks-on-beer-21-sf-beer-week/):    SF Beer Week Originally published January 20, 2010 I should say at the outset that I am one of the founders of SF Beer Week, a sponsor, a volunteer and — it probably goes without saying — one of its biggest supporters. The idea of showcasing all the great beer in our little corner of the world seems to me a natural. Along with the great cuisine found in the Bay Area, the only question I keep asking myself is why we waited so long. The second annual SF Beer Week will begin unofficially a little north of San […]
- [Brooks On Beer #20: Beer For A Cold Winter's Night](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/brooks-on-beer-20-beer-for-a-cold-winters-night/):    Beer For A Cold Winter’s Night Originally published January 6, 2010 Every New Year’s Day brings the promise of a whole new year filled with new beers to try. And breweries tend to release some of their most exciting beers in January and February. Beers released at this chilly time of year are usually stronger in alcohol — to warm you with their inner glow — and they’re designed to be sipping beers, served in smaller glasses so they can be shared on a cold winter’s night. Getting your goat Traditionally, German brewers often release Doppelbocks in the early […]
- [Brooks On Beer #22: The Uncommon California Common](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/brooks-on-beer-22-the-uncommon-california-common/):    The Uncommon California Common Originally published February 3, 2010 Unless you’re a hard-core beer geek, it’s likely you’ve never heard of the beer style known as “California Common.” But it’s a safe bet that you have heard of its most famous example, Anchor Steam Beer, made by one of the Bay Area’s best-known breweries. In a few short days, the second annual SF Beer Week kicks off and for 10 days it will shine a golden spotlight on Northern California’s craft beer and its heritage. And that brings us back to California Common. After the Gold Rush that began […]
- [Brooks On Beer](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/brooks-on-beer/): Since April of 2009, I’ve been writing a syndicated biweekly column, Brooks On Beer, for the Bay Area News Group, a subsidiary of the MediaNews Group. The MediaNews Group owns and operates over 50 newspapers in 11 states. The Bay Area News Group consists of 14 newspapers throughout the greater San Francisco Bay Area. My column usually runs in at least six of those, including the Oakland Tribune, the San Jose Mercury News and the Contra Costa Times. Here are my columns, with the most recent at the bottom of the list. Every New Journey Begins With the First Sip […]
- [Guinness Advertising](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/guinness-advertising/): First I started highlighting fine art and beer every Sunday in my Beer In Art series, then I began showcasing great art in beer advertising every week day in another series, Beer in Advertising. But in beer advertising, the wonderful ads by John Gilroy for Guinness stout are a special case so I’ve started showing a new Guinness ad every Saturday, and those are collected here on this page. Guinness Advertising The Balancing Seal (1.16.10) There’s Nothing Like Guinness (1.23.10) Carrying the Steel Beam (1.30.10) Two Heads Are Better Than One (2.6.10) Bear’s Beer (2.13.10) The Ostrich (2.20.10) Whale Walking […]
- [Craft Beer & Ale Compared](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/craft-beer-ale-compared/): Below is a side by side comparison of the two versions of Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs & Ham and Dr. J’s Craft Beer & Ale. On the right is the original version and on the left is my parody version. Green Eggs & Hamby Dr. Seuss Craft Beer & Aleby Dr. J Sam I am I am Sam Sam I am That Sam’s upscale. That Sam regales. I do not like that Sam wholesale! Do you drink craft beer & ale? Sam I am I am Sam Sam I am That Sam-I-am! That Sam-I-am! I do not like that Sam-I-am! […]
- [Bill Hicks](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/bill-hicks/): Bill Hicks is hands down my favorite comedian of all-time. He died 16 years ago yet his material remains as relevant today as when it was first delivered. I saw him over a dozen times and even had the opportunity to shake his hand and chat with him briefly after a show in San Francisco the year before he passed away. His comedy was not just funny but challenged people to think and I never saw one show of his where somebody didn’t walk out, having been offended. Below is his Wikipedia entry: William Melvin “Bill” Hicks (December 16, 1961 […]
