Beer Birthday: Brian Hunt

May 2, 2026 By Jay Brooks 14 Comments

Today is iconoclastic brewer Brian Hunt’s 69th 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.

At the Rate Beer Fest in Santa Rosa a few years ago.

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

April 29, 2026 By Jay Brooks Leave a Comment

Today is the 62nd birthday of Tom Riley, who was the last brewmaster at Anchor Brewing before it was sold and closed (though there are signs of re-opening). 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

April 28, 2026 By Jay Brooks 3 Comments

Today is the 60th birthday — The Big 6-O — 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.

Me with Michael during a visit to the brewery in May of 2025.

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.

Beer Birthday: Christian Kazakoff

April 23, 2026 By Jay Brooks

Today is Christian Kazakoff’s 55th birthday. Until a few years ago, and for a long while, Christian was the head brewer at Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax, California, and before that brewed at Triple Rock. He’s more recently helped open the Canyon Club Brewery in Moraga. I first got to know Christian when we shared a room for a week in London several years ago to attend the Old Ale Festival at the White Horse on Parson’s Green. Besides being a terrific person, he is also a stellar brewer. Join me in wishing Christian a very happy birthday.

During the photo shoot at Canyon Club for a newspaper article a couple of years ago.

Christian at Fuller’s in London, along with Shaun O’Sullivan from 21st Amendment Brewery and our tour guide Derek Prentice, during a trip to London a few years back.

Mild-mannered Christian Kazakoff becoming Super Brewer — Flying the flag in 2010 at the Celebrator Party at the end of the 2nd SF Beer Week.

P1030373 — In March, at the Fairfax Beerfest several years ago.

Beer In Ads #5196: Bock Beer & Baseball, Both Here — That’s All!

March 31, 2026 By Jay Brooks

Two years ago 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. With Spring approaching, there are so many great examples that I’m going to post two a day for a few months.

Tuesday’s first ad is for Tacoma Bock Beer, which was published on March 31, 1917. This one was for the Pacific Brewing & Malting Co., which was founded in 1897 in Tacoma, Washington. They also had a location in San Jose, California that was founded as the Krahenburg & Co., or Fredricksburg Brewery, in 1872, but apparently was bought by the Tacoma brewery who called by their own name from 1933-1951. But the ad below lists San Francisco, California, not just in the ad but San Francisco is printed on the bottle depicted in the ad, as well, so perhaps they had a facility in the city there. This ad has one of my favorite text blurbs from any ad: “Buck up, man! ‘Now is the Winter of our discontent made glorious’ by Spring’s greatest teams — Bock Beer and Baseball.” This ad ran in The Bulletin , also of San Francisco, California.

Historic Beer Birthday: Bill Brand

March 26, 2026 By Jay Brooks

Today would have been Bill Brand’s 88th birthday, if not for the tragic events of February 8, 2009. Bill, of course, was hit by a Muni Train that evening and passed away twelve days later, on February 20. He was a bastion of support for the local beer community for decades, and one of its most visible media faces. He did a staggering amount of good to help brewers throughout the Bay Area, and wrote about the beer he loved so much with an unmatched passion and zeal. His Bottoms Up blog was read by millions, the newest form of his What’s On Tap newsletter that stretched back into the early 1990s. It was my great honor to take over his column and try to continue his legacy of support for craft brewers in the Bay Area and beyond. Drink a toast to the memory and legacy of William “Bill” Brand today. Happy birthday Bill, you are most certainly missed.

At the Falling Rock during GABF week in 2004. Clockwise from left, Bill, Lisa Morrison, me, Tom Dalldorf, Stephen Beaumont and my cousin Mike, who lived in Denver at the time.

Bill at the Bistro Double IPA Festival in 2008 with Kenny Gross and Judy Ashworth.

Bill toasting with a pitcher of Oakland’s new Linden Street Brewery, with Fraggle at the far right, whose birthday would also have been today. Photo by RRifkin.

Dueling laptops; Bill and me at Magnolia on February 6 for the tapping of Napa Smith Original Albion Ale by Don Barkley. Photo courtesy of Shaun O’Sullivan.

