Beer Birthday: Morgan Cox

October 5, 2025 By Jay Brooks 1 Comment

Today is the 48th birthday of Morgan Cox, founder and brewmaster of Ale Industries in Concord, California. Morgan started homebrewing at an early age, and washed kegs for Dave Heist at HopTown, before brewing at E.J. Phair. After eight years there, he left to open his own brewery, Ale Industries, where he had been making inventive, tasty beers. Unfortunately, more recently, in late 2023, he closed the brewery. Join me in wishing Morgan a very happy birthday.

Morgan at the rainy Boonville Beer Festival in 2009.

Cox-1 — Morgan with Annie, of Annie N Crew, at the opening gala for SF Beer Week several years ago.

Cox-2 — Morgan pouring at the Breastfest in 2012.

Note: the last two photos purloined from Facebook.

Beer Birthday: Don Gortemiller

October 2, 2025 By Jay Brooks 2 Comments

Today is the 73rd birthday of Don Gortemiller, former brewmaster for Pacific Coast Brewing in Oakland, California. Don was making beer there since the very beginning, back in 1988, helping to put Oakland and the Bay Area on the beer map, but left under an odd set of circumstances, and has subsequently retired; lucky him. And more recently, the brewery he worked at for decades has closed. Join me in wishing Don a very happy birthday.

Pacific Coast founder Steve Wolfe with Don at their 2009 annual Holiday Beer Tasting.

gortemiller-1 — Don toasting with his beer.

gortemiller-3 — Bruce Joseph with Don at Anchor Brewing.

gortemiller-2 — Don rockin’ out as a young man.

Note: the last three photos purloined from Facebook.

Beer Birthday: Jesse Friedman

September 30, 2025 By Jay Brooks Leave a Comment

Almanac-circle
Today is the birthday of Jesse Friedman, co-founder of Almanac Beer Co. I first got to know Jesse when he was writing his beer and food blog, Beer & Nosh, but he’s since gone on to partner with Damian Fagan to create “Farm-to-Barrel” beers in 2010, and they later opened a taproom on the Island of Alameda. A few years ago, Jesse left Almanac, and moved to Los Angeles and is working on what to do next. Join me in wishing Jesse a very happy birthday.

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Jesse with Tim Clifford at the SF Beer Week Opening Gala earlier this year.

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Jesse, with Fraggle and Ron Silberstein, from Thirsty Bear, at the Anchor Holiday Party in 2012.

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Helping Sean Paxton with the Toronado Belgian Beer Lunch in 2009.

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Steve Altamari, Zak Davis, Jesse and Pete Slosberg at Jesse’s Pre-Wedding BBQ in 2010.
[Note: Pictures 1, 2, and 4 purloined from Facebook]

Beer Birthday: Bill Owens

September 25, 2025 By Jay Brooks

Today is the 87th birthday of Bill Owens, who founded one of California (and America’s) earliest brewpubs, Buffalo Bill’s, in Hayward, California. The brewpub opened in 1983, but in 1994 he sold it to his then-brewer, Geoff Harries, who still owns and operates it today. Bill also founded American Brewer magazine, which today is owned by Jamie Magee. Bill’s also an accomplished photographer, and has published several volumes of his photos, the most famous of which is Suburbia. More recently, he’s been involved in micro-distilling, in 2003 founding the American Distilling Institute. Please join me in wishing Bill a very happy birthday.

Bill and me at the Anchor Xmas Party in 2009.

ambrew-anchor-1 — Bill and Fritz Maytag at an event for Maureen Ogle’s book “Ambitious Brew” in 2006.

bill-owens-1985 — Bill at Buffalo Bill’s in 1985.

Bill-Owens — A press shot from the 1980s.

Bill-Owens-paddle — Manning the mash paddle around 1985, the year he made his first batch of Pumpkin Ale, probably the first pumpkin beer in modern times.

how-to-build-a-small-brewery — Bill Owens’ early book — more of a pamphlet really — on How to Build a Small Brewery.

Beer Birthday: John Gillooly

September 21, 2025 By Jay Brooks

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

P1130876 — John with Kushal Hall during a visit to Speakeasy in 2009.

gillooly-clifford — Tim Clifford, from Sante Adairius, with John, in 2015.

gillooly-shrango-gingold — At Beachwood BBQ & Brewing in 2014, John, Julian Shrango and photographer Nick Gingold.

gillooly-tasty-henhouse — Tasty, John and Collin McDonnell at Drake’s Session Fest.

[NOTE: Last three photos purloined from Facebook.]

Beer Birthday: Don Barkley

September 18, 2025 By Jay Brooks

napa-smith

Today is the birthday of legendary brewer Don Barkley. Barkley’s first brewing job was as assistant brewer at New Albion Brewing in Sonoma, California, America’s first modern microbrewery back in the late 1970s. He went on to help found Mendocino Brewing, and created most of their iconic brands, like Red Tail Ale and Eye of the Hawk. In 2008, Don became the brewmaster for Napa Smith Brewery in — you guessed it — Napa, and he was been making great beer there, too, although more recently he’s retired from brewing. Although he’s been dragged back a little, by the gentleman who bought the Mendocino Brewing labels out of bankruptcy, who last I heard had tapped Don to re-brew Red Tail Ale, but I’m not sure if that’s still going on. I also think he may be doing some brewing in, of all places, Florida, at Alcatraz Brewing. Anyway, join me in wishing Don a very happy birthday.

