Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Beer Birthday: Peter Licht

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Today is the 59th birthday of Peter Licht, former brewmaster at Hermitage Brewing. Peter grew up in Rochester, New York but came to California to attend the master brewers program at U.C. Davis in 1994, and ended up staying in the Bay Area. When I first met him, he was brewing at Coast Range Brewing in the South Bay. When that brewery folded, he joined the San Jose Tied House, and moved with the equipment to when they closed to the brewpub to create the Hermitage Brewery at a new location and was there untuk they closed the brewery during Covid. Peter made some great contract beer for me at Coast Range (when I was at BevMo) and I was happy to see him land at Hermitage, where he had continued to brew a wide range of great beers. More recently, he’s working with the Independent Brewers Alliance, which a co-op for breweries to share buying power on supplies, resources and materials. Join me in wishing Peter a very happy birthday.

Me and Peter in Nashville when CBC was there the second time.
Hermitage assistant brewer, Steve Donohue (then at Santa Clara Valley Brewing), Peter and me during a visit to the Hermitage Brewery in San Jose a few years ago.
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Peter in front of Hermitage’s foeder.
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An artistic shot on Hermitage’s old brewhouse, which used to be at the San Jose Tied House. My favorite wedding photo is Sarah and me on this same brewhouse during our reception there over twenty-five years ago.

Beer Birthday: Dave Gull

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Today is the 51st birthday of Dave Gull, founder of New Helvetia Brewing in Sacramento, California. Dave was born and raised in Sacramento, and founded New Helvetia Brewing in 2011, which is also when we first met. Dave is a University of Oregon alum and worked in real estate before turning his attention to brewing, first as a homebrewer then as a brewery owner. Dave’s also been active in both his local brewer’s guild as well as the CCBA, the state guild. Join me in wishing Dave a very happy birthday.

Charlie Bamforth and Dave at New Helvetia Brewing in 2013.
Dave with another person born December 6th, Natalie Cilurzo (center).
At GABF in 2018, picking up a silver medal for their coffee beer.
Dave with Jamie Floyd at GABF.

NOTE: Photos 1 & 4 purloined from Facebook.

Beer Birthday: Natalie Cilurzo

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Today is the 57th birthday of Natalie Cilurzo, co-founder of Russian River Brewing, and the woman who makes everything run smoothly at both the brewpub and the new production brewery. You’d be hard-pressed to find a nicer person in the beer world, and though she spent many years working with wine, the brewing industry is all the richer now that she’s left that all behind her. Join me in wishing Natalie a very happy birthday.

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Natalie after giving a toast for Zwanze Day in 2018.
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Natalie and Vinnie at the new production brewery shortly before in opened in 2018.
Best man Vinnie Cilurzo, Dave Keene, Jennifer Smith and maid of honor Natalie at Dan & Jen’s wedding during GABF 2010.
Jen Garris, from Pi Bar, Dave Keene’s wife Jen Smith, and Natalie at the Toronado 25th Anniversary Blending Dinner.
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Natalie with Vinnie at his 40th birthday party a few years ago.
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Four out of Five, the Cilurzos and a Stan. From Left: Natalie, Stan Hieronymus, Vinnie’s mother and father, and Vinnie Cilurzo at the World Beer Cup gala dinner in 2008.
Me, Natalie Cilurzo and Sean Paxton (and his daughter Olivia)
Me, Natalie and Sean Paxton (and his daughter Olivia) at the Pliny the Younger release in 2011. (photo by Mario Rubio.)
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Natalie several years ago for the 8th annual All Hopped Up for the Cure.


Beer Birthday: Bob Brewer

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Today is the 77th birthday of Bob Brewer, longtime brewery rep. for Anchor Brewing. For many years, he worked from southern California, circling the country with the entire nation his territory (the only exception being the Bay Area) representing Anchor beers. More recently, he moved back to the Bay Area, but you could find him at every nook and cranny of the beer world. Several years ago, Bob retired from Anchor, although he still occasionally works a festival or does other work, like giving a great talk at my class at SSU and more recently he was working the taps for Anchor at the Lagunitas Circus. Join me in wishing Bob a very happy birthday.

Bob serving a festival-goer at the Mammoth Lakes Bluesapalooza in 2007.

Bob giving a tour at Anchor.


Me, brewer Mike Lee and Bob at the 2011 Anchor Christmas party.

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Bob serves up the then-new Anchor Bock to Portland beer sage Fred Eckhardt.

Beer Birthday: Andy Klein

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Today is the 56th birthday of Andy Klein, founder and brewmaster at Monk’s Cellar Brewery & Public House, located in Roseville, Cal. Andy first brewed at Sacramento Brewing in the mid-90s, then was at Beermann’s Beerworks before working as a brewery consultant for over a decade, before opening his own place six years ago, in 2013. I met Andy a few years ago and quickly realized we’re kindred spirits and I’ve enjoyed both getting to know him better whenever we run into one another and drinking his beer. Sean Paxton and I first went to his brewpub at least a year before we met, and it’s a favorite place of my son because it’s very near to the train yards in the area. Join me in wishing Andy a very happy birthday.

