Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Beer Birthday: Scott Ungermann

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Today is the 60th birthday — The Big 6-O — of Scott Ungermann, who until a couple of years ago was the Production Director at Anchor Brewing. When I first met Scott, he was the Brewmaster at the Anheuser-Busch brewery in Fairfield, a position he held for almost six years, plus brewing stints at other AB facilities for over thirteen years. When I was working on my Northern California Breweries book, he gave me and my son Porter a great tour of the facility and I discovered we had several mutual friends since he was a 1995 graduate of U.C. Davis. Scott’s a very passionate brewer, and I was thrilled to run into him at the annual Anchor Christmas party a few years ago, discovering that he’d joined the team at Anchor. After Anchor, he struck out on his own to do a bit of freelance brewing, but since last year is back at his alma mater teaching brewery at UC Davis. Join me in wishing Scott a very happy birthday.

Me, Scott and Dave Burkhardt at Anchor.
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Scott showing my son Porter the brewhouse in Fairfield.
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A promotional photo from Scott’s ABI days.


Scott being interviewed in 2010 for a segment on KCRA Channel 3 NBC television in Sacramento.

Beer Birthday: Marty Velas

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Today is the 65th birthday of Marty Velas, who is the owner/brewmaster of Fanatic Brewing in Knoxville, Tennesee. I only recently met Marty at CBC in Nashville, though it’s possible out paths have crossed before, especially since he’s been around for a long while, and started brewing in California around 1979, starting his first pro gig brewing at Alpine Brewing. He’s also brewed for Manhattan Beach Brewing Co., Redondo Beach Brewing Co. Huntington Beach Beer Co. Brewski’s in Hermosa Beach, Fredricksburg Brewing Co. in Texas, Turul Brewing Co. in Szalapa, Hungary and Echigo Landsbrauerei in Niigata, Japan and as the head of brewing operations at Smoky Mountain Brewery. In the 1990s, he consulted for numerous breweries and has trained over 200 successful brewers. He was also “instrumental in establishing the first craft brewery in Japan in 1994.” Join me in wishing Marty a very happy birthday.

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Pete Slosberg, Marty, George Reisch and Mitch Steele at Grillshack Fries and Burgers in Nashville during CBC.
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Marty in a promotional shot for the brewery he founded in 2015.

Beer Birthday: Rich Norgrove

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Today is the 57th birthday of Rich Norgrove, the founder and brewmaster at Bear Republic Brewing Co. in Cloverdale, California. Rich won big several years ago at GABF, winning the award for Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year in 2006, amounting to validation that he’s been making some great beer for many years. Red Rocket and Racer 5 were some of my first favorite hoppy beers back in the 1990s, when few brewers were making the big, hoppy beers that are nearly ubiquitous nowadays. Did I mention that Rich is also one of the coolest, nicest people in the beer business? Join me in wishing Rich a very happy birthday.

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At an unknown beer festival with his daughter many years ago.
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Vinnie Cilurzo from Russian River and Rich at Drake’s Summit Hop Festival several summers ago.
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Jeremy Cowan (He’Brew) and Rich at Falling Rock in Denver.
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Rich and the Team from Healdsburg, California won four awards and the big award for Small Brewery Company and Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year in 2006.
Rich Norgrove, from Bear Republic, and Vic Krajl, co-owner of the Bistro
Rich and Vic Krajl at the Bistro IPA Festival in 2010.
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At a Giants game a few years back, Porter and I joined Rich and his son for a game, where we ran into Steve and Gail, from Beer By Bart, before the game began.
At the Rohnert Park brewpub a few years ago for a speakeasy-themed night.
Rich and his wife Tami at my 60th birthday party a couple of years ago.
Running into Rich at a basketball tournament where both of our sons’ were playing.