- [Fictional Beer Brands](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/fictional-beer-brands/): Below is a list of fictional beer brands used in books, comics, films, games and television. Some of these brands went on to live in the real world, but they first existed in an author or creator’s mind. Duff Beer Line Extensions Beer brands associated with the Simpsons. Duff Beer Competitors Futurama Fictional beer brands from Futurama. Mad Magazine Beer Spoofs Beer brands used in Mad Magazine. Saturday Night Live Beers spoofed over the years on NBC’s Saturday Night Live. Wacky Packages Beers spoofed on Wacky Packages. Independent Studio Services Independent Studio Services (ISS), for over thirty years, has been […]
- [Twas the Night Before Christmas Compared](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/twas-the-night-compared/): Below is a side by side comparison of the two versions of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. On the left is the original version and on the right is my parody version. Twas the Night Before ChristmasA Visit From St. Nicholas Twas the Beer Before Christmas:A Brewery Visit From St. Nicholas ‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of […]
- [Brookston Beer Quiz](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-quiz/):   I have a thing for trivia, history, graphics and beer which all come together in these beer quizzes. The plan is to do a new one every two weeks or so. Enjoy. Brookston Beer Quiz Beer Logo Letters #1 (12.14.09) Beer Logos #1 (12.28.09) Beer Logo Letters #2 (1.4.10) Beer Slogans #1 (1.12.10)
- [The Big Brewer's Brands 2009](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/the-big-brewers-brands/): Anat Baron, who directed Beer Wars, kept getting asked about a list of which brands are owned by which of the two big beer companies operating in the U.S., Anheuser-Busch InBev and Miller Coors. I thought I’d help out by putting together this list, which still probably isn’t exhaustive since it doesn’t include experimental releases being test-marketed (or brands I simply missed). Putting together a list of this type is harder than it looks, because so many of the arrangements between InBev and MillerCoors and their subordinate brands aren’t all straightforward ownership deals. Some involve partial ownership, distribution rights and […]
- [Beer In Advertising](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-in-ads/):   I’ve been highlighting fine art and beer every Sunday in my Beer In Art series, but in searching for more art to showcase, I kept coming upon wondrous examples of advertising illustration. But I’d been reluctant to use them because there was plenty of fine art involving beer to keep me busy for quite some time. So instead, I started featuring advertising art with beer as a separate series. Every Thursday I highlight a beer ad, usually one from the past, that has some impressive artwork associated with it, and this is an archive of those beer advertisements. Beer […]
- [Wallpaper](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/wallpaper/): Brookston Wallpaper   If you’d like to use the Brookston Beer Bulletin logo as your wallpaper, there are several sizes below. I’ll also create other wallpaper size photos that I think would be cool to use as wallpaper and display them here from time to time. So check back often for new wallpaper. Brookston Beer Bulletin Logo Wallpaper 800 x 600 1024 x 768 1440 x 900 Jeff Bagby’s Lucky Pants 2009 Wallpaper 800 x 600 1024 x 768 1440 x 900
- [Events](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/events/): Coming Soon
- [About](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/about/): My name is Jay Brooks and I am a beer writer living in Sonoma County in Northern California. My main job for the past decade or so had been taking care of my two children. My eldest child, a son named Porter, was born in September of 2001. When he was around three I stopped working full time to stay home with him. Our second child, a daughter named Alice, was born in July of 2004, and between the two of them, I generally have my hands full. So I left my job as General Manager of the Celebrator Beer […]
- [New Zealand: Family Vacation Snapshots](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/nz09-family/): May 16-30, 2008   Here are some of the highlights of my two week family vacation in New Zealand in May of 2008. None of these are beer-related. If you want to see the beer we encountered, check out the beer photo album.  
- [New Zealand: Beer Visits](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/nz09-beer/): May 16-30, 2008   Here are some of the highlights of my two weeks in New Zealand in May of 2008. There are all beer-related. If you’re curious about some of the non-beer sites we saw, check out the short family album.  
