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Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Beer Birthday: John Gillooly

September 21, 2025 By Jay Brooks


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.

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John with Kushal Hall during a visit to Speakeasy in 2009.
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Tim Clifford, from Sante Adairius, with John, in 2015.
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At Beachwood BBQ & Brewing in 2014, John, Julian Shrango and photographer Nick Gingold.
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Tasty, John and Collin McDonnell at Drake’s Session Fest.

[NOTE: Last three photos purloined from Facebook.]

Filed Under: Birthdays, Just For Fun Tagged With: Bay Area, California, Northern California

Beer Birthday: Justin Crossley

September 19, 2025 By Jay Brooks

bn-grenade
Today is the 48th birthday of Justin Crossley, the man behind the mic at The Brewing Network, one of the industry’s best voices. He’s an avid homebrewer and talker, a deadly combination, especially on radio. He also filmed Porter’s Porter Day a couple of years ago and it will fun to see the result of that project. Of course, he’s also opened the Hop Grenade, the next piece of the growing Brewing Network empire. He recently took a working camper van trip around the country, which lasted a year. Join me in wishing Justin a very happy birthday.

Justin and me showing off our injured fingers at the last Marin Breastfest held at Marin Brewing.
Justin all thumbs at Stone Brewing during the CBC Reception in 2008.
With Michael Ferguson, from BJ’s, at Oakland’s Linden Street Brewery during the AHA convention a couple of years ago.
Okay, what’s with the thumbs? About to do a broadcast from GABF in 2007.

Filed Under: Birthdays, Just For Fun Tagged With: Beer Radio, California, Northern California, Podcasting, San Francisco

Beer Birthday: Don Barkley

September 18, 2025 By Jay Brooks

napa-smith

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.

Don at the SF Beer Week Opening Gala in 2010.
Mark Carpenter, from Anchor Brewing, and Don at the SF Beer Week Opening Gala in 2011.
Don, me and Ed Davis each with a 1979 bottle of New Albion beer, that Ed was kind enough to donate, when we did a vintage tasting of beer that Don helped brew over thirty years ago.
Albion Don at the Toronado during the launch of the first SF Beer Week in 2009.
Me and Don at the Breastfest at Fort Mason a few years ago (photo by Mario Rubio).

Filed Under: Birthdays Tagged With: Bay Area, California, Northern California

Beer Birthday: Evan Rail

September 16, 2025 By Jay Brooks

evan-rail
Today is the 53rd birthday of Evan Rail, expat American writer living, and writing about beer, in Prague, Czech Republic. Evan was born and raised in Fresno, but discovered his love for beer while attending U.C. Davis as a French and German literature major. While there, he spent his time at the nearby Sudwerk Privatbrauerei brewpub, and counted among his friends several students in the Master Brewers program. That’s also where he began homebrewing in 1993. He also studied in New York and Paris, before making the Czech Republic his home in 2000. His move to Prague was meant to be for a single year, but he’s still there almost two decades later. Given that he met his wife there, and they’ve started a family, it’s likely he won’t be moving home any time soon. In addition to writing the Good Beer Guide to Prague and the Czech Republic, Rail’s also penned Why Beer Matters, In Praise of Hangovers and Triplebock, all Kindle singles. We finally had a chance to share a beer in person a few years ago when he was in San Francisco for an event sponsored by Pilsner Urquell. But since then we’ve been on trips in Denmark and Belgium together, as well. Join me in wishing Evan a very happy birthday.

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A few years ago at event in san Francisco, where Evan was doing a presentation for Pilsner Urquell.
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Also a couple of years ago in Copenhagen, along with, clockwise from left: Martyn Cornell, Jeff Alworth, Evan, me, Stephen Beaumont, Pete Brown, Stan Hieronymus and Ron Pattinson.
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Talking with Stan Hieronymus during a tour of the Carlsberg Laboratory.
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A Facebook cover photo of Evan (which is where I purloined it from, along with the next one, too).
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A screenshot from a video of Evan talking about Czech beer.

Filed Under: Birthdays Tagged With: California, Czech Republic, United States

Beer Birthday: Lars Larson

September 15, 2025 By Jay Brooks

trumer
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.

