Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Beer Birthday: Steve Altimari

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Today is the 65th birthday of Steve Altimari, until recently the founder and brewmaster of High Water Brewing. I first met Steve when he was still brewing for Valley in Stockton, before that went spectacularly south, and we’ve been good friends ever since. When Steve was working on the new brewing company, I even suggested the name and he graciously gave me a few shares in the company as a thank you. Of course, he’s also smart enough to never ask my business advice so I’m hardly involved and can remain in impartial. Though to be fair, the fact that he makes uniformly great beers helps. Join me in wishing Steve a very happy birthday.

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Stephen Beaumont, Steve and me at Barclay’s during SF Beer Week 2010.
Peace Or 2 Medals: Steve Altimari, from Valley Brewing
A very happy Steve at the Falling Rock Taphouse in Denver, after winning two medals at the 2009 Great American Beer Festival.
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The Three Steves: Steve Altimari, Steve Donohue and Steve Shapiro, from Beer by Bart, at the Breastfest. (Photo by Arie Litman.)
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Craig Cauwels, from Schooner’s, with Steve at the Celebrator’s 18th anniversary party in 2007.
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Peter Hoey, looking about twelve, with Steve, at the first Raley Field Beer Festival in 2007.

Beer Birthday: Kim Sturdavant

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Today is the 46th birthday of Kim Sturdavant. He was born in Eugene, Oregon and got his professional brewing start at Marin Brewing Co. before taking over at Social Kitchen & Brewery in San Francisco in 2011. While there he invented the Brut IPA sub-style, which was a popular type of IPA for a time. He left in 2019 and for a time was brewing at Pacifica Brewery, but more recently he’s joined Admiral Maltings as a Technical Sales Representative. Kim’s a great brewer and a terrific person. Join me in wishing Kim a very happy birthday.

Kim at Pacifica Brewery.
Kim for a newspaper article I did about him and Brut IPA a few years back.
Kim on stage with Charlie Papazian, Brendan Moylan and Arne Johnson picking up a medal during GABF in 2011.
Kim serving at the opening gala for SF Beer Week, also in 2011.
Kim with a few fellow brewers at the Celebrator Beer News Anniversary Party in 2009.

Beer In Ads #5112: Big Halloween Party Tonight At The Owl Cabaret

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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.

Friday’s ad is for a Halloween Party taking place tonight rather than a specific Bock Beer, which was published on October 31, 1933. So presumably this would have been the first Halloween after prohibition was repealed, and they are advertising a Bock Beer Glass for 5-cents This one was for the Owl Cabaret at the A.B.W. Club in Mexicali, Mexico. This ad ran in The Imperial Valley Press, from El Centro, California.

Beer Birthday: Bill Millar

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Today is the 83rd birthday of Bill Millar, who founded the San Andreas Brewing Co. in Hollister, California, and he also has the distinction of giving Mitch Steele his first brewing gig. San Andreas was started in 1988, and I visited it not too long thereafter, as I was living not to far away, in San Jose, at the time. I was a big fan of their Cranberry Ale for the holidays, and Bill was kind enough to keg some for me each year, for a few years in the early 90s, for the holiday party that I used to throw. I’d drive down to Hollister to pick it up, and then return the empty keg a few days later. The brewery is closed now, sadly, though I’m not sure when exactly is stopped brewing. Join me in wishing Bill a very happy birthday.

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Bill with Mitch Steele, at the Bistro IPA Festival in 2007.
Bill at the CSBA Beer Summit a few years ago.

Beer Birthday: Glynn Phillips

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Today is also the birthday of Glynn Phillips, former owner of Rubicon Brewing in Sacramento, which also opened a production brewery not too far from the original brewpub, before closing a couple of years ago. Glynn was a great champion for craft beer and has done quite a lot for the cause. Glynn was also very active in both the California Small Brewers Association and the Northern California Brewers Guild. Join me in wishing Glynn a very happy birthday.

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Brian Ford, from Auburn Alehouse, with Glynn at the Raley Field Brewfest in 2007.

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Glynn Phillips (Rubicon), Brendan Moylan (Marin/Moylan’s), Alec Moss (Half Moon Bay), Brian Hunt (Moonlight), Rodger Davis (Triple Rock) and Josh Minor (Drake’s) at the Breastfest in 2008.

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Glynn in his brewery last year when I visited him in Sacramento.

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Arne Johnson, Chris Goehe and Glynn.

Beer Birthday: Sean Paxton

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Today is the 53rd birthday of Sean Paxton, a.k.a. The Homebrew Chef. Sean is a mad alchemist in the kitchen and puts on some wonderful food and beer spectacles. Plus he’s a terrific homebrewer, an even better human being and a great friend. A few years ago, he spent a great deal of time redoing his website with great new recipes and an amazing interface that allows you to search, scale the recipes, convert measurements and much more. Check it out. He’s been sticking closer to home more recently. Join me in wishing Sean a very happy birthday.

