Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

Socialize

Beer Birthday: Tony Magee

By 1 Comment

lagunitas-circle
Today is the 65th birthday of Tony Magee. Tony is the founder and owner of Lagunitas Brewing. We first met in the mid-1990s when I visited the old brewery, before they moved to their present location, and have been good friends ever since. Several years ago, now, I wrote a profile of Tony for Beer Connoisseur magazine. With his beautifully twisted, iconoclastic vision, Tony’s built an amazing empire. His unique beers, and especially their quirky label designs and text, are always a treat. I know some people are down on the brewery since their sale to Heineken, but as far as I’m concerned, Tony is still Tony, even in retirement. Join me in wishing Tony a very happy birthday.

lagucircus-20
Tony as Ringmaster of the Lagunitas Beer Circus in 2009, with Vinnie Cilurzo from Russian River Brewing.
bistroipa06-08
Tony and me at the Bistro’s IPA Festival in 2006.
hopmonkt-6
Tony warming up for a set at the Hopmonk Tavern in Sebastopol in 2008.

Speaking at the California Beer Summit several years ago.

Beer Birthday: Judy Ashworth

By 16 Comments

publican
Today is Judy Ashworth’s birthday. She’s the Grand Dame of Publicans, having once owned the Lyons Brewery Depot in the East Bay, one of the earliest bars to really embrace, support and promote craft beer. Judy sold the pub in 1998 after some health troubles sidelined her, but she’s still a fixture in the Bay Area beer scene. I’ve judged with her many times and these days she’s very supportive of the homebrewing movement and she can be seen at most of the major beer events throughout the year. Join me in wishing Judy a very happy birthday.

gabf06-wed-07
Judy with Shaun O’Sullivan (21st Amendment) and Chris Black at his Falling Rock Taphouse during GABF week in 2007.

bistro-wood08-8
Out in front of The Bistro in Hayward at the Wood-Aged Beer Festival in August of 2008. From left: Jeremy Cowan, owner of He’Brew, Judy, Dave Heist, and Zak, also from He’Brew.

tbwfest07-08
At the Toronado Barleywine Festival in 2008, Judy Ashworth, Matt Salie (with Big Sky Brewing) and Judy’s daughter Laurel.

Judy Ashworth, Stephen Beaumont, me & Peter Hoey at the Pliny the Younger release
Judy with Stephen Beaumont, me and Peter Hoey at the 2010 Pliny the Younger release.

DSCN0280
Dave Suurballe, Judy, Julie Nickels and Bruce Paton at Anchor Brewing for the book release party for Tom Acitelli’s “Audacity of Hops” a couple of years ago.

Beer Birthday: JJ Jay

By 1 Comment

petaluma-hills
Today is the 65th birthday of Jeffrey “JJ” Jay, who founded Petaluma Hills Brewing. JJ was an animator who worked for Lucas Arts, Pixar and Dreamworks Animation and during that time was an avid homebrewer. In 2012, he left his job to start his own brewery in Petaluma and made great beer for the next five years before shutting things down in 2017. JJ also was kind enough to talk to my SSU class and over the years I really came to like JJ and especially his dry sense of humor. It’s a shame his brewery didn’t make it hopefully he’ll figure out something to return to the beer industry. Join me in wishing JJ a very happy birthday.

DSCN3372

Beer Birthday: Roger Lind

By

Today is the 64th birthday of Roger Lind, a Bay Area pioneer who founded Lind Brewing in 1989 in an old Dodge factory, which later became known as Drake’s Brewing. Lind sold the brewery to the Rogers family (who made coffee for Costco) in 1998, who in turn sold it to the current owners, John Martin and Roy Kirkorian, in 2008. Lind started as a brewer at Triple Rock before striking out on his own. After selling the brewery, he became a teacher, but has remained active in the local brewing scene to this day. Join me in wishing Roger a very happy birthday.

Roger Lind at his grand opening in 1989.
Marc Cohn, Roger, Chuck Fross from Bay Area Distributing, Josh Charlton, and brewer Don Gortemiller at the 19th Celebrator Anniversary Party in 2007.
Jack Weldon, Josh Charlton, Judy Ashworth, and Roger at Danville Brewing earlier this month. (Photo by Mike Condie)
Roger and Steve Altimari.
And finally, Roger from the 2004 Celebrator Beer News annual Swimsuit Issue.

Beer Birthday: John Martin

By

triple-rock-check drakes-new
Today is the 65th birthday of John Martin, one of the founders of Triple Rock Brewery & Alehouse in Berkeley. John, with his brother Reid, started one of the first five brewpubs in the U.S., and the only one that’s still owned by the same family that founded it. John also owns Drake’s Brewing and the Jupiter Taproom, too. He’s active in the local beer community and also with the CCBA, plus he’s a great guy with a very distinctive laugh. Join me in wishing John a very happy birthday.

me-and-john-martin
Me and John last year at Sour Sunday several years ago.
firkinfest08-05
Christian Kazakoff, former brewer at Triple Rock (now at Canyon Club) with John during the 2008 Firkin Fest.
P1030343
John, with his brother Reid, and Triple Rock brewmaster Rodger Davs at the brewpub’s 25th anniversary.
P1010474
John, me and Peter Hoey at the opening gala for SF Beer Week a few years ago.
Triple-Rock-Opening-Day-4
John in the brewhouse with his brother many years ago, on opening day.