- [Can Sleep Beer Can Camping](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/can-sleep/): The Can Sleep, decked out as a Royal Pilsner beer can. The back of the can was decorated with essentially the same story that’s on the website, but click on the photo for a larger, more legible view. Inside, the walls make you feel like you’re inside a can of beer, with bubbly beer wallpaper on the walls. There are also two chairs, a sort of living room. The lamp can be raised or lowered. This gadget is a multitask tool with a clock, mirror, hooks and hoops for clothes, towels, etc. From below, a ladder ascends to a triangle-shaped […]
- [Beer Limericks](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-limericks/): National Limerick Day is May 12, which commemorates the birthday of Edward Lear. Lear wrote the Book of Nonsense, one of the earliest collections of limerick poetry and with it and later works he’s the person who probably did more to popularize the form than anyone else. Here’s one by Lear where he mentions beer. There was an Old Man with an owl, Who continued to bother and howl; He sate on a rail, And imbibed bitter ale, Which refreshed that Old Man and his owl.           — Edward Lear, Book of Nonsense #98 So for my 16th Top 10 list […]
- [PNC Beer Dinner 2009, Pt. 3](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/pnc09-3/): May 4, 2009   Part 3 includes courses 9 through 12 of the 12 courses of the 2009 PNC Beer Dinner held in Russian River’s barrel room and presented by Sean Z. Paxton. Course No. 9: Assorted Belgian Cheese, which were served buffet style. The cheeses include Affligem (cow, Trappist style, made w/beer), Chimay (cow), Orval (med. soft, cow, Trappist style), Pate a Chouffe (cow, soft rounds), Petrus (cow, med. firm), St. Bernardus (cow, med. hard, made w/Watou beer), Val Dieu (cow, med. hard, Trappist style), Westvleteren (cow, small rounds, made w/beer) and Westvleteren (cow, softer, not made w/beer). The […]
- [PNC Beer Dinner 2009, Pt. 2](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/pnc09-2/): May 4, 2009   Part 2 includes courses 3 through 8 of the 12 courses of the 2009 PNC Beer Dinner held in Russian River’s barrel room and presented by Sean Z. Paxton. Course No. 3: ’23’ Scallops, jumbo sea scallops cold smoked in Empirical 7 (Russian River’s newest beer) soaked union barrel oak chips with a Damnation glaze, celery root puree, chioggia beet disk and fennel pollen. As a special treat, Vinnie and Natalie provided entertainment in the form of belly dancers who regularly perform at their brewpub. Which was a fun respite while we sipped beer No. 3, […]
- [PNC Beer Dinner 2009, Pt. 1](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/pnc09-1/): May 4, 2009   After the day brewing Publication, a beer dinner was held right in Russian River’s barrel room for the Publican National Committee, whose members include Brouwer’s, The Falling Rock, The Horse Brass, Monk’s Cafe, and the Toronado. Sean “Zane” Paxton (as in in-zane or zany) cooked another of his fabulous 12-course monstrosities for about 24 people. The beer dinner began about 7:00 p.m. and finished up roughly six-and-a-half hours later at 1:30 a.m. In between there was much merriment, many beers, barrel tasting and delectable food. Actually, the dinner really started around 3:30 p.m. when Sean put […]
- [Russian River Publication](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/russian-river-publication/): May 4, 2008   On Monday May 4, the members of the Publican National Committee, consisting of Brouwer’s, The Falling Rock, The Horse Brass, Monk’s Cafe, and the Toronado, assembled at Russian River Brewing’s production facility to brew a collaborative beer to be sold exclusively at member pubs. The new beer will be called Publication, and will be an 8% a.b.v. Saison. Chris Black, from the Falling Rock, and Dave Keene, from the Toronado, look in on the mash-in. Vinnie Ciliurzo, adding to the mix. Making wort. Getting the boil going.   On deck brewing, from left: Dave Keene, Chris […]
- [Looking For Porters in Porter Square](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/porter-square/): April 26, 2009   Sunday morning in Boston, I had a number of hours before my flight left for home. My plan for the day was a trip to nearby Cambridge where I was going to hunt for some toys for my kids. But as I was early getting out and had over an hour before the stores opened, I stayed on the subway a few more stops for no better reason than I wanted to see Porter Square, a neighborhood near Harvard. And the only reason I went there was because Porter is my son’s name and it was […]