Historic Beer Birthday: Matthew Nunan

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Today is actually the day that Matthew Nunan passed away, January 7, 1916, and was born in 1834, or possibly 1836, or maybe even 1828, but the exact date or even month is unknown. There are even some sources that give his date of death as January 13. He was born in Limerick, Ireland, and emigrated to the U.S. when he was fourteen, settling in California in 1855. Lured there by dreams of striking it rich in the goldmines, he soon tried of mining, and first opened a grocery store in San Francisco, but eventually bought the Mission Street Brewery. When they moved the brewery and built a larger one, they renamed it the Hibernia Brewery. Matthew Nunan also served two terms as Sheriff of San Francisco, 1876-1877 and 1878-1879.

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Gary Flynn has a more thorough Biography of Matthew J. Numan at his Brewery Gems website. He also has a lengthy history of the Mission Street Brewery (1860-1867) and [its] successor The Hibernia Brewery (1867-1920).

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Beer Birthday: Rodger Davis

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Today is Rodger Davis’ 56th birthday. He’s the former head brewer at Triple Rock in Berkeley, California, among much else, and several years ago opened his own brewery in Alameda, Faction Brewing, along with his wife Claudia Pamparana. Rodger is a terrific brewer and has been very active in the local beer community and it’s great to see him at the helm of his own place. He’s one of those people always giving the craft beer world a good name, helping colleagues, organizing festivals and being a good friend to all. If only he could keep his tongue in his mouth. Join me in wishing Rodger a very happy birthday.

Rodger at a Berkeley Museum event a few years ago, in 2009, pouring Triple Rock beer.
Rodger with his wife Claudia at a Beer Chef beer dinner for Allagash in 2009.
Rodger at the 2009 Triple Rock Firkin Fest.
Rodger and Claudia shortly after Faction Brewery opened, with Rodger doing his best not to make a goofy face. (You should see the outtakes!)
That’s more like it….
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Rodger & me at his surprise birthday party at The Trappist several years ago for his 40th. (photo by Mike Condie.)

Beer Birthday: Mitch Steele

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Today is the 64th birthday of Mitch Steele, former production manager/head brewer at Stone Brewing. Mitch started out at the tiny San Andreas Brewery in Hollister, California but spent a number of years at one of the much larger Budweiser breweries when he brewed for Anheuser-Busch, before finding a home at Stone. More recently, created something of his own in Atlanta, Georgia, New Realm Brewing, but just announced he was moving into a more advisory role and is looking for new opportunities to pursue. He’s obviously a terrific brewer but is also a great person and a close friend, too. He has been my roomie for GABF judging a couple of years ago and is also the author of IPA: Brewing Techniques, Recipes and the Evolution of India Pale Ale. He’s a big advocate for craft beer and always willing to help out a fellow brewer or homebrewer. Join me in wishing Mitch a very happy birthday.

Mitch with Stone co-founder Steve Wagner at the Craft Brewers Conference in 2007.
Mitch picking up his 3rd Place award on the floor of GABF 2009 for Stone’s Levitation Ale on cask at a special judging at the Great British Beer Festival in 2009 (and which I had the pleasure to judge).
etsy Hensley, Judy Ashworth, Mitch, Brendan Moylan & Bruce Paton at the Celebrator’s 22nd Anniversary Party.
Judy Ashworth, Bill Millar, Mitch and Vic Kralj in front of the Bistro at the IPA Festival in 2007.
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Pete Slosberg, Marty Velas, George Reisch and Mitch at Grillshack Fries and Burgers in Nashville during CBC.
Mitch and 21st Amendment brewer Shaun O’Sullivan practicing their pointing during a collaboration brew in 2008 in San Francisco.
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And no birthday post is complete without a blast from the past. Here’s Mitch’s high school prom photo in all its living color glory. It’s from Northgate High School Class of 1980 in Walnut Creek, CA (special thanks to Mitch for updating the old black & white photo with the glorious color one!). Love the powder blue tux.

Beer Birthday: Michael Lewis

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Today is 88th birthday of Dr. Michael Lewis, who ran the brewing sciences department at U.C. Davis beginning in 1962, and became the Professor Emeritus in 1995, when Charlie Bamforth succeeded him, although Dr. Lewis remains active in teaching and in brewing. He was my instructor, along with Charlie, when I took the brewing short course at Davis over a decade. He’s taught countless working brewers over the years and has greatly influenced the industry as a whole. Join me in wishing Dr. Lewis a very happy birthday.

