Beer Birthday: Carlos Sanchez

September 22, 2025 By Jay Brooks

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.

carlos-6-rivers — Carlos between Six Rivers’ owners Meredith Maier Ripley and Talia Nachshon at their 11th anniversary party several years ago.

Beer Birthday: Dave McLean

September 22, 2025 By Jay Brooks

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.

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

September 21, 2025 By Jay Brooks

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.

P1130876 — John with Kushal Hall during a visit to Speakeasy in 2009.

gillooly-clifford — Tim Clifford, from Sante Adairius, with John, in 2015.

gillooly-shrango-gingold — At Beachwood BBQ & Brewing in 2014, John, Julian Shrango and photographer Nick Gingold.

gillooly-tasty-henhouse — Tasty, John and Collin McDonnell at Drake’s Session Fest.

[NOTE: Last three photos purloined from Facebook.]

Beer Birthday: Justin Crossley

September 19, 2025 By Jay Brooks

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

September 18, 2025 By Jay Brooks

napa-smith

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

September 14, 2025 By Jay Brooks

independent
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.

Steve McDaniels, Bruce Paton and Arne Johnson — Steve with OBC partner Bruce Paton and Arne Johnson, brewmaster at Marin Brewing.

mcdaniel-and-josh — Steve with Drake’s brewer Josh Miner.

mcdaniel-2 — Steve and his lovely wife Justine.

mcdaniel-1 — Claudia Davis, Steve, Justine Nguyen, Gabrielle Chan, Adrienne McMullen, Shaun O’Sullivan and Roger Davis.

Beer Birthday: Dan Gordon

September 13, 2025 By Jay Brooks

Today is the 65th birthday of Dan Gordon, co-founder of Gordon Biersch Brewing, which began in San Jose, California. Dan studied brewing in Germany and was the first American to graduate from Wissenschaftszentrum Weihenstephan with a brewing degree. His brewpub chain was one of the first to really focus on lagers, and especially German-style beers. Dan has gotten to be a good friend over the years and he’s also a terrific jazz trombonist! Join me in wishing Dan a very happy birthday.

During a visit to the brewery a few years ago.

gb-dunkle-dan — At the Celebrator tasting us his newest beer, an unfiltered Dunkelweizen.

dan-gordon — Dan at yet another private Dunelweizen tasting.

gordon-biersch-early — I love this early promotional shot they use on Gordon Biersch’s website.

Untitled — Dan Talking to my SSU class a few years back.

Beer Birthday: Terence Sullivan

September 8, 2025 By Jay Brooks

Today is the 58th birthday of Terence Sullivan, the former Field Educator and assistant brewmaster at Sierra Nevada Brewing, though he recently had a new title bestowed on him: Product Manager. He’s been with the brewery nearly forever, and in recent years has become one of their ambassadors, traveling the country representing the brewery at numerous events, as well as coordinating Beer Camp. He’s also a terrific person and a great guy to have a pint (or six) with. Join me in wishing Terence a very happy birthday.

Terence and me at a Sierra Nevada beer dinner a few years ago.

Brian Grossman, Tom Peters and Terence Sullivan outside Monk's — Brian Grossman, Tom Peters and Terence outside Monk’s Cafe during Philly Beer Week 2010.

P1020147 — Giving a tour of the brewery during our SF Beer Week beer camp in December 2010.

Pi Bar's Rich Rosen with Sierra Nevada Brewery's Terence Sullivan at Sierra Night — Pi Bar’s Rich Rosen with Terence Sullivan at Sierra Night at Pi Bar during SF Beer Week 2011 (photo purloined from Beer by BART’s Steve & Gail, from their Flickr Photostream).

terence-and-me-2014 — Me and Terence on stage at the Chico Beer Camps Across American festival several years ago, raising a toast to Fraggle.

Terence, W. Dan Houck, Dave Suurballe and me at the Boonville Beer Festival in 2013.

Me, Terence and Julian Shrago at Trumer in 2018.

Beer Birthday: Kei Weaver

September 4, 2025 By Jay Brooks

hat-c
Today is the birthday of fellow Bay Area beer writer Kei Weaver, who’s a neighbor in the next town over. If I’ve done my math correctly, today is his 44th birthday. Kei used to work for Rate Beer, and was also on the staff of All About Beer magazine until they folded. He also wrote The Northern California Craft Beer Guide, with photographs by his lovely wife Anneliese Schmidt. Believe it or not, Kei has a degree in physics from Cornell but chucked it all to follow his heart and preference for writing and good beer. Physics’ loss is beer’s gain, although he’s mostly out of the beer world at this point, concentrating instead on his fine art. Join me in wishing Kei a very happy birthday.

P1010448 — At Fred Abercrombie’s Craft Beerd’s book launch party at Taps. Left to right; Fred Abercrombie, Kei Weaver, Anneliese Schmidt, Joe and Ron Lindenbusch, from Lagunitas.

weaver-paxton — Kei and Sean Paxton at the Boonville Beer Festival in 2010 (purloined from Facebook).

weaver-nagbw — At a North American Guild of Beer Writers meet-up at Breckenridge Brewing during GABF 2012, with Kei and me, dead center.

DSCN0320 — At Lagunitas for Tom Acitelli’s book release party a few years ago, with Joe Tucker, Jeremy Marshall, me, Tom and Kei.

fwibf-1 — My favorite photo of Kei, at the Firestone Walker Invitational a few years ago.

Beer Birthday: Dow Tunis

August 24, 2025 By Jay Brooks

Today is the 63rd birthday of Dow Tunis. I can’t remember when I first met Dow, but it was a while ago. He’s been in the beer world almost as long as me. He’s currently the Bay Area Manager for New Glory Brewing of Sacramento, but he’s worn a lot of hats over the years. For example, he used to be the Director of Bus Development for Fieldwork Brewing, National Sales Manager for Bear Republic, CEO of Half Moon Bay Brewing, Vice-President for Business Development at Drake’s Brewing, the GM of the Bear’s Lair Pub, and the GM of the legendary 20 Tank Brewery in San Francisco. So he’s seen it all, and has managed to keep his sense of humor. He’s a great guy to share a pint with. Join me wishing Dow a very happy birthday.