Bay Area Archives - Brookston Beer Bulletin

Beer Birthday: Brian Hunt

May 2, 2021 By Jay Brooks 14 Comments

Today is iconoclastic brewer Brian Hunt’s 64th birthday. Brian owns and operates Moonlight Brewing in Sonoma County, California, as almost a one-man show. If you’ve never had his “Death and Taxes,” “Twist of Fate Bitter,” “Bombay by Boat,” or his fresh hop ale, alternately called “Homegrown” or “Greenbud Ale,” then you’re really missing out on some of the most unique and wonderful beers around. Plus, Brian is one of the nicest curmudgeons you’ll ever meet, and one of my favorite people anywhere. Join me in wishing Brian a very happy birthday.

Hildegard van Ostaden, Urthel’s brewster, one of only a vert few female brewers working in Belgium, and Brian.

Brian in his hopyard, with Russian River’s old assistant brewer Travis (who opened his own place, Societe Brewing), and Vinnie Cilurzo.

Shaun O’Sullivan and Vinnie Cilurzo with Brian at the Bistro in Hayward, California.

Brian at the Opening Gala for SF Beer Week a couple of years back.

Bistro IPA Festival Winners 2021

April 10, 2021 By Jay Brooks Leave a Comment

Today was the 23rd annual IPA Festival and the 3rd annual Hazy IPA Festival at the Bistro, but that’s only because there wasn’t a festival last year. It was a lovely sunny day in Hayward, making it was perfect beer-judging weather now that we’re no longer in the basement. This year we judged in pairs, split into two groups of regular clear IPAs and hazy IPAs. The full list of winners is below.

Judging today at the Bistro IPA Festival.

Traditional IPAs

1st Place: Altamont Maui Waui IPA
2nd Place: Slice Green Nugget
3rd Place: Sun River Clearview West Coast IPA

Hazy IPAs

1st Place: Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing
2nd Place: Danville Hop Magee
3rd Place: Societe Bulbous Flowers Hazy IPA

Melissa Myers and me after we finished judging.

Historic Beer Birthday: Bill Brand

March 26, 2021 By Jay Brooks 9 Comments

Today would have been Bill Brand’s 83rd birthday, if not for the tragic events of February 8, 2009. Bill, of course, was hit by a Muni Train that evening and passed away twelve days later, on February 20. He was a bastion of support for the local beer community for decades, and one of its most visible media faces. He did a staggering amount of good to help brewers throughout the Bay Area, and wrote about the beer he loved so much with an unmatched passion and zeal. His Bottoms Up blog was read by millions, the newest form of his What’s On Tap newsletter that stretched back into the early 1990s. It was my great honor to take over his column and try to continue his legacy of support for craft brewers in the Bay Area and beyond. Drink a toast to the memory and legacy of William “Bill” Brand today. Happy birthday Bill, you are most certainly missed.

Dueling laptops; Bill and me at Magnolia on February 6 for the tapping of Napa Smith Original Albion Ale by Don Barkley. Photo by Shaun O’Sullivan.

At the Falling Rock during GABF week in 2004. Clockwise from left, Bill, Lisa Morrison, me, Tom Dalldorf, Stephen Beaumont and my cousin Mike, who lived in Denver at the time.

Bill toasting with a pitcher of Oakland’s new Linden Street Brewery, with Fraggle at the far right, whose birthday would also have been today. Photo by RRifkin.

Bill taking notes at the Monk’s Blood Dinner at 21st Amendment, February 8, 2009. Photo by Jesse Friedman of Beer & Nosh.

Drink a toast to Bill today, it’s how he would have wanted to be remembered.

Beer Bornday: Fraggle

March 26, 2021 By Jay Brooks 3 Comments

Today would have been the 54th birthday of Mark Martone, better known to the beer world as “Fraggle.” Fraggle always called them borndays, so I’ll continue that tradition for him. Unfortunately, he suffered a stroke almost seven years ago in late June and passed away a few days later, on July 5, 2014. Fraggle, along with Rebecca Boyles, founded the terrific Beer Revolution in Oakland, near Jack London Square on 3rd Street. I first met Fraggle when I featured him and Rebecca in an article I did for Beer Advocate magazine on beer geeks several years ago. It’s been great to see them turn their passion into their livelihood, and go from civilian to pro over the last few years. Join me in wishing Fraggle a very happy bornday, and raise a toast to his memory today or tonight or all day long. He would have wanted it that way.

Fraggle and Jen Muehlbauer at the Celebrator 25th anniversary party in 2013.

Jesse Friedman, Fraggle and Ron Silberstein at the Anchor Holiday Party in 2012.

With Steve Donohue and me at the SF Beer Week opening gala in 2014.

Pouring beer for Linden Street at the Winter Brews Festival in 2010.

Rebecca and Fraggle at Santa Rosa’s Beerfest in 2007.

Beer Birthday: Jason Chavez

March 18, 2021 By Jay Brooks 2 Comments

Today is the 53rd birthday of Jason Chavez, who was the brewmaster at Seabright Brewery in Santa Cruz for a number of years. Chavez started homebrewing while still in high school on his family’s kitchen stove. He’s a graduate of the American Brewers Guild, and had been brewing at Seabright since 1999. I believe I first met Jason many years ago at the Rock Bottom in Denver during a GABF week, but I still run into him occasionally at events. Seabright celebrated their 25th anniversary several years ago, when I spent the day at the brewery to do a story on their silver anniversary. But two years ago, he made a big change, moving closer to home to take over the Kelsey Creek Brewing Co. in Kelseyville. Join me in wishing Jason a very happy birthday.