- [Boontstock 2009](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/boontstock-2009/): May 2, 2009   The lucky 13th annual Boonville Beer Festival turned into Boontstock this weekend as several inches of rain poured down on the Anderson Valley. The mud and rain didn’t seem to deter anyone, either from camping or going to the festival. I really thought the turnout would be lighter this year with the virtual certainty of rain all weekend. But from what I could see, this year’s festival was as well-attended as any, with festival-goes showing great ingenuity in their attempts to stay dry. Normally, brewer’s table are right outside the Lamb Palace, but with the rain […]
- [The Oldest Bars In America](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/oldest-american-bars/): The list below is an on-going project attempting to list the oldest bars still operating in the United States. This was originally a post that I did in August of 2008, prompted by another website’s list that contained many inaccuracies and omissions. My list is far more comprehensive, and is based on reader comments to the original post plus some of my own research and poking around. Even so, I’m sure I’m missing a lot, because there’s no central repository for this sort of information. As one commenter made clear, I need to point out that these are bars that […]
- [The Freedom Trail, Pt. 4](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/freedom-trail-4/): April 25, 2009 After stopping for a spell at both the Bell In Hand and the Green Dragon, I continued walking the Freedom Trail.   Just around the corner from the two taverns, down a narrow corridor was Durty Nellie’s, another Somers Pub. The back of Dirty Nellie’s from the lively fish and farmer’s market that was taking place on Saturday. Across the highway sat Goody Glover’s, presumably named for Goodwife “Goody” Glover, the last person to be hanged in Boston as a witch, on November 16, 1688. Paul Revere’s house, built in 1680. I also walked past the Wild […]
- [The Freedom Trail, Pt. 3: The Green Dragon](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/freedom-trail-3/): April 25, 2009 The second historic tavern I wanted to see along the Freedom Trail was the Green Dragon, which boasted a rich history before and during the American Revolutionary War. The original Green Dragon opened in 1654, which presumably might make it the oldest tavern in America. In 1764, the St. Andrews Lodge of Freemasons bought the tavern. The Green Dragon figured in a lot of revolutionary intrigue, not least of which is the mystery of the Boston Tea Party.   Unfortunately, the original location on Union Street was demolished in 1854. Its present location at 11 Marshall Street, […]
- [The Freedom Trail, Pt. 2: The Bell In Hand](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/freedom-trail-2/): April 25, 2009 Along the Freedom Trail there are at least a few historic bars I thought worth seeing, especially as my curiosity was piqued by a post I did last August on America’s Oldest Bars. The impetus to create a list of the oldest bars came from what appeared at first blush to be a rather poor list of the 10 oldest bars at SloshSpot. Their list had the Bell In Hand as the second-oldest bar in America, which didn’t seem quite right. After doing some digging, the Bell In Hand comes in around 14th or 15th.     […]
- [The Freedom Trail, Pt. 1](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/freedom-trail-1/): April 25, 2009   The day after this year’s Craft Brewers Conference in Boston, Massachusetts, I spent the day walking around Boston. Apart from one evening a couple of years ago, the last time I was in Boston when when I was 17 and on a high school band trip (our marching band played a Patriots halftime show). So I wanted to get out and see the city and, happily, the weather cooperated with two 80+ degree days in a row. The plan was to walk most of the Freedom Trail, but first I wanted to visit the Museum of […]
- [Beer Mixed Drinks](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-cocktails/): Back in the dark ages before the internet, this series of tubes you’re looking at, I wrote a book entitled The Bars of Santa Clara County: A Beer Drinker’s Guide To Silicon Valley. In one of the appendices of that book I included a list of mixed drinks using beer, or beer cocktails. Here’s that list, with slight modifications and additions. Ale Sangaree Add 1/2 teaspoon of powdered sugar to a 10 oz. glass of beer. Arf’n Arf Put equal amounts of two beers, like mild and bitter, in a tall glass. Beer Buster Put 1 oz. of 100-proof Vodka […]