Don at the SF Beer Week Opening Gala in 2010.

Mark Carpenter, from Anchor Brewing, and Don at the SF Beer Week Opening Gala in 2011.

Don, me and Ed Davis each with a 1979 bottle of New Albion beer, that Ed was kind enough to donate, when we did a vintage tasting of beer that Don helped brew over thirty years ago.

Albion Don at the Toronado during the launch of the first SF Beer Week in 2009.

Me and Don at the Breastfest at Fort Mason a few years ago (photo by Mario Rubio).

Beer Birthday: Lars Larson

September 15, 2025 By Jay Brooks

trumer
Today is the 59th birthday of Lars Larson, brewmaster of Trumer Brauerei in Berkeley, California. Larsen studied brewing in Germany and was the perfect person to recreate Trumer Pils in the United States, one of the best pilsners made in California, or indeed anywhere, foreign or domestic. I got to know Lars much better several years ago, when we were both invited to judge a beer competition in Santiago, Chile, and he’s a very thoughtful brewer, and great fun to hang out with. Join me in wishing Lars a very happy birthday.

Lars Larson (Trumer), Homer Smith (Oak Barrel) & Shaun O'Sullivan (21st Amendment) — Lars, with Homer Smith of the Oak Barrel & Shaun O’Sullivan from 21st Amendment, at the Celebrator’s 22nd anniversary party in 2010.

P1080927 — Lars in Chile with two of the brewers from Cerveceria Berlina in Argentina.

Lars Larson (Trumer) & Brenden Dobel (Thirsty Bear) — Lars, again at the Celebrator’s 22nd anniversary party in 2010, with Brenden Dobel, from Thirsty Bear.

P1090028 — Lars’ former brewing school classmate Asbjorn Gerlach, Matt Brynildson and Lars at Kross Cerveza Independiente in Chile, which Gerlach co-founded.

Beer Birthday: Steve McDaniel

September 14, 2025 By Jay Brooks

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Today is the 57th birthday of Steve McDaniel, a former brewer with 21st Amendment. These days McDaniels is hard at work building what might have become the Oakland Brewing Co. on 22nd Avenue in Oakland, and brewing their beer at other locations until it’s finished, at least he was the last time I talked to him. Admittedly, it’s been a little while so hopefully it’s still in the works. He’s also brewing beer for his other venture, Independent Brewing. Join me in wishing Steve a very happy birthday.

Steve McDaniels, Bruce Paton and Arne Johnson — Steve with OBC partner Bruce Paton and Arne Johnson, brewmaster at Marin Brewing.

mcdaniel-and-josh — Steve with Drake’s brewer Josh Miner.

mcdaniel-2 — Steve and his lovely wife Justine.

mcdaniel-1 — Claudia Davis, Steve, Justine Nguyen, Gabrielle Chan, Adrienne McMullen, Shaun O’Sullivan and Roger Davis.

Beer Birthday: Geno Acevedo

September 11, 2025 By Jay Brooks

Today is the 64th birthday of Geno Acevedo, who was the head brewer and co-owner of El Toro Brewing in Morgan Hill, California. Geno made one of my favorite Oatmeal Stouts, along with many other fine beers, but unfortunately the brewery is now closed, sad to say, but I think he’s working on something new in Alaska. Still, join me in wishing Geno a very happy birthday.

boontfest06-30 — Geno Acevedo, with his wife Cindy, at the Boonville Beer Festival several years ago.

gabf07-62 — Geno at the beginning of GABF’s Saturday evening session in 2007.

gabf06-sat-01 — Geno and Cindy Acevedo at GABF in 2006.

Jason Chavez (when he was still with Seabright, now he has his own place, Kelsey Creek Brewing), Dave Heist, from HopTown Brewing, and Cindy and Gino Acevedo at GABF in 2002.

Beer Birthday: Collin McDonnell

September 10, 2025 By Jay Brooks

Today is the 40th birthday — The Big 4-O — of Collin McDonnell, co-founder and brewmaster for HenHouse Brewing. Collin used to brew for Drake’s, and in 2011 began moonlighting with his own brewery, HenHouse, before cutting the cord and concentrating on only his own venture, along with partners Scott Goyne and Shane Goepel. After starting in part-time space they could only use on the weekends, they moved into an Alternating Proprietorship with Petaluma Hills Brewing, but now have their own brewery, and tasting room, in southern Santa Rosa, plus took over Petaluma Hills Brewing former brewing space as their own for another taproom. Collin, and HenHouse, makes terrific beer, and I love Collin’s opinionated twitter presence. Please join me in wishing Collin a very happy birthday.