Beer Birthday: Pete Slosberg

August 26, 2026 By Jay Brooks 31 Comments

Today is my good friend Pete Slosberg’s 76th birthday . Pete is, of course, best known for Pete’s Wicked Ales. After that he toyed with the idea of making barbecue but decided instead to make some incredible chocolates and had a small company, Cocoa Pete’s. A few years ago, I traveled to South America with Pete (where we took to calling him “El Pete“), where we both spoke and judged beer at a beer conference/competition in Argentina, the South Beer Cup, and then flew to Brazil to attend a pair of beer dinners Stephen Beaumont was hosting and for a while he was working on Mavericks, a newish line of canned session beers, along with Half Moon Bay Brewing, but is now doing some occasional consulting and doing a lot of traveling with his wife Amy looking for the next adventure … or sour beer. Join me wishing Pete a very happy birthday!

Pete and me at Drie Fonteinen for his 72nd birthday celebration.

Pete, Johan Van Dyck (from Seef Beer), and me at City Beer.

petes-1 — This was taken the first time I met Pete, over twenty-five years ago at the KQED Beer and Food Festival in San Francisco, when I was more or less still a civilian. It was after I’d written my first book on beer, but before I started working as the beer buyer for BevMo.

Pete & Amy Slosberg with Shaun O'Sullivan — Pete with his wife Amy and Shaun O’Sullivan, from 21st Amendment, at one of Sean Paxton’s beer dinners during SF Beer Week several years ago.

Pete Slosberg, helping out for the day, shows off a finished bottle — Working the bottling line at Russian River Brewing, with a bottle of *Consecration*.

Matt Bonney, Stephen Beaumont, Sean Paxton, Pete Slosberg & Rick Sellers — Matt Bonney, from Brouwer’s, Stephen Beaumont, Sean Paxton, Pete and Rick Sellers, then from Odonata at the Bistro Double IPA Festival.

Pete with his wife Amy and Celebrator publisher Tom Dalldorf at one of Bruce Paton’s beer dinners at the Cathedral Hill Hotel in February 2006.

beer-din0602-03 — Pete with his wife Amy and Celebrator publisher Tom Dalldorf at one of Bruce Paton’s beer dinners at the Cathedral Hill Hotel in February 2006.

P1040395 — Martin Boan, who organized and ran the South Beer Cup, with Pete in Buenos Aires.

P1040762 — Pete, with Edu Passarelli (owner of Melograno), Stephen Beaumont and me after a beer dinner at Edu’s place in Sao Paulo.

Beer Birthday: Dow Tunis

August 24, 2026 By Jay Brooks Leave a Comment

Today is the 64th birthday of Dow Tunis. I can’t remember when I first met Dow, but it was a while ago. He’s been in the beer world almost as long as me. He most recently was the Bay Area Manager for New Glory Brewing of Sacramento, but he’s worn a lot of hats over the years. For example, he used to be the Director of Bus Development for Fieldwork Brewing, National Sales Manager for Bear Republic, CEO of Half Moon Bay Brewing, Vice-President for Business Development at Drake’s Brewing, the GM of the Bear’s Lair Pub, and the GM of the legendary 20 Tank Brewery in San Francisco. So he’s seen it all, and has managed to keep his sense of humor. He’s a great guy to share a pint with. Join me wishing Dow a very happy birthday.

Sandwiched between Vic from The Bistro and John Martin, from Drake’s and Triple Rock.

Again with John Martin, but a few years earlier, just a few.

Beer Birthday: Mario Celotto

August 23, 2026 By Jay Brooks 1 Comment

Today is the 70th birthday of Mario Celotto, who founded Humboldt Brewing Co., along with his brother Vince, after his career as a professional football player with four teams, including the Oakland Raiders the season they won the super bowl in 1981. While I normally communicated with Vince, who was at the brewery day-to-day, I met Mario on a couple of occasions, including a memorable lunch in Oakland in the late 1990s. He always seemed like a great guy to me, and he did hire Steve Parkes, who created their wonderful Red Nectar Ale, one of best amber ales I’ve ever tasted. Anyway, join me in wishing Mario a very happy birthday.

This is the biography listed on the brewery’s website back in the 1990s:

Mario is the company’s founder and serves as its President. Prior to founding the company, he played professional football and was a member of the 1980 Oakland Raider Super Bowl championship team. Mario studied public relations at the University of Southern California, where he also played on the USC National Championship football sqad. After college he worked in mortgage banking and public relations. In 1987, Mario opened the Humboldt Brewing Company brew pub and restaurant.