- [A Visit To Hollister](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/hollister-brew/): April 15, 2009   On the drive to Los Angeles to see the premiere of Beer Wars, I also took the opportunity to visit some friends along the way. My second stop on the way down was in Goleta, near Santa Barbara, to see Eric Rose’s Hollister Brewing, which opened less than a year ago. Rose used to be the brewmaster at Santa Barbara Brewing for many years, but left to open his new place with his father. Outside Hollister Brewing. I sat at the bar and had a nice, long conversation with Eric about this and that, while sampling […]
- [Beer Wars Live](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-wars-live/): April 16, 2009   I drove down to Los Angeles to see the live show for the new documentary film, Beer Wars, by Anat Baron, because I thought it would be fun to see it live, which it was. I got to hang out in the green room before the show and then later saw the satellite truck where the show beamed out across the country. It was definitely worth the long drive. It was held at Royce Hall on the campus of UCLA. After a screening of the film, a panel of personalities featured in the film held a […]
- [The Bay Area Firkin Gravity Fest 2009](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/firkin-fest-09/): April 4, 2008   Saturday, April 4th, was the 6th annual Bay Area Firkin Gravity Fest at Triple Rock in Berkeley. But it was the first time new brewmaster Rodger Davis was at the helm, after five years of Christian Kazakof, who moved to Iron Springs Pub & Brewery last year. Rodger, however, did, help Christian with set-up in the early years, so was quite familiar with the process. From what I could see the festival went off without a hitch, beyond the typical fussiness of firkins. The line stretched almost to University Avenue before the doors opened. Inside the […]
- [Toronado Belgian Beer Lunch: The Last Six Courses](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/toronado-belgian-lunch-pt-3/): April 5, 2008   The second half of the Toronado Belgian Beer Lunch began with an enourmouse cheese plate that included nine cheese, eight of which our chef, Sean Paxton, lugged back from Belgian last week on a plane — 50 pounds in all! Here are the last six courses, essentially the last half of our meal. Dave and Jennifer, our hosts for the day. Seventh Course: Assorted Belgian Cheeses Affligem Trappist style, made with beer, cow’s milk Chimay rind washed with Chimay, cow’s milk Orval Trappist style, med. soft, cow’s milk Pate à Chouffe made with a Chouffe, soft […]
- [Toronado Belgian Beer Lunch: The First Six Courses](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/toronado-belgian-lunch-pt-2/): April 5, 2008   Toronado owner Dave Keene started off the day and introduced Chef Sean Paxton, who told us abut each course and the beer or beers paired with it before each course. Here are the first six courses, essentially the first half of our meal. Dave Keene gets the lunch going and tells about the special beer that began today, one that was so special he asked everyone not to write or blog about it, though he was looking directly at me when I said that. Or maybe I was just being paranoid. Suffice it to say you […]
- [Toronado Belgian Beer Lunch: The Preparations](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/toronado-belgian-lunch-pt-1/): April 5, 2008   The annual Belgian Beer Lunch put on by the Toronado took place on Sunday, April 5, beginning at 11:30 a.m. The “lunch” ran to 12 courses, paired with 20 beers (and countless mores used in cooking) and finished up at dinner time, a little after 5:00 p.m. The food was done, for the second year, by the Homebrew Chef, Sean Z. Paxton. I arrived a little early this year to take a peek into all the preparations that go into creating a twelve-course meal without a working kitchen. So here are a few behind-the-scenes photos before […]