Lars Larson (Trumer), Homer Smith (Oak Barrel) & Shaun O'Sullivan (21st Amendment)
Lars, with Homer Smith of the Oak Barrel & Shaun O’Sullivan from 21st Amendment, at the Celebrator’s 22nd anniversary party in 2010.
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Lars in Chile with two of the brewers from Cerveceria Berlina in Argentina.
Lars Larson (Trumer) & Brenden Dobel (Thirsty Bear)
Lars, again at the Celebrator’s 22nd anniversary party in 2010, with Brenden Dobel, from Thirsty Bear.
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Lars’ former brewing school classmate Asbjorn Gerlach, Matt Brynildson and Lars at Kross Cerveza Independiente in Chile, which Gerlach co-founded.

Filed Under: Birthdays, Just For Fun Tagged With: Bay Area, California, Oakland

Beer In Ads #5078: Cal’s Going!! Going!!

September 14, 2025 By Jay Brooks

Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads. 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.

Sunday’s ad is for Regal Pale Bock Beer, which was published on September 14, 1962. This one really for Cal’s Liquors, with six locations in the Salinas, California area. But they were also advertising their last 770 cases of Regal Pale Bock Beer from the Regal Pale Brewing Co. of San Francisco, California, which was originally founded in 1916 as the Pacific Brewing & Malting Co. This ad ran in The Salinas Californian, also of Salinas, California. Better hurry before they’re all gone.

Filed Under: Art & Beer, Beers, Breweries, Just For Fun Tagged With: Advertising, Bock, California, History

Beer Birthday: Steve McDaniel

September 14, 2025 By Jay Brooks

oakland-brewing independent
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.

Steve McDaniels, Bruce Paton and Arne Johnson
Steve with OBC partner Bruce Paton and Arne Johnson, brewmaster at Marin Brewing.
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Steve with Drake’s brewer Josh Miner.
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Steve and his lovely wife Justine.
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Claudia Davis, Steve, Justine Nguyen, Gabrielle Chan, Adrienne McMullen, Shaun O’Sullivan and Roger Davis.

Filed Under: Birthdays Tagged With: Bay Area, California, Northern California

Beer Birthday: Dan Gordon

September 13, 2025 By Jay Brooks

gordon-b
Today is the 65th birthday of Dan Gordon, co-founder of Gordon Biersch Brewing, which began in San Jose, California. Dan studied brewing in Germany and was the first American to graduate from Wissenschaftszentrum Weihenstephan with a brewing degree. His brewpub chain was one of the first to really focus on lagers, and especially German-style beers. Dan has gotten to be a good friend over the years and he’s also a terrific jazz trombonist! Join me in wishing Dan a very happy birthday.

During a visit to the brewery a few years ago.
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At the Celebrator tasting us his newest beer, an unfiltered Dunkelweizen.
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Dan at yet another private Dunelweizen tasting.
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I love this early promotional shot they use on Gordon Biersch’s website.
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Dan Talking to my SSU class a few years back.

Filed Under: Birthdays Tagged With: California, Northern California, San Jose

Beer Birthday: Steve Gonzalez

September 12, 2025 By Jay Brooks

stone
Today is the 55th birthday of Steve Gonzalez, who is the Senior Manager of Brewing and Innovation for Stone Brewing. Gonzalez started in the beer world with Miller, and was briefly with Gallo Winery before joining Stone a little over eight years ago. I not sure when I first met him, but it feels like it’s been a while now. Most recently, I saw him at the grand opening to Stone’s new Napa location a few years back. Join me in wishing Steve a very happy birthday.

steve-gonzalez-senior-manager-of-brewing-and-innovation-small-batch-stone-brewing-co

Steve with Mitch Steele, Matt Brynildsohn and Shaun O’Sullivan.
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I love Steve’s expression as plays his new mandolin.

[Note: Last two purloined from Facebook.]

Filed Under: Birthdays, Just For Fun Tagged With: California, Southern California

Beer Birthday: Geno Acevedo

September 11, 2025 By Jay Brooks

el-toro
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.

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Geno Acevedo, with his wife Cindy, at the Boonville Beer Festival several years ago.
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Geno at the beginning of GABF’s Saturday evening session in 2007.
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Geno and Cindy Acevedo at GABF in 2006.
Jason Chavez (when he was still with Seabright, now he has his own place, Kelsey Creek Brewing), Dave Heist, from HopTown Brewing, and Cindy and Gino Acevedo at GABF in 2002.

Filed Under: Birthdays Tagged With: Bay Area, California

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