Beer Birthday: Derek Smith

By

Today is the 50th birthday — The Big 5-O — of Derek Smith, who is the brewery operations manager at Migration Brewing in Portland, Oregon. The last time I saw Derek, he was the brewmaster at Moylan’s Brewing in Novato, California, though when I first met Derek he was brewing at Black Diamond Brewing. Join me in wishing Derek a very happy birthday.

Untitled
Derek at the bar at Moylan’s.
Derek-and-Pete
Derek, with Pete Slosberg and Barri Cooper-Altimari in 2017. [photo by Mike Condie.]
Untitled
Winning a medal at the 2015 Great American Beer Festival.
malheur-choc-10
Derek, at far right, after the Beef Chef’s Chocolate & Beer Dinner in 2009; with, from left: Arne Johnson (Marin Brewing), Fal Allen (Anderson Valley), Bruce Paton, Alec Moss (Half Moon Bay).

Beer Birthday: Jack McAuliffe

By

new-albion-banner
Today is the 80th birthday — The Big 8 – O — of Jack McAuliffe, the father of the modern microbrewery. Jack incorporated his New Albion Brewery in October of 1976, and began producing beer the following year from his tiny brewery in Sonoma, California. His 1-barrel system suggests he may also have been the first nanobrewery, as well. I finally got a chance to meet Jack when he was San Francisco for CBC several years ago, and was privileged to spend some time with him the week after CBC when Jack visited Russian River Brewery and then the next day he graciously showed us the original site of his New Albion Brewery. I’ve since been fortunate to spend time with Jack on several more occasions, and it’s always a treat. Join me in wishing Jack a very happy birthday.

P1010239
Me and Jack at Russian River Brewery a few years ago when they launched the new New Albion beer in bottles.
P1030638
Maureen Ogle, Jack and Julie Johnson, from All About Beer magazine, during the Craft Brewers Conference when it was in San Francisco.
P1030788
Vinnie Cilurzo, from Russian River Brewing, with Jack, showing us around the original site of the New Albion Brewery.
P1000136
Jack and Boston Beer’s Jim Koch at their annual media brunch during GABF a few years ago.
IMG_3765
Jack and Fritz Maytag at an awards luncheon where both of them were inducted as the first members of the California Beer Hall of Fame in Sacramento.
P1030766
Jack and me at Russian River Brewery.

Beer Birthday: Brian Hunt

By

moonlight
Today is iconoclastic brewer Brian Hunt’s 68th birthday. Brian owns and operates Moonlight Brewing in Sonoma County, California, which was almost a one-man show for most of its existence. If you’ve never had his “Death and Taxes,” “Twist of Fate Bitter,” “Bombay by Boat,” or his fresh hop ale, alternately called “Homegrown” or “Greenbud Ale,” then you’re really missing out on some of the most unique and wonderful beers around. Plus, Brian is one of the nicest curmudgeons you’ll ever meet, and one of my favorite people anywhere. Join me in wishing Brian a very happy birthday.

urthel-din-2
Hildegard van Ostaden, Urthel’s brewster, one of only a very few female brewers working in Belgium, and Brian.

hop-harvest06-03
Brian in his hopyard, with Russian River’s old assistant brewer Travis (who opened his own place, Societe Brewing), and Vinnie Cilurzo.

bistroipa06-03
Shaun O’Sullivan and Vinnie Cilurzo with Brian at the Bistro in Hayward, California.

Brian Hunt (Moonlight)
Brian at the Opening Gala for SF Beer Week a number of years back.

Beer Birthday: Tom Riley

By

Today is the 61st birthday of Tom Riley, who was the brewmaster at Anchor Brewing. Tom grew up in the Potrero Hill area of San Francisco, not to far from the brewery he began working at in 1983. He started on the packaging line, then moved on to being a tour guide and later became an assistant brewer. A couple of years ago he was named brewmaster, only the third one at Anchor since the 1970s (not including Fritz Maytag). I’ve run into Tom over the years at events at Anchor events, but got to know him much better last year working on a couple of pieces for Flagship February for which we spent considerable time talking on the phone, and he’s a terrific person. More recently, he’s retired and I’m not sure how he’s spending his time these days. Join me in wishing Tom a very happy birthday.

A recent publicity shot of Tom in the Anchor brewery.
Tom at the brewery quite a few years ago.

Beer Birthday: Michael Demers

By

discretion
Today is the 59th birthday of Michael Demers, brewmaster of Discretion Brewing in Soquel, which is near Santa Cruz. Michael’s been brewing most of his adult life, and originally started at some Colorado brewpubs before working at the Anheuser-Busch brewery in Fort Collins. More recently, he moved closer to home to brew at Boulder Creek Brewing, and in 2012 made it back to his home town of Soquel to help open Discretion. He’s making some great beers at Discretion, and winning awards for his efforts. Join me in wishing Michael a very happy birthday.

demers-cheers
Michael goofing around in the brewery.

Demers-MandEdressed
All dressed up with someplace to go, Michel and his wife Eileen on their way to sing at a concert performance at Mission Carmel a few years back.

demers-GABF-2014
Showing off his medal a few years ago at GABF in Denver.