- [Marin Brewing 20th Anniversary Lunch](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/marin-20th-lunch/): April 1, 2009   Today was the 20th anniversary of Marin Brewing in Larkspur, California. I met a few friends there for lunch and to try the two special beers Arne had made for the occasion. One was his Tripel Dipsea Belgian Ale — always a fave — and the other was a new 20th Anniversary Old Ale, which Arne described as a “young old ale.” Founder Brendan Moylan regaled us with hilarious tales from the last two decades. Good beer, food and company, that’s how to celebrate an anniversary. Just inside the entrance to Marin Brewing above the hostess […]
- [Beer Belongs ... Enjoy It!](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-belongs/): In the November 2009 issue of All About Beer magazine, I wrote an article entitled Beer Belongs (beginning on page 44), about the famous ad campaign by the United States Brewers Foundation that ran from 1945-1956. If you come here from the magazine, below is some additional text and also some galleries displaying all of the advertisements from that period of time that I know about. I may be missing one from either the beginning or the end of the series, before and after they were numbered, since we have no idea how many were produced during those years. The […]
- [Beer Belongs: 1946 / Ads 1-2](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-belongs-02/): Part 2: 1946 / Ads 1-2 1946 was the first year that the United States Brewers Foundation began the “Home Life In America” series, a part of the “Beer Belongs” ad campaign. The two ads published this year began the numbering system that continued until 1956.   Ads On This Page Uncle From the West by Stevan Dohanos Family Musicale by Mead Schaeffer   1. Uncle From the West Artist: Stevan Dohanos / Number 1 in the series “Home Life in America” / Year: 1946 Not the best angle, but it gives a decent view of the whole ad. A […]
- [Beer Belongs: All the Ads](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-belongs-01/): In the November 2009 issue of All About Beer magazine, I wrote an article entitled Beer Belongs (beginning on page 44), about the famous ad campaign by the United States Brewers Foundation that ran from 1945-1956. If you come here from the magazine, below is some additional text and also some galleries displaying all of the advertisements from that period of time that I know about. I may be missing one from either the beginning or the end of the series, before and after they were numbered, since we have no idea how many were produced during those years. The […]
- [Brouwer's Hard Liver Barlywine Fest](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/hard-liver09/): March 21, 2009   Saturday, March 21, Brouwer’s Cafe in Seattle, Washington, held their 7th annual Hard Liver Barleywine Fest. I was fortunate enough to judge again this year, and it was yet another terrific festival. When the doors opened at 11:00 a.m., a line snaked up to the end of the block and Seattle’s best Belgian bar was filled to capacity with minutes of opening. The crowd at Brouwer’s for the Barleywine Fest. I was sequestered upstairs with the final eight beers for the final judging. Where we set about sampling each of them. Trying to whittle them down […]
- [Fairfax Brewfest](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/fairfax-2009/): March 1, 2008   This year was their 14th annual Fairfax Brewfest, though it was my first time attending. I carpooled down with my friend Brent Ainsworth, who’s an editor and reporter with our local paper, the Marin I.J. There was a baker’s dozen of breweries there at the Fairfax Pavilion, a small old wooden structure ideal for the event. All of Marin’s breweries were at the festival. There was a good crowd on hand to enjoy the crisp, cool but sunny day in Fairfax. Rodger Davis, from Triple Rock Brewery, and Christian Kazakoff, from hometown Fairfax brewpub, Iron Springs. […]
- [Beer In Art](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-in-art/):   I love art. I love beer, too, obviously. This is my attempt to connect liquid art with the world of the painted canvas and marble sculpture. This is an archive of the works of art I highlight weekly that feature beer, brewing or beer’s ingredients in some fashion in the piece. Beer In Art Edouard Manet: Bar at the Folies-Bergere (11.9.08) Jasper Johns: Painted Bronze (11.16.08) Ford Madox Brown: Work (11.23.08) Vincent Van Gogh: Beer Tankards; also includes Physiology of the Drinker, The Four Ages, Still Life with Beer Mug and Fruit, and Still Life with Pottery, Beer Glass […]