Andy and me at the brewery earlier this summer.
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Dressed appropriate as a monk one Halloween.
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Sacramento Brewing alums Andy, Peter York, and Peter Hoey.
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The Monk’s Cellar crew with Big Mike Moore and Tom McCormick at the Celebrator Anniversary Party in 2017.

Note: Last three photos purloined from Facebook.

Beer Birthday: Wil Turner

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Today is the 58th birthday of Wil Turner, brewer at Open Outcry Brewing, in Chicago. He’s also a former brewer at Revolution Brewing and Goose Island Brewery, but Wil’s originally from California — or at least that’s where I first met him — but moved to Chicago to brew at the Clybourn Goose Island brewpub, eventually moving to the production side. Since the sale of Goose Island, Wil moved back over to brewpub brewing at Revolution and more recently moved to brew at Open Outcry. Wil’s a great brewer, of course, and a terrific person for the industry, always a fun guy to drink with. Join me in wishing Wil a very happy birthday.

Wil, me and Greg Hall at GABF in 2006.
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Tom Nickel with Wil at the Brewer’s Reception at Wynkoop during GABF in 2009.
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On the floor at GABF in 2007 with Andrew Mason (on left), Matt’s assistant when he was still at Flossmoor Station, and Wil.
Wil, also at the 2006 GABF, sadly empty.

Beer Birthday: Matt Brynildson

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Today is the 54th birthday of Matt Brynildson, brewmaster at Firestone Walker Brewery. I’ve known Matt for a number of years, though I got to know him a lot better when I traveled with him to Burton-on-Trent in England to do a guest brew at Marston’s. And several years ago, we both were in Chile to judge at the Copa Cervezas de America. Also, a few years back now, I wrote a profile of Matt for Beer Connoisseur magazine, too. But suffice it to say that apart from being incredibly gifted as a brewer, Matt is also one of the nicest and coolest people in the industry. Join me in wishing Matt a very hoppy birthday.

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At Marston’s in Burton-on-Trent several years ago.
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Matt (center) outside the Toronado with one of his then-assistant brewers, Jim Cibak (who’s now head brewer at Revolution Brewing) along with Sean Paxton, the Homebrew Chef enjoying the rare San Francisco winter sun.
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Matt bookended by Adrienne and Claudia, from 21st Amendment Brewery, at the Boonville Beer Festival in 2007.

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In Chile at Kross Cerveza Independiente with brewmaster Asbjorn Gerlach, Matt and Lars Larson from Trumer Brauerei.

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Matt at the first Firestone Walker Invitational, held several years ago.

Beer In Ads #5124: Anchor Bock Beer

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Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer became known as ‘Bock.’ A goat often appears on bottle labels.” And presumably because they were special releases, many breweries went all out promoting them with beautiful artwork on posters and other advertising.

Monday’s ad is for Anchor Bock Beer, and was published maybe sometime in the mid-to-late-2000s, since Anchor’s Bock debuted in 2005. It was made for the Anchor Brewing Co. of San Francisco, California, which was originally founded in 1896. Anchor rarely advertised, especially during the Maytag years, so this isn’t something you see very often.

Beer Birthday: Phil Cutti

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Today is the birthday of Phil Cutti, co-founder, former president and brewmaster of Headlands Brewing in Marin County, but since 2018 was also the head brewer at Speakeasy Ales & Lagers, though he left that in 2023. Phil spent most of his adult life as an Exercise Physiologist and extreme athlete. Needing something to do to relax, he took up homebrewing, and then the homebrewing took him. In addition to doing the brewing at Speakeasy and Headlands, he’s also the president of the Bay Area Brewers Guild. More recently, he’s begun working on something called the Ripple Beer Project. Join me in wishing Phil a very happy birthday.

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After winning bronze at GABF in 2015.

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Phil, Patrick Horn and Inna Volynskaya of Headlands Brewing, in a press photo by the brewery.

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Phil ready for his close-up at the Toronado San Diego during San Diego Beer Week a couple of years ago.

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The Headlands crew during their first trip to GABF in 2013. Photo stolen from Brian Stechschulte. Hopefully he’ll let it slide in the spirit of the holidays.

Beer Birthday: John Palmer

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Today is the 62nd birthday of John Palmer, a metallurgist by day, homebrewer the rest of the time. John is the author of several books, including the seminal “How to Brew,” “Brewing Classic Styles,” with Jamil Zainasheff and “Water: The Comprehensive Guide for Brewers,” with Colin Kaminski. He also recently started consulting, with Palmer Brewing Solutions. Join me in wishing John a very happy birthday.

John and me at GABF judging in 2023.
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Jamil Zainasheff and John signing books at NHC 2011.
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Matt Brynildson and John.
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Three John’s. John Knox of HopSafari, John Palmer, and John Holl at GABF in 2013.