Humboldt-Brewing-Co-RED-NECTAR-ALE-beer-label

This is the description of Red Nectar from Humboldt Brewing’s website in 1999:

Red Nectar is an American Ale with a deep reddish copper color and sweet malty notes from English crystal malt. The crystal malt comprises nearly 15% of the grist and gives our Red a toasted caramel flavor and a residual sweetness and malty aroma which melds with the strawberry esters of our own strain of ale yeast. We use two-row Harrington-Klages pale malt, a superior blend of ale malt, and in all our beers we add a small proportion of Pacific Northwest Malted white wheat. This aids in head retention and lacing in the glass. Red Nectar is brewed with Chinook hops for bittering, Willamette in the middle for a rounded hop flavor and Mt. Hood and Cascade in the finish for a delicate floral/spicy aroma and flavor.
Mario, when he was a linebacker for USC.

Mario more recently at a Raiders charity bowling event in Las Vegas.

Beer Birthday: Zambo

August 21, 2026 By Jay Brooks 1 Comment

Today is the birthday of David Zamborski, better known to the brewing world as simply “Zambo.” He used to brew for BJs in Southern California but then number of years ago moved to San Francisco to take over the brewpub operations at 21st Amendment, where he spent several years. and later he moved to Speakeasy Ales & Lagers, where he was the Director of Brewing. Wanting to get back to his brewpub roots, Zambo was until recently the brewmaster and Santa Barbara Brewing, and since we were there on vacation a few years ago, stopped in for a few pints and to hang out. Zambo was doing great things there, he’s a terrific brewer, but he later left for another L.A. brewery, Paperback Brewing, but more recently i brewing at the Fowler Ranch Farm Brewery in Lincoln, California. Join me wishing Zambo a very happy birthday.

Luke Nicholas, from New Zealand’s Epic Beer, with Zambo during a visit to 21A.

P1020516 — John Tucci (from Gordon Biersch), Aron Deorsey (from Beach Chalet) and Zambo at a release party for Anchor’s California Lager.

P1020222 — Brendan Dobbel, Rich Higgins, Aron Deorsey and Zambo at a Sierra Nevada’s Beer Camp a couple of years ago.

Zambo, Rich Rosen, Jen Garris, Sarah, Lloyd Knight, Dave Suurballe, James Renfrew and Shaun O'Sullivan — At the Anchor Christmas Party a few years ago: Zambo, Rich Rosen (Pi Bar, Chenery Park), Jen Garris (Pi Bar), my wife Sarah, Lloyd Knight (21A), Dave Suurballe (everywhere), James Renfrew (formerly with Potrero Hill Brewing) and Shaun O’Sullivan (21A).

zambo-and-me — At Santa Barbara Brewing a couple of years ago.

Beer Birthday: Julian Shrago

August 21, 2026 By Jay Brooks 1 Comment

Today is the 49th birthday of Julian Shrago, former brewmaster at the Beachwood BBQ & Brewery in Long Beach, California. I can’t remember when I first ran into Julian, probably either one of the early Firestone Walker Invitational Festivals or possibly out at GABF, where in 2013, he won Mid-Size Brewpub of the Year and the following year, won big again as Large Brewpub of the Year. Julian is a great brewer and made his mark very quickly after turning pro in 2011. I visited the brewery a couple of years ago, and it really is one of the best. More recently he may moved to Sacramento and is working art Urban Roots with Peter Hoey. Join me in wishing Julian a very happy birthday.

Me and Julian during GABF judging a couple of years back.

My wife Sarah, Matt Brynildson and Julian at the Firestone Walker Invitational a few years ago.

Me, Terrence Sullivan (from Sierra Nevada) and Julian at Trumer for a CCBA evey during SF Beer Week in 2018.

Jamil-Julian-Mitch — Jamil Zainasheff, Julian and Mitch Steele in San Diego for the Stone/Heretic/Beachwood collaboration in 2014.

Beachwood BBQ chef Gabe Gordon, Natalie and Vinnie Cilurzo, and Julian at a beer dinner at Beachwood shortly after they added the brewery in 2011.

Julian with Charlie Papazian at GABF in 2006.

Julian-sacto — With a group of ne’r-do-wells in Sacramento several summers ago.

Taking a group to the Riverside Grill Shack for the best frites in Nashville during CBC 2023.

