Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Anchor To Receive Ralston Award From SF Museum & Historical Society

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Fritz Maytag may have stepped back from his daily duties at Anchor Brewing, the brewery he owned and ran since 1965, but that doesn’t mean he’s slowing down. He’s still running his winery, York Creek Vineyards, and consulting with the new owners of Anchor Brewing & Distilling.

And later this month, on November 18, the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society will present their William C. Ralston Corporate Award to Fritz Maytag and Dave Burkhart on behalf of Anchor Brewing.

From the press release:

Receiving the Ralston Award on behalf of Anchor Brewing will be Fritz Maytag and David Burkhart. Maytag, considered the father of modern microbreweries, had been at the helm of Anchor Brewing for 45 years. Maytag helped spark a revival in the craft of making beer by hand and inspired thousands of entrepreneurs to follow him in creating small, artisan breweries. He won the 2008 James Beard Lifetime Achievement Award. The company was sold this spring but he serves as Chairman Emeritus, Anchor Brewing Company.

Burkhart, a staff member of Anchor Brewing and a California-born historian and honors graduate of Yale, is the author of Earthquake Days: The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake & Fire in 3D and the editor of Cocktail Boothby’s American Bartender. He is also a professional trumpeter who teaches at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and performs with the San Francisco Opera and the San Francisco Symphony. His latest book project is called Cocktails & Punches in Mark Twain’s San Francisco.

Congratulations to both, and to Anchor. Tickets to the Awards Luncheon may be purchased online.

Homebrew Star Jamil Zainasheff To Open Commercial Brewery

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Jamil Zainasheff over the last ten years has become something of a rock star in the homebrewing community, and especially the Bay Area, co-authoring two books on beer and homebrewing: “Brewing Classic Styles: 80 Winning Recipes Anyone Can Brew” (with John Palmer) and “Yeast: The Practical Guide to Beer Fermentation” (with Chris White). He also hosts the Jamil Show on The Brewing Network and has a website online entitled Mr. Malty. I had always heard that Jamil had no plans to turn pro, but that appears to be not the case, after all. [And a tip of the hat back to BeerNews.org].

This Thursday on an episode of Brewing TV, Zainasheff announced that he was starting a 30-bbl brewery in the East Bay. The brewery will be called Heretic Brewing, but the website is just a place holder for now.

Jamil says he’s hoping that his first beers will be available beginning in February or March of next year. Initially, the beer will be available in kegs only, and will then make either 750 ml or 22 oz. bottles once they’re up and running.

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BRU/SFO Project Flies Into Town Again

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The BRU/SFO Project is back for a second year. A play on the airport codes BRU (for Brussels, belgium) and our own SFO, the Project is between the 21st Amendment Brewery & Restaurant and Magnolia Gastropub. Each brewpub will be creating six Belgian-inspired beers throughout the month of November, with a new one released each Monday. Here’s the release schedule:

  • November 1
    21st Amendment: Via (Belgian Single), Noir de Blanc (Cocoa Witbier) and Papa Parks Porter
    Magnolia: Deep Ellem (Dubbel), Destiny UnBlonde, Chocolate George Stout
  • November 8
    21st Amendment: Drunken Monk (Dark Abbey Ale)
    Magnolia: Gordo
  • November 15
    21st Amendment: Oaked Baby Horse (Belgian Oak- Aged Quadruple)
    Magnolia: Saison De Lily
  • November 22
    21st Amendment: St. Lupulin (Imperial Belgian IPA)
    Magnolia: Sunbust

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As last year, you can pick up a “boarding pass” at either brewery to get each beer marked off as you try them. “When you’ve enjoyed all 12 you get to take home and keep for your very own the special BRU/SFO commemorative glass” (good while supplies last). According to the breweries, the “Belgian beer project is a unique time to take in and enjoy Belgian-style beers, with interesting styles and tastes all with an American twist. We hope you enjoy your flight.” And Magnolia adds that their “exploration of Belgian-style and Belgian-influenced beers includes both old favorites and brand new beers.”

Magnolia has also “put together a special menu of snacks and smaller dishes to enjoy in the spirit of this Transatlantic project. Be sure to try the duck fat fries, chicory gratin, roasted tomato crevette, mussels (steamed in beer, of course), and a special cheese plate, all of which are available throughout the month. Look for other specials throughout the month, too, most of which will be intended to pair with a specific BRU/SFO beer.” And that the end of the month, they’ll host “One Dinner To End It All,” a “4-course dinner [to be held] on Monday, 11/29 with each course paired with a beer from the Project. More info coming soon, including the menu and price.”

The World Series At 21st Amendment

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In an effort to help the Giants win for the last win in Game 2 — and being superstitious — I met an old friend of mine from Pennsylvania (actually we were in kindergarten together, making him my oldest friend) who was in town on business Thursday. We met at the 21st Amendment Brewery to watch the game. Hop Crisis, 21 A’s Imperial IPA was tasting fine, as was their regular IPA. I also had one of Rodger Davis’ IPAs from Drake’s (I was in a hoppy mood).

