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.
Note: the last three photos purloined from Facebook.
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.
Jesse with Tim Clifford at the SF Beer Week Opening Gala earlier this year.
Jesse, with Fraggle and Ron Silberstein, from Thirsty Bear, at the Anchor Holiday Party in 2012.
Helping Sean Paxton with the Toronado Belgian Beer Lunch in 2009.
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]
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.
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.
[NOTE: Last three photos purloined from Facebook.]
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Collin showing me around HenHouse’s original brewery in downtown Petaluma in early March 2013.
Collin with the HenHouse gang at the SF Beer Week opening gala in 2014.
Collin doing his “I’m the king of the world” impression. (Purloined from Facebook.)
The Henhouse Three, with Collin at the right, from a press photo.
Today is the birthday of William S. “Billy” Barnes (September 1, 1864-March 13, 1910). He was born in San Francisco, left to attend Harvard, and then after graduation returned home to join his father’s law office, and was later elected District Attorney for San Francisco. He also belonged to the San Francisco Press Club, and appears to have dabbled in some writing of his own. I guess he was also a fan of Anchor Steam Beer, because in 1897 his poem “The Ballad of Steam Beer” was published in The Wave, a well-regarded local magazine. Former Anchor Brewing historian Dave Burkhart wrote about it for Anchor’s old website, and the story is also included in his great book, The Anchor Brewing Story. But who knows what will happen to the website’s archives, so I thought it was worth keeping it alive here.
By William Sanford (Billy) Barnes (1864–1910)
As published in The Wave, San Francisco, March 13, 1897
You may talk of your Moet and Chandon,
And all the Cuvees of Champagne,
Of Burgundy, ruby and royal,
From Romanée’s storied demesne;
Of Lafitte and of Lachramae Christi
Or the warm, blushing vintage that grows
Where Yquem and the premier cru Grand Vins
Gush forth from the Hills of Bordeaux;
Of crusty old port and Madeira,
And all of the sherries of Spain,
All the liquers of castle and convent
That ever came over the main.
But I chant out a hymn to Gambrinus,
The god of small change and good cheer,
For I sing you the Song of the Nickel
That buys the big glass of Steam Beer.A fig for straw-covered Chianti,
Or brandy a century old,
For foaming and flashing Spumante
That sparkles and glitters like gold.
Benedictine and opaline Absinthe
That gourmets and viveurs adore,
And the life-blood of amorous grape vines
That cluster along the Cote D’Or.
Not for me burn the molten sun-kisses
Upon the warm vineyards of France,
Not for me weave the chaplets of Bacchus
Nor call Satyrs and Nymphs to the dance.
I care not for these classical pleasures;
They are for my income too dear,
But still I can compass the nickel
That buys me my Schooner of Beer.No flagons or wassail cups fill me
Of vintages priceless and rare,
Away with a stoup or a beaker,
And I scorn an effete petit verre;
My chalice is glittering crystal
Full-bosomed, deep-chested, divine,
With the glorious crown of the hop-lands
That mocks at the glory of wine.
Come! drink of the soft flowing amber,
Come! lave in its somnolent streams,
Come! taste of the foam-flecked Nepenthe
That flows from the Kingdom of Dreams.
And sing, as afloat on its tideway
We gently and drowsily steer:
“Here’s a health to the Nickel of
Commerce That buys me my Schooner of Beer!”B. B.
