Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Beer Birthday: Claudia Pamparana

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Today is the 51st birthday of Claudia Pamparana, arguably the unsung hero of Faction Brewing in Alameda, California. I first met Claudia when she worked at 21st Amendment, and I clearly remember when she started dating Rodger Davis, who’s now her business partner at Faction and husband. I especially recall Rodger being very … well, Rodger, at the Falling Rock during GABF and drunk-dialing Claudia to tell her he loved her. Happily, for him, she reciprocated, and they were married in 2006. As great a brewer that Rodger is, if it weren’t for Claudia’s calm and hard work, who knows where Faction would be today. Join me in wishing Claudia a very happy birthday.

Visiting Faction in 2017.
 Claudia with Rodger and me at the California Beer Summit in 2018.
On stage with Rodger picking up a medal for The Penske File st GABF.
Rodger and Claudia at an event in Santa Rosa

Beer Birthday: Steve Shapiro

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Today is the birthday of Steve Shapiro Steve, who is half of the duo behind Beer by Bart, along with his wife Gail Williams. Steve’s originally from New York, but has been in the Bay Area rooting for the San Francisco Giants longer than I’ve been here. Steve was a player in local politics for many years, but for nearly twenty years he’s been writing about beer online, along with writing for the Celebrator Beer News and other publications. Over the past decade or more, we’ve become great friends with Steve and Gail and have happily hung out on several continents. Join me in wishing Steve a very happy birthday.

Steve and Gail at my 60th birthday party at Russian River Brewery.
The four of us seeing the musical “Groundhog Day” in San Francisco a couple of years ago.
At the Fourth Street Russian River Brewery.
Steve and me with some other beer writers in Sacramento.
Steve, Gail and a few more of us at CBC in DC in 2013.
Bryan Roth with Steve and Gail showing off their award for beer writing in 2020.
At a Giants game with Rich Norgrove in 2010.

Beer Birthday: Jim Jacobs

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Today is the 62nd birthday of Jim Jacobs, who for many years was doing various things at Lagunitas Brewing, most recently as Director of Community Giving. He also helped create the legendary Lagunitas Beer Circus. In his spare time he works with the Petaluma Music Festival and is also the drummer in the Smokehouse Gamblers. Plus, he’s ben a great friend to both me and craft beer over the years. Join me in wishing Jimmy a very happy birthday.

Me and Jimmy at his 60th birthday party.
The Smokehouse Gamblers.

Beer Birthday: Vinnie Cilurzo

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Today is the 55th birthday of Vinnie Cilurzo, founder and brewmaster at Russian River Brewing. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know Vinnie is one of the best brewers in America and is credited with having made the first Imperial IPA. Along with his partner Natalie, his Russian River Brewery in Santa Rosa, California won unprecedented back-to-back best brewpub (and brewmaster) awards at the World Beer Cups in 2006 and 2008, and their flagship Pliny the Elder has been picked as the best beer in America by AHA members seven years in a row, but was finally bested last year by Bell’s Two-Hearted Ale, after which Vinnie sent Larry Bell and crew a case of Pliny. Vinnie is one of the nicest people in the industry you’ll ever meet. Last fall, they opened their new production brewery in Windsor, which is an amazing space. Join me in wishing Vinnie a happy birthday.

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Vinnie and his wife Natalie from presented to Tom Dalldorf (middle), owner of the Celebrator, a Balthazar of their yummy Damnation Ale in honor of the magazine’s 17th anniversary. A Balthazar is 12 liters or contains about 16 normal bottles of beer.
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Dave Keene, owner of the Toronado, Natalie Cilurzo, Dave’s wife Jennifer and Vinnie at CBC in Seattle.
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Garrett Oliver, brewer at Brooklyn Brewing Co., and Vinnie at the Brewer’s Dinner the night before GABF begins.
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Vinnie and Rich Norgrove from Bear Republic at the Summit Hop Festival a few years ago at Drake’s.
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Vinnie with his wife and Russian River co-owner Natalie at GABF in 2009.
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Vinnie and me his 40th birthday party at the brewpub several years ago.
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And again several years ago at the Firestone Walker Invitational, sharing some frites.

Historic Beer Birthday: Alec Moss

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Today would have been Alec Moss’ 81st birthday, but unfortunately he passed away in early September several years ago. I first got to know Alec when I worked with him on some private label contract beers I did for BevMo when he was head brewer at the now-defunct Golden Pacific Brewery in Berkeley. Alec then spent some time at Redbird Brewing before moving to the coast to be head brewer at the picturesque Half Moon Bay Brewing, but he retired several years ago, although he was coaxed back for a time to work part-time for Anchor Brewing, building them a pilot system. Every time I saw him he seemed to be enjoying his retirement enormously, but then he unexpectedly fell ill. Join me in drinking a toast to Alec’s memory tonight.