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From the moment I got there, I knew we would win, because karma was with me. First of all, I found a parking space directly across the street from 21st Amendment and then not only was co-owner Shaun O’Sullivan there with a seat for me, but he was wearing one of my logo shirts! Thanks Shaun!

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My friend Jim, from Shillington, PA, though he now lives in upstate New York. That’s 21A sales manager Lloyd Knight’s infamous orange vest I’m sporting.

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Since we were just a few blocks from the stadium where the game was being played, at the 7th inning stretch we walked down to the ballpark just to drink in the atmosphere.

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Even McCovery Cove was packed with boats.

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There were tons of people hanging out around the ballpark, and there was an electric vibe in the air. Very cool. I hope this helps recreates that atmosphere tonight! Go Giants!

Oakland’s Newest Brewer

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Just got some great news. Steve McDaniel, co-founder of the soon to be open Oakland Brewing, and his lovely wife Justine Nguyen, had their first child yesterday. Justine gave birth to Merritt just after Noon on October 30. It sounds like mother and son are doing great, as Justine is up and using Facebook. Join me in wishing the happy couple all the best on their birth of their son. Congratulations Steve and Justine!

Particulars:

Original Gravity: 7 pounds, 11 ounces
IBUs: 21 in.
Style: Boy
Release Date: October 30, 2010
Label: Merritt Anh Xbalanque McDaniel

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Steve McDaniel and Justine Nguyen’s new son Merritt.

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A sleeping Merritt Anh Xbalanque McDaniel.

Giants vs. Rangers: San Francisco Brewery & Fort Worth Brewery Make Friendly Wager

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Craft brewers tend to not be as cutthroat competing with one another as a lot of other businesses. Most believe that the sale of one craft beer helps the sales of all other good beer, too. But that ethos doesn’t necessarily extend to sports. Case in point, the 2010 World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Texas Rangers.

Shaun O’Sullivan, from the 21st Amendment Brewery in San Francisco — in fact just a stone’s throw from the ballpark where the World Series will be played — got a call today from his friend and colleague Fritz Rahr, who owns Rahr & Sons Brewing in Fort Worth, Texas, proposing a friendly wager on this year’s World Series.

So here’s the bet, as told by Shaun O’Sullivan on the 21st Amendment website in a post entitled It’s On Like Donkey Kong:

If the Texas Rangers win the World Series (highly unlikely in my opinion, but I digress), I will wear a Texas Ranger’s shirt, drinking a Rahr and Sons delicious beer outside of San Francisco’s AT&T Park. And when the San Francisco Giants beat the Texas Rangers (they will), Fritz will be wearing a Giants shirt and drinking a 21st Amendment delicious canned craft beer outside of Arlington Field.

I can’t wait to see those photos. Just one more reason to cheer on the Giants. Though I confess that Rahr makes some outstanding beers and it would be nice to taste a few of them during the series, I think for now I’ll stick to Bay Area beers to root for San Francisco beginning this Wednesday. What will you be drinking during the ball games?

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Shameless Bragging: Winning the Russian River Invitational Washoe Tournament

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I love the game of Washoes, a game that Tomme Arthur from the Lost Abbey introduced into the brewing community almost ten years ago. I’ve been known to play for hours, given the chance. Almost every small brewery along the west coast has a set of boards, and you see them fairly frequently at events, too. So I was thrilled to be invited to play in the first annual Russian River Invitational Washoe Tournament last night. My partner was Dave Keene, owner of the Toronado. We’ve played together on numerous occasions, but never in a tournament like this. There were nine teams playing in a round robin double elimination tournament. Dave and I — “Team Toronado” — managed to go undefeated through the first three rounds, earning ourselves a bye going into the finals. Since we hadn’t lost a game, the other team had to beat us twice in order to prevail. But we never gave them the chance, and won the first game in short order to win the tournament. What great fun. There definitely need to be more organized washoe tournaments.

To learn more about the rules of Washoes, check out Washoe Rules, a web page put up by Vinnie Cilurzo with the agreed-upon brewing community’s rules. The game exists in many variations around the country, and most likely originated somewhere in the Midwest, but this is the set of rules by which we played.

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Dave Keene and me after our washoe victory.

Bay Area Craft Beer Festival This Saturday

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This Saturday, October 23, another new festival will kick off in the Bay Area, in this case Martinez. The Bay Area Craft Beer Festival will be held in the historic Cannery District at the Martinez Waterfront Park, located at 333 Ferry St. in downtown Martinez from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Tickets are $35 for general admission or $50 for a VIP ticket, which gets you in an hour earlier, at Noon. Tickets can be purchased online or at several locations throughout the Bay Area. Check out the festival website for details.

Admission includes includes a commemorative glass, unlimited tastings and entertainment, which includes three bands. Over thirty breweries will be pouring their beer. Food will also be available for a separate purchase. The festival will take place indoors, so it’s rain or shine.

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