- [Beer Birthday Overkill: Jay Brooks](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/jay-brooks-birthday-photos/): March 3, 2009 Today is my 50th birthday. Usually it’s me posting embarrassing photos of my friends on ther birthdays, so in a spirit of fair play, here are some less than flattering photos of yours truly culled from the last fifty years of my life. Fresh from the oven, as a happy baby. An early holiday putting out fires with Mom. I’ve always liked this photograph of me and my Mom. I’m around four or five in the picture. I just discovered a 16 x 20 print of this photo behind another photo in a frame that was in […]
- [Toronado 5-0](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/toronado-5-0/): With my 50th birthday approaching, I’d fixated on having a Hawaii 5-0 Party because I love puns so much. Plus, I love Hawaii and Hawaiian shirts, so I figured why not celebrate the half-century mark doing something I like. As you know, I also love beer, so I asked my good friend Dave Keene if I could have my party at his bar, the best pub in San Francisco — The Toronado. So on Saturday night, March 7, I had a Hawaii 5-0 brouhaha at the Toronado. I had a lot of fun, and a number of friends and family […]
- [Celebrator Best of the West Fest, Pt. 2](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/bestowest-pt-2/): February 15, 2009   Here are more photos from the Best of the West Fest, put on by the Celebrator Beer News, the final event of SF Beer Week. Me at the fest, flanked by friends Sean and Cathy, in from Vancouver, Canada. Ted Vivatson (from Eel River Brewing). Three from Alaska; Chaz Lakip, Gabe Fletcher and Ben Johnson, the latter two both from Midnight Sun Brewing, are on the right. Dave Buhler (from Elysian Brewing). The center island, one of four areas in the ballroom where breweries were pouring samples of their beer. Gabby and Justine, the 21A Girls […]
- [Celebrator Best of the West Fest, Pt. 1](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/bestowest-pt-1/): February 15, 2009   The final event of SF Beer Week was the Best of the West fest, put on by the Celebrator Beer News. It was held at the Oakland Convention Center at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Oakland, the same venue where the National Homebrewers Conference will be held later this year. Instead of an anniversary party, the Celebrator’s annual party this year instead focused on celebrating beer in the Bay Area, in keeping with the SF Beer Week theme. Fifty-five breweries were pouring nearly 250 different beers throughout the evening and a record attendance was there to […]
- [Toronado Barleywine Festival 2009](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/toronado-bw09/): February 14, 2009   Saturday, February 14 — yes, Valentine’s Day — began the 16th annual Toronado Barleywine Festival. The day started out cool, but with sun peaking through the clouds. It was another stellar festival and a great day, the second last of this year’s SF Beer Week. As has been the case for the past few years, the line to get into the Toronado for the Barleywine Festival stretched down the entire length of the block on Haight Street. Filling the entire sidewalk with fans eager to sample over 55 barley wines. At 11:00 a.m. sharp, the first […]
- [The Beer Chef's Beer & Chocolate Dinner 2009](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-chocolate-2009/): February 13, 2009   The Beer Chef’s annual beer & chocolate dinner took place last Friday night, February 13, at the Cathedral Hill Hotel in San Francisco. This is usually the most popular of the Beer Chef’s annual series of beer dinners, and this year was no exception, with 120 dinner guests. The chocolate came from a local chocolate maker, TCHO Chocolate, located at Pier 17 in San Francisco. The beers featured for the dinner was from Malheur, imported by Belukus Marketing. A great time was had by one and all; great beer, great food, great company. The ballroom for […]
- [A Night Of Ales Beer Dinner](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/anoa/): February 12, 2009   Thursday night, February 12, the Toronado and the Homebrew Chef put on a beer dinner entitled “A Night of Ales” featuring the beers of Firestone Walker. It was a seven-course dinner, including the Intermezzo. It was an amazing evening and the packed house all appeared to be equally impressed by both the meal and the pairings. The Peacock Lounge, across the street from the Toronado Pub, was totally transformed for the evening. As you can see while the guests streamed in before the dinner began. Back in the kitchen, chef Sean Paxton, prepares for his beer […]