[Note: Middle three photos purloined from Facebook.]

Beer Birthday: Claudia Pamparana

August 19, 2026 By Jay Brooks Leave a Comment

Today is the 52nd 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.

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: Jen Garris

August 17, 2026 By Jay Brooks 3 Comments

Originally a sculptor, Jen Garris, has been involved in San Francisco’s beer scene as long as anyone I know. She’s worked for Magnolia and New Belgium, as well as many others in the Bay Area. A few years ago she opened the Pi Bar in San Francisco, along with boyfriend Rich Rosen, who also co-owns Chenery Park. I absolutely love Pi’s white bacon pizza. More recently, they opened Bel, a Belgian-themed bar/restaurant on Mission St. in Bernal Heights, but also closed Pi Bar thanks at least in part to the Covid lockdowns. Today is Jen’s 29th or so birthday. Join me in wishing her a very happy birthday.

Jen and Matt Salie, then from Big Sky Brewing, at the 18th Celebrator Anniversary Party.

Looking lovely at the Anchor Christmas Party in 2006.

Jen and Brian Hunt at the Urthel Beer Dinner.

Jen illustrates again how easy it is to be featured on the Bulletin.

Beer Birthday: Brandon Hernández

August 14, 2026 By Jay Brooks Leave a Comment

Today is the 50th (maybe) birthday of Brandon Hernández, who is a Brewing Industry Contributor at The San Diego Union-Tribune and also stays busy with the San Diego Beer News, as a Craft Beer Correspondent at FOX 5 San Diego, Co-Host at The Indie Beer Show, Beer To The Rescue, and Food & Beverage Editor / San Diego On-Tap Host at Ranch & Coast Magazine. He also used to bethe Chief Marketing Officer for Societe Brewing, and before that AleSmith and Stone Brewing. And he’s published the Complete Guide to San Diego Breweries in 2015. Until recently, I used to run into Brandon fairly regularly at beer functions and he’s become one of my favorite people to hang out with. Join me in wishing Brandon a very happy birthday.

Me and Brandon at the Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Festival earlier this year.

Brandon and me at the Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Festival last year.

Brandon and me at Bell’s a few years back.

brandon-hernandez-1 — Nice towering press photo of Brandon.

With fellow writers at the opening event for the CBC in Washington, DC in 2013. From left, Stephen Beaumont, me, Steve Shapiro, Gail Williams, Brandon and Chuck Cook.

brandon-hernandez-2 — At Churchill’s in San Diego with Tomme Arthur in 2012.

beer-camp-brandon — With a bevy of Celebrator writers in Chico for Beer Camp #93 in late 2012, to make a beer celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Celebrator Beer News. That’s Brandon sporting blond hair fourth from the left.

[Note: photos 3 and 5 were purloined from Facebook.]

Beer Birthday: Mark Carpenter

August 13, 2026 By Jay Brooks

Today is Mark Carpenter’s 83rd birthday. Mark had been the head brewer at Anchor since 1971 and was responsible for much of their success over the years. Not too long ago, he celebrated his 40th anniversary at Anchor, and he began stepping back from his day-to-day duties, a process which took several years, but now he is officially retired, although happily I still see Mark from time to time around the neighborhood. He’s a terrific person and one of the nicest people I know. Join me in wishing Mark a very happy birthday.

Me and Mark at the Anchor Christmas party a few years ago.

Dave Suurballe with Mark at Anchor several years ago.

Fritz Maytag, John Dannerbeck, and Mark behind the bat at the annual Anchor Xmas Party in 2009.

At the Anchor Taproom for a farewell party the day before it closed down, with me, Mark, Ron Silbertsein (from Admiral Malting), and Jeremy Marshall (from Lagunitas).

mark-carpenter-and-herlinda — Mark, Herlinda Heras and me (I’m holding the third glass) toasting our friend Glenn Payne, who passed away in late 2015.

P1030009 — Mark showing off a new release, *Brekle’s Brown*.

Beer Birthday: Dave Keene

August 13, 2026 By Jay Brooks

Today is the 71st birthday of Dave Keene. Dave, of course, owned the best beer bar in San Francisco, the Toronado, which has been around for over 30 years. Dave is one of the great figures in the San Francisco beer scene and also one of my favorite Washoe partners, and we’ve had some monumental games and vanquished many fine players — you know who you are! Join me in wishing Dave a very happy birthday.