Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Beer In Ads #5087: It’s Like Old Times Again

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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.

Thursday’s ad is for Rainier Bock Beer, which was published on September 25, 1933. This one was for the Rainier Brewing Co. of Seattle, Washington, which was originally founded in 1878, though it was mostly advertising Long John’s Tavern, which located in downtown Nevada City, California. The tagline was “It’s Like Old Times Again Down at Long John’s.” This ad ran in The Nevada County Nugget, from Nevada City, California.

Beer Birthday: Bill Owens

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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.

Bill and me at the Anchor Xmas Party in 2009.
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Bill and Fritz Maytag at an event for Maureen Ogle’s book “Ambitious Brew” in 2006.
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Bill at Buffalo Bill’s in 1985.
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A press shot from the 1980s.
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Manning the mash paddle around 1985, the year he made his first batch of Pumpkin Ale, probably the first pumpkin beer in modern times.
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Bill Owens’ early book — more of a pamphlet really — on How to Build a Small Brewery.

Beer Birthday: Yuseff Cherney

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Today is the 56th birthday of Yuseff Cherney, co-founder, former COO and head brewer of Ballast Point Brewing in San Diego. Although not too long after selling Ballast Point in later 2015 to Constellation Brands, Yuseff left the brewery, in July of 2016. For a time, he was focusing his energy on their rebranded spirits division, called Cutwater Spirits, although more recently that was sold, as well. I used to run into Yusseff in the Bay Area or at GABF, but I’m not sure we’ll see him as much in the beer world. He’s a great person and a terrific brewer. Join me in wishing Yusseff a very happy birthday.

Sierra Nevada’s Steve Dressler with Yuseff and his wife at the Chico leg of Beer Camps Across America a few years ago.
Claudia Pamparana, co-founder of Faction Brewing, Yuseff, Jeff Bagby, and his then-assistant brewer, Noah Regney, now with Hollister Brewing at the Boonville Beer Festival in 2007.
Yussef with Fal Allen (from Anderson Valley) at Prost Brewing during CBC a few years ago in Denver.
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Matt Matthew Brynildson, Earl Kight, and Yuseff at the European Beer Star Awards in Germany a few years ago.
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Yuseff with 2013’s Hop Queen. (Note: last two photos purloined from Facebook.)

Beer Birthday: Carlos Sanchez

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Today is the 67th birthday of Carlos Sanchez, who was the brewmaster at Six Rivers Brewery in McKinleyville, behind the Redwood Curtain. Carlos is a veteran brewer of over 20 years, having originally interned at Humboldt Brewing Co., becoming assistant brewer there in 1990. He’s also worked at Mad River Brewing and attended Chicago’s Siebel Institute of Brewing Technology. In 1996, the opportunity to start brewing at a local start-up tempted Sanchez to become Six Rivers’ first, and only, brewmaster. He’s been there a long time, brewing an impressive stable of beers, including many sound interpretations of classic styles and a few others that are utterly unique. Earlier this year, he announced his retirement. Join me in wishing Carlos a very happy birthday.

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Carlos in his brewhouse.
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Carlos between Six Rivers’ owners Meredith Maier Ripley and Talia Nachshon at their 11th anniversary party several years ago.
Carlos’ retirement photo.

Beer Birthday: Dave McLean

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Today is Dave McLean’s 56th birthday. Dave was the founder of Magnolia Pub & Brewery, the gastropub on Haight Street in San Francisco, along with the production brewery known as the Smokestack in the Dogpatch neighborhood of the city. He is a tireless champion of craft beer in the Bay Area, having worked on Slow Food Nation, The Eat Real Festival and SF Beer Week, among much else. He more recently co-founded Admiral Maltings along with Ron Silberstein and Curtis Davenport. More recently he’s opened a new brewery, Hidden Splendor, in Richmond. Join me in wishing Dave a very happy birthday.

Craig Cauwels (from Schooner’s) and Sam Calagione (from Dogfish Head) stopping by to see Dave at the Double IPA Festival at the Bistro a couple of years ago.
A sextet from San Francisco at GABF 2008. From left: Adrienne McMullem, with 21st Amendment, Ben Spencer, from Magnolia, Sean Paxton, the homebrew chef, Ben’s wife, Shaun O’Sullivan, from 21st Amendment, and Dave.
Dave and me at the end of a very long, but satisfying, day at the first Slow Food Nation event several years ago in San Francisco.
Me, Dave, and Shaun O’Sullivan saying goodbye to Anchor Brewing at their tap room shortly before they closed.
Walking the floor at GABF in 2002.
Food and beer mixed happily and deliciously at the Slow Beer Festival 2008, as evidenced here by Ian Marks (from Hog Island Oyster Co.), Taylor Boetticher (from the Fatted Calf), Dave, John Tucci (from Gordon Biersch San Francisco) and Shaun O’Sullivan (from 21st Amendment).

Beer Birthday: John Gillooly

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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.]

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

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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.

Beer In Ads #5054: Alpine Bock Beer Festival

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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.

Friday’s ad is not for a specific Bock Beer, but for an upcoming Bock Beer Festival at the Alpine Village Beer Garden, and was published on August 15, 1969. This one is for the Alpine Village in Torrance, California, which was originally founded in 1968. They had Bavarian Dances every weekend, but the Bock Beer Festival took place on august 17. Unfortunately, it closed during Covid, but has recently been designated as culturally significant and saved from demolition. This ad for the event ran in The Daily Breeze, of Hermosa Beach, California.

Beer In Ads #5035: Brewed In The Winter For Spring Pleasure

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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.

Saturday’s ad is for Acme Bock Beer, which was published in 1949. The brewery was the Acme Brewing Co. of San Francisco, California, which was originally founded in 1907, though they also opened a location in the Los Angeles area. Today the brand is owned by North Coast Brewing. This ad ran in the Palo Verde Valley Times of Blythe, California.

Beer In Ads #5013: T. & A. Goux Bock

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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.

Monday’s ad is for Bock Beer, though who’s bock is unclear, at least I can’t make it out. The ad was published on July 1, 1899 and was for T. & A. Goux Resale and Wholesale Liquor Dealers of Santa Barbara, California. They were a liquor dealer founded by Thomas and Augustin Goux, whose father had emigrated to the U.S. to work at the French Consulate in Los Angeles. They appear to have been in business from 1890 to 1905. This ad ran in The Independent, also of Santa Barbara, California.