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: 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: 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.]

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 Birthday: Justin Crossley

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Today is the 48th birthday of Justin Crossley, the man behind the mic at The Brewing Network, one of the industry’s best voices. He’s an avid homebrewer and talker, a deadly combination, especially on radio. He also filmed Porter’s Porter Day a couple of years ago and it will fun to see the result of that project. Of course, he’s also opened the Hop Grenade, the next piece of the growing Brewing Network empire. He recently took a working camper van trip around the country, which lasted a year. Join me in wishing Justin a very happy birthday.

Justin and me showing off our injured fingers at the last Marin Breastfest held at Marin Brewing.
Justin all thumbs at Stone Brewing during the CBC Reception in 2008.
With Michael Ferguson, from BJ’s, at Oakland’s Linden Street Brewery during the AHA convention a couple of years ago.
Okay, what’s with the thumbs? About to do a broadcast from GABF in 2007.

Beer Birthday: Don Barkley

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Today is the birthday of legendary brewer Don Barkley. Barkley’s first brewing job was as assistant brewer at New Albion Brewing in Sonoma, California, America’s first modern microbrewery back in the late 1970s. He went on to help found Mendocino Brewing, and created most of their iconic brands, like Red Tail Ale and Eye of the Hawk. In 2008, Don became the brewmaster for Napa Smith Brewery in — you guessed it — Napa, and he was been making great beer there, too, although more recently he’s retired from brewing. Although he’s been dragged back a little, by the gentleman who bought the Mendocino Brewing labels out of bankruptcy, who last I heard had tapped Don to re-brew Red Tail Ale, but I’m not sure if that’s still going on. I also think he may be doing some brewing in, of all places, Florida, at Alcatraz Brewing. Anyway, join me in wishing Don a very happy birthday.

Don at the SF Beer Week Opening Gala in 2010.
Mark Carpenter, from Anchor Brewing, and Don at the SF Beer Week Opening Gala in 2011.
Don, me and Ed Davis each with a 1979 bottle of New Albion beer, that Ed was kind enough to donate, when we did a vintage tasting of beer that Don helped brew over thirty years ago.
Albion Don at the Toronado during the launch of the first SF Beer Week in 2009.
Me and Don at the Breastfest at Fort Mason a few years ago (photo by Mario Rubio).

Beer Birthday: Steve McDaniel

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Today is the 57th birthday of Steve McDaniel, a former brewer with 21st Amendment. These days McDaniels is hard at work building what might have become the Oakland Brewing Co. on 22nd Avenue in Oakland, and brewing their beer at other locations until it’s finished, at least he was the last time I talked to him. Admittedly, it’s been a little while so hopefully it’s still in the works. He’s also brewing beer for his other venture, Independent Brewing. Join me in wishing Steve a very happy birthday.

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Steve with OBC partner Bruce Paton and Arne Johnson, brewmaster at Marin Brewing.
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Steve with Drake’s brewer Josh Miner.
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Steve and his lovely wife Justine.
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Claudia Davis, Steve, Justine Nguyen, Gabrielle Chan, Adrienne McMullen, Shaun O’Sullivan and Roger Davis.