- [Lagunitas Beer Circus: Freaks and Beer Geeks](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/circus-freaks-geeks/): February 8, 2009   Once the circus was underway, people started streaming in the front entrance, as performers, clowns and other colorful folks were there to greet them. At the front entrance to the Lagunitas Beer Circus. The Hot Punk Clown Posse. More clowns and performers milling about the entrance. The bearded lady. Poser … er, posing clowns. Test your strength? The live puppet. Another view of the snail mobile. Mike Altman from Iron Springs Pub & Brewery giving me the thumbs up. He had the Ambrewlance there right by the entrance in case of any beer-related mishaps.   Back […]
- [Lagunitas Beer Circus: Under the Big Top](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/circus-big-top/): February 8, 2009   There were all manner of performers, music, beer, food and fun under the Big Top, a tend nearly as large as a city block directly next to the brewery building. There were stilt walkers all over the place, dominating the landscape. Beer Chef Bruce Paton sporting his SF Beer Week shirt. Jeff Barkley, from Moonlight Brewing, who’s recently been promoted to VP of International Operations. Congratulations, Jeff! Tony Magee, owner and Ringmaster of Lagunitas Brewing, with Vinnie Cilurzo from Russian River Brewing. Jay, from Russian River’s pizza kitchen, who is a world-class pizza thrower, as you […]
- [Laguintas Beer Circus: Boil Theatre](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/circus-boil-theatre/): February 8, 2009   In the middle of the circus tent was a small stage for performers with the Boil Theatre. There were dozens of different acts, all unique and different. The were all pretty interesting, a mix of circus acts, cabaret and burlesque. Here is a sample of the Boil Theatre acts. A trio of belly dancers, with a sample of their dancing below. A juggler, and below is video of some juggling. This woman in the red lingerie did a series of balancing poses, and here’s her in action. In between each act, these two would come up […]
- [Lagunitas Beer Circus: Extra Action Marching Band](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/circus-extra-action/): February 8, 2009   The final act to perform at the Lagunitas Beer Circus Sunday night was the Extra Action Marching Band, a high energy marching band that rocks hard. Lagunitas had them once before at an anniversary party a few years back, and they sure now how to get a crowd up and moving. Here’s how they describe themselves at their website: The Extra Action Marching Band is a collision of big band and ecstatic turmoil. Despite their name they rarely march, but rather shimmy, crawl, mob and charge. Trumpets pounce like eagles and tubas drip ass-bouncing blurps from […]
- [Wanna Git My Eastern Peanut Butter In Yer Western Chocolate](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/east-vs-west-dinner/): February 9, 2009   It was an evening of music, poetry, rapping and fun topped off with great food and beer at the “Wanna Git My Eastern Peanut Butter In Yer Western Chocolate” beer dinner, a.k.a. an East vs. West Slam with Dogfish Head and 21st Amendment. In between five courses, Sam Calagione and Shaun O’Sullivan took turns humorously dissing each others’ coast and the beers from each. I’m kicking myself that none of us recorded any of it on video. It was hilarious. A great evening of merriment. We started off with appetizers, California Dungeness Crab Cakes with citrus […]
- [Bistro Double IPA Festival 2009](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/bistro-dipa-2009/): February 7, 2009   The 9th annual Bistro Double IPA Festival, and the first major event of SF Beer Week, got underway Saturday morning in beautiful downtown Hayward. It was a gorgeous February day, cool, not cold, but with a bright, warming sun. Owners Vic and Cynthia Kralj finally persuaded the city to let them takeover a larger portion of the street for the festival, ironically across the weekly farmer’s market that apparently had no trouble at all getting to use the entire street and has been blocking it off for years. But a couple times a year to bring […]
- [Cheese Tasting at Rogue Public House](https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/rogue-cheese-tastes/): January 19, 2009    


[comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)