Bill taking notes at the Monk’s Blood Dinner at 21st Amendment, February 8, 2009. Photo by Jesse Friedman of Beer & Nosh.

Drink a toast to Bill today, it’s how he would have wanted to be remembered.

Beer In Ads #5183: Mt. Whitney Bock Beer Is The Tops …

March 24, 2026 By Jay Brooks

Tuesday’s second ad is for Mt. Whitney Bock Beer, which was published on March 24, 1936. This one is for the Fresno Brewing Co., of Fresno, California, which was originally founded in 1900 by Ernst Eiler and his son. This ad ran in The Fresno Bee, also of Fresno, California.

Beer Birthday: Jason Chavez

March 18, 2026 By Jay Brooks

Today is the 58th birthday of Jason Chavez, who was the brewmaster at Seabright Brewery in Santa Cruz for a number of years. Chavez started homebrewing while still in high school on his family’s kitchen stove. He’s a graduate of the American Brewers Guild, and had been brewing at Seabright since 1999. I believe I first met Jason many years ago at the Rock Bottom in Denver during a GABF week, but I still run into him occasionally at events. Seabright celebrated their 25th anniversary several years ago, when I spent the day at the brewery to do a story on their silver anniversary. But three years ago, he made a big change, moving closer to home to take over the Kelsey Creek Brewing Co. in Kelseyville. Join me in wishing Jason a very happy birthday.

Me and Jason at his Kelseyville Brewery in early 2020.

Jason with Dave Heist, from HopTown Brewing, and Gene and Cindy Acevedo, from El Toro Brewing, during the Brewer’s Reception at GABF in 2002.

Jason at the helm of the brewery when I visited him in early 2013 to wrote about Seabright’s 25th anniversary.

Here’s a great shot by Dan Coyro, from an article in the Santa Cruz Sentinnel

Jason, in the center, surrounded by Seabright folks at the 10th annual Stumptown Russian River Revival and BBQ Cook-Off.

Jason, in the brewery. (Note: last two photos purloined from Seabright’s website).

Beer Birthday: Joe Tucker

March 13, 2026 By Jay Brooks

rate-beer
Today is the 58th birthday of Joe Tucker, the Executive Director at Rate Beer. He used to run the website from his Vineyard bunker in Sonoma, California, although a couple of years ago he relocated to the Rose city of Portland. Because I’m in the Bay Area, I used to run into Joe from time to time, and usually at the annual hop picking day at Moonlight Brewing, though we flew to San Diego together a few Decembers ago to visit Stone Brewing, too. More recently, he asked me to be the Emcee for the Rate Beer Best awards held in late January in Santa Rosa, which was great fun. Unfortunately, ABI, who bought the platform a few years ago, recently announced they were shutting it down. Join me in wishing Joe a very happy birthday.

Vinnie Cilurzo, me and Joe at the Pliny the Elder release several years ago at Russian River Brewing.

Rate Beer's Hop Press staff — Joe with some of the Hop Press staff — Ken, Ashley, Mario and Mark — at Triple Rock’s Sour Fest 2010.

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

P1000220 — The day after we tried all of Stone’s Vertical Epic’s in San Diego; with Steve Wagner, me, Joe, Jason and Todd Alstrom and Greg Koch.

joe-and-me-2017 — Joe and me at the RateBeer Best festival in Santa Rosa a few years ago.

Beer Birthday: Sayre Piotrkowski

February 21, 2026 By Jay Brooks

Today is the 45th birthday of Sayre Piotrkowski (February 21, 1981- ). Sayre’s from Oakland and has been part of the Bay Area beer scene since at least 2012, and has been an Advanced Cicerone since 2024. He’s been involved in several beer bars and restaurants, and also HenHouse Brewing. He also put on the Freshtival, a beer festival of fresh beer. He also was doing beer consulting on Beer & Soul. More recently, he’s taken over as the Executive Director at the Bay Area Brewers Guild and is putting on this year’s San Francisco Beer Week, which began yesterday. I’ve known Sayre since his days at the Hog’s Apothecary in Oakland, and he’s a great advocate for better beer. I expect him to do great things with the guild and beer week. Join me in wishing Sayre a very happy birthday.