At the Great American Beer Festival in 2008. Bruce Paton, the Beer Chef, Sean and Dave Keene, from the Toronado, in the convention center.
Sean with his daughter Olivia at the Pliny the Elder release several years ago.
Working with nitrogen at the 11-course Belgian Brunch, or Blunch, held at the Toronado.
My wife, Sarah, with Sean after the 10th annual beer dinner at the Northern California Homebrewers Festival held at Lake Francis Resort in Dobbins, California.
With Randy Mosher at the world’s biggest beer dinner at CBC in Chicago.

Matt Bonney, Stephen Beaumont, Sean, Pete Slosberg & Rick Sellers at the Bistro for the Double IPA Festival several years back.

Beer Birthday: John Tucci

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Today is also the 58th birthday of John Tucci, who I first met when he was the brewmaster for the San Francisco Gordon Biersch brewpub. John was one of Gordon Biersch’s best and most senior brewers, and especially with his one-offs that he brewed at that now-defunct location. He’s also a great champion for beer in San Francisco and was very active with the local brewers guild and SF Beer Week. When the San Francisco location closed, he brewed at their Palo Alto brewpub, but after 16 years, left and has opened his own brewery, 47 Hills Brewing, which is located at 137 South Linden Avenue in South San Francisco. Join me in wishing John a very happy birthday.

John and me at 47 Hills Brewing a few years ago.
At the Slow Beer Festival 2008, Ian Marks (from Hog Island Oyster Co.), Taylor Boetticher (from the Fatted Calf), Dave, John and Shaun O’Sullivan (from 21st Amendment).
John when I visited him several years at the Palo Alto Gordon Biersch.
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John behind the bar pouring some of his beer. (Note: this photo by Winnie Hsu and purloined from Facebook.)
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Taking delivery of new brewing equipment at 47 Hills.

Beer Birthday: Kim Jordan

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Today is the birthday of Kim Jordan, co-founder of New Belgium Brewing. Kim went to Colorado State University in Fort Collins, then stayed in town to start New Belgium in 1991. She recently stepped down as CEO of the company and is currently Executive Chair of the Brewery’s Board of Directors and stayed active in the brewing industry more generally through the Brewer’s Association. More recenly, she’s moved to northern California and is less involed directly in the industry. Join me in wishing Kim a very happy birthday.

A few years ago flying home from Denver, Arne John and I ran into Kim and Dick Cantwell.
Greg Koch and Kim, at GABF in 2009.
Steve Hindy, Kim, Dave Keene, Eddie Friedland (former owner of Philadelphia’s Friedland Distributing) and Vinnie Cilurzo in Austin, Texas for the 2007 Craft Brewers Conference.
At the 2008 NBWA welcome reception in San Francisco. From left, Jamie Jurado (then with Gambrinus), Lucy Saunders (the Beer Cook), Charlie Papazian (President of the Brewers Association), Kim and Tom Dalldorf (from the Celebrator Beer News).
Kim in costume with Dick Cantwell at Elysian’s annual pumpkin festival in 2013. [Note: This photo purloined from Facebook.]

Beer Birthday: Kushal Hall

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Today is the 41st birthday of Kushal Hall, former Director of Brewing Operations for Speakeasy Ales & Lagers. Kushal had been brewing at Speakeasy since 2007, but left in May of 2017 to open his own place in Southern California. The new brewery is called Common Space Brewing and is located in Hawthorne. While Kushal studied photography at UC Santa Cruz, I think we can all agree the world is a better place since he became a brewer. A terrific brewer and person, please join me in wishing Kushal a very happy birthday.

Kushal, second from the left, and the gang from Speakeasy at the opening gala for SF Beer Week in 2013.
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Kush serving his beer at Speakeasy 13th anniversary bash in 2010.
Kushal as mad scientist (photo by, I believe, Brian Stechschulte).
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Kushal with Betsey and Jesse Friedman at the Anchor Christmas Party in 2012.

[Note: last two photos purloined from Facebook.]

Beer Birthday: Barbara Groom

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Today is the birthday of Barbara Groom, co-founder of Lost Coast Brewing in Eureka, California. I first met Barbara when I was the beer buyer at BevMo in the mid-1990s and our paths have crossed on occasion ever since. She makes terrific beers and her brewery celebrated its 30th anniversary a few years back. Join me in wishing Barbara a very happy birthday.

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Barbara in the brewery.

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This is what Barbara was wearing when I first met her, back when she called on me at BevMo.

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Thumbs up.

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In the beginning.

[Note: All photos purloined from Facebook.]