M and Jason at his Kelseyville Brewery in early 2020.

Jason with Dave Heist, from HopTown Brewing, and Gene and Cindy Acevedo, from El Toro Brewing, during the Brewer’s Reception at GABF in 2002.

Jason at the helm of the brewery when I visited him in early 2013 to wrote about Seabright’s 25th anniversary.

Here’s a great shot by Dan Coyro, from an article in the Santa Cruz Sentinnel

Jason, in the center, surrounded by Seabright folks at the 10th annual Stumptown Russian River Revival and BBQ Cook-Off.

Jason, again in the center, at GABF (Note: last two photos purloined from Seabright’s website).

Beer Birthday: J.J. Phair

February 23, 2021 By Jay Brooks Leave a Comment

Today is the birthday of J.J. Phair, co-founder of E.J. Phair Brewing. J.J. started homebrewing in 1990, and ten years later opened his brewery, which is named for his grandfather Ewart John Phair, who was an amateur winemaker and beer lover, as a way to honor E.J. The brewery’s grown since then, and today there’s a Concord Alehouse, a production brewery and taproom in Pittsburg. Join me in wishing J.J. a very happy birthday.

J.J. and Craig Cauwels at the E.J. Phair brewery taproom in 2012.

J.J. at the Bay Area Beer Festival in 2006.

Beer Birthday: Grant Johnston

February 19, 2021 By Jay Brooks 7 Comments

Today is the 67th birthday of Grant Johnston. Grant was the original brewer at Marin Brewing when it opened in 1989, and spent a number of years at Black Diamond Brewing in Concord, California. Grant was very influential in the early days of Bay Area brewing, and he’s an incredibly talented brewer. A few years ago he moved to the midwest, and these days can be found working a few days a week at the Argus Brewery in Chicago. A couple of years back, I was in Belgium at the Cantillon Brewery when in walked Grant, quite by chance, so you never know when you’re going to run into him. Join me in wishing Grant a very happy birthday.

Grant and me at GABF in 2006.

Grant (on the right) judging the 2006 Double IPA Festival in the cellar of The Bistro, with Tom Dalldorf, Vicky, our hard-working beer steward in the middle, and the Toronado’s Dave Keene in profile on the left.

Brendan Moylan and Grant shortly before Marin Brewing opened in 1989.

Grant and Arne Johnston brewing his Wild Rice Ale for Marin’s 25th Anniversary.

Grant, bottom left, among the GABF judges for the 10th anniversary of the festival in 1992.

Beer Birthday: Brendan Moylan

February 16, 2021 By Jay Brooks 3 Comments

Today is Brendan Moylan’s 60th birthday — The Big 6-O. Brendan owns both his eponymous Moylan’s Brewing as well as Marin Brewing. He’s a very active part of both the local and beer community, and each year puts on the Breastfest to benefit breast cancer awareness. Join me in wishing Brendan a very happy birthday.

Arne Johnson sporting his four gold medals won at the 2007 Great American Beer Festival with Brendan at a recent beer dinner.

Shane Aldrich and Arne Johnson, from Marin Brewing, Brendan Moylan, who owns both, and Denise Jones and Jim Grbac, from Molyan’s Brewing after the award ceremonies at GABF three years ago.

Brendan and in me in front of Monk’s Cafe in Philadelphia during Philly Beer Week in 2010.

Brendan and his wife at the Breastfest that Marin Brewing sponsors in 2010.

Bistro Double IPA Winners 2021

February 13, 2021 By Jay Brooks Leave a Comment

Earlier today, the 21st annual Double IPA Festival was held at the Bistro in Hayward, California. I got there early for judging again this year, and instead of being sequestered in the dark, dank basement out of the view of the beautiful Bay Area sun — which is where we usually are — we were outside in what was a beautiful, sunny, albeit a little windy, day. We judged Double IPAs in two categories — West Coast and Hazy — for most of the morning and chose our favorite six in each category, which Vic will will hand pack into a “Double IPAs Finals Case” which can be ordered online for just under one-hundred dollars. But sales will end at midnight tonight, so if you want one, now’s the time.

Outside The Bistro this morning, distance-judging Double IPAs.

West Coast Double IPAs

1st Place: Moksa Sticky Sips
2nd Place: Docent Rabbit Habit Double IPA
3rd Place: Moonraker Honorable Villain

Paul Marshall (head judge) and Bistro co-owner Vic Kralj outside the Bistro today.

Hazy Double IPAs

1st Place: Revision Distance Haze
2nd Place: North Park Beer Co. Clockwork Intelligence DDH Hazy DIPA
3rd Place: Humble Sea Wizard of Fog DDH Hop Fused DIPA

Congratulations to all of the winners.

Beer Birthday: Bruce Joseph

February 13, 2021 By Jay Brooks 15 Comments

Bruce Joseph, who’s been at Anchor Brewery for many, many years turns 65 today. There’s a big picture of him when he was very young in the stairwell at the brewery that I see every time I’m there. He’s been doing the distilling for Anchor’s whiskey and gin for a long while now and plays bass with the Hysters (Anchor’s big band) along with the Rolling Boil Blues Band (the Celebrator beer band that’s all industry musicians). If there’s a nicer person in the beer industry, I’ve yet to meet him. Join me in wishing Bruce a very happy birthday.