Michael receiving an award for a lifetime of achievement at the 2008 CBC in San Diego.
Michael at the podium receiving his recognition award from the Brewers Association in 2008.
Michael J. Lewis, front row, right, and his brewing lab class in Sonoma, in the mid-1970s, with Jack McAuliffe, left, at his New Albion Brewing Co., the first microbrewery in the United States. Photo taken by UC Davis student Doug Muhleman, who would earn a bachelor’s degree in 1977 and a master’s in 1979 and go on to become vice president of brewing operations and technology for Anheuser-Busch.
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Michael with Ruhstaller founder J.D. Paino at Sudwerk (photo from the Davis Enterprise).
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Michael (at far left) with the gang at Sudwerk Privatbrauerei in Davis (photo from the Davis Enterprise).

Beer Birthday: Marc Worona

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Today is the 58th birthday of fellow Pennsylvania transplant Marc Worona. Marc used to be the brewer at Stoudt’s Brewing in Adamstown, Pennsylvania but a number of years ago moved to California and for a long while worked with Brewers Supply Group, and was their VP of Sales and Marketing before recently retiring. For a time, he and his wife were traveling the country in an RV visiting state and national parks, though more recently he was involved in a beverage startup. Join me in wishing Marc a very happy birthday.

RV’ing.
Marc goofing around at the CBC beer and chocolate event at TCHO chocolate that he co-sponsored.
Marc with Marin brewer Arne Johnson at the Anchor Christmas Party in 2007.
Marc (center) with Brendan Moylan and Denise Jones getting the top prize in the Chocolate Beer competition sponsored by Brewers Supply Group and TCHO chocolate company during CBC in San Francisco a few years ago.
Out in front of the Bistro at the Double IPA Festival in 2008. Rodger Davis’ wife Claudia (who nworks at 21st Amendment), brewster Melissa Myers, Shane Aldridge (brewer at Marin & Moylan’s) and Marc.
Marc and his wife at Sedona.

Beer Birthday: Tyler King

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Today is also the birthday of Tyler King, who was the senior director of brewing operations, and employee #1, at The Bruery in Southern California. I first met Tyler at the Boonville Beer Festival several years ago although Patrick must have kept him locked up in the Bruery making great beer, because I didn’t run into him very often after that. At the beginning of 2015, he left to open his own brewery, and spent some time consulting and brewing for the Congregation Ale House and also Iron Triangle Brewing. His new place, Brewery Rex, opened in 2016. Join me in wishing Tyler a very happy birthday.

Tyler, with Rachel and Patrick Rue, shortly after they opened The Bruery at the Boonville Beer Festival in 2008.
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Tyler with Sam Calagione from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery along with Bruery founder Patrick Rue, after they did a collaboration beer together.
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Apparently Tyler has a thing for unicorns. I wonder if he ever visited the Mystic Brewpub in Pennsylvania before they went out of business? That place was a unicorn lover’s dream.

Beer Birthday: Daniel Del Grande

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Today is the 57th birthday of Daniel Del Grande, former brewer and co-owner of Bison Brewing, which as far as I can tell is now closed. I’ve known Dan a lot of years, since shortly after he bought Berkeley’s Bison Brewery in 1997. He’d been leading the charge for organic beer and made some of the best organic beers anywhere. More recently he’s been working with Concept Clean Energy. He also teaches at the American Brewers Guild, and spoke at my SSU class, as well. Join me in wishing Dan a very happy birthday.

Dan Del Grande from Bison Brewing
Dan at the 99 Bottles of Beer Symposium at the Hearst Museum in 2009.
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Sean Paxton, the Homebrew Chef, with Dan at Rodger Davis’ 40th birthday party.
George Allen, Dan Del Grande & Mark Cabrera from Bison Brewing
George Allen, Dan and Mark Cabrera at GABF 2009.
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Ralph Olson from HopUnion with Dan and Peter Hoey, when he was still with Bison Brewing, in 2006, the year Bison won a Gold medal for their Organic Farmhouse Ale.