Alec and me yesterday at his 70th birthday party at the Tornado.
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Alec in the brewhouse at Half Moon Bay Brewing Co.
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At the Toronado for He’Brew’s release party. From left: Alec, Pete Slosberg, formerly of Pete’s Wicked Ales, Jeremy Cowan of Shmaltz Brewing and Rodger Davis, now with Triple Rock Brewing.
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Alec with Tom Dalldorf at the 2011 Anchor Christmas party.
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Several years ago at the Breastfest in San Francisco, from left: Alec, Jeff Botz, Arne Johnson, Betsey Hensley, Vinnie & Natalie Cilurzo and Abalone Rob Mika.

Beer Birthday: Arne Johnson

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Today is my friend Arne Johnson’s 60th birthday — The Big 6-O. Arne was the head brewer at Marin Brewing in Larkspur, California, until it closed last year, and then was brewing at their sister brewery in Novato, Moylan’s Brewing, until Brendan closed that, as well, not too long ago. Arne makes some great beers and is a terrific person to boot. And he and some friends opened The Cooler in San Leandro, though that’s also been closed recently. More recently, Arne announced he’s accepted a position as brewmaster for Rockaway Beach Brewery in Pacifica. Join me in wishing Arne a very happy birthday.

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Arne and me earlier today at a birthday party for a mutual friend at the Toronado.
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Arne and me at the Brewer’s Dinner at GABF in 2006.
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Arne relaxing with a few barleywines at the Toronado Barleywine Festival.
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Rodger Davis of Triple Rock and Arne enjoy a beer out front in the warm sunshine at the Bistro’s Double IPA Festival.
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Arne Johnson and Melissa Myers, formerly with Drake’s Brewing, at the Boonville Beer Festival.

Beer Birthday: Tim Clifford

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Today is the 53rd birthday of Tim Clifford, brewmaster and co-owner of Sante Adairius Rustic Ales, in Capitola, California, which is near Santa Cruz. Tim’s a longtime homebrewer and worked for Williams Brewing and also 7 Bridges for many years, and continued to be on the board of the Santa Cruz co-op. Although originally a history major, Tim’s passion went off in a different direction, happily, and he opened Sante Adairius in 2011, making some incredible and unique beers. Join me in wishing Tim a very happy birthday.

Me and Tim enjoying some hop tea, while picking hops at Moonlight Brewing’s hopyard in 2007.

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Jessie Friedman and Tim at the SF Beer Week opening gala in 2014.

Beer Birthday: Andy French

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Today would have been the 57th birthday of Andy French, former brewmaster at Southern Pacific Brewing in San Francisco, one of the new wave of breweries that opened in the city a few years ago, but unfortunately he past away in late summer 2023. . I first met Andy when he brewed at Speakeasy, and after that would see him from time to time at Zeitgeist, though he first started brewing back East in the DC area. When his roommate Chris Lawrence, who also worked for Speakeasy once upon a time, decided to open his own brewery, he tapped Andy to work the mash paddles, and things had been going great since they opened a few years ago, though I’d heard Andy was now back doing shifts at Zeitgeist before learning of his untimely passing. Join me in raising a toast to Andy.

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Andy at his brewhouse in 2012.
The back bar at Rio Nido Roadhouse was recently named Frenchy’s in his honor with a new sign and plenty of friends in attendance to christen it. [Thanks to Mario Rubio for the photo.]

Beer Birthday: Forest Gray

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Today is the 58th birthday of Forest Gray, co-founder and former president of Speakeasy Ales and Lagers in San Francisco. I first met Forest when Speakeasy first bottled their beer when I was the beer buyer at BevMo. For the last many years, his brewery has made some terrific beers, especially their Big Daddy I.P.A., although since 2017, the brewery has a new owner and I’m not sure how Forest is spending his time these days. Join me in wishing Forest a very happy birthday.

Forest Gray, Brian Lenzo and Meg Gill
Forest with Brian Lenzo, from Blue Palms in L.A., and Meg Gill, now “on the winning team” with Golden Road, at a Speakeasy Anniversary event several years ago.


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The Speakeasy crew at the start of SF Beer Week in 2013. That’s Forest with the glowing hat. [Photo purloined from Facebook.]

Beer Birthday: Tom Dalldorf

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Today is Celebrator publisher Tom Dalldorf’s 83rd birthday. Since he was famous for having his picture in the Celebrator and being at every beer event, I figured the Bulletin should be no different, despite his slowing down a bit these days. Join me in wishing Tom a very happy birthday.

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Tom at the Mardi Gras-themed Celebrator anniversary party in 2007.
At Trumer for the Celebrator anniversary party in 2018.
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Raising a toast with Full Sail brewer John Harris.
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Huddling up with the owner’s of Monk’s Cafe in Philadelphia, Fergie and Tom.
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Mine’s bigger. Russian River’s Vinne Cilurzo with Tom in D.C.
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Looking like a deer caught in the headlights at the roast I threw for Tom when he turned sixty. That’s Stephen Beaumont on the left and me on the right.
At Boonville, taking the Rubicon kegerator bike for a spin.
At Boonville in 2006 with then-Anderson Valley Brewery owner Ken Allen.