Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Beer Birthday: Vic Kralj

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Today is the 66th birthday of Vic Kralj, who is the co-owner of The Bistro in Hayward, California. Celebrator publisher Tom Dalldorf used to own the Bistro, which was originally a wine bar that Tom re-invented for beer, and then Vic and Cynthia bought it from Tom (with one deadbeat in between) and set it on its present course. Vic added the IPA Festival, then championed Double IPA with a second festival, helping it get style recognition. The Double IPA Festival also became one of the anchors for SF Beer Week. He also used to do a Wood-Aged Beer Festival and something with fresh hops. Vic’s a great person who I’ve gotten to know pretty well, especially since he was on the Celebrator Tasting Panel from the early 2000s. Join me in wishing Vic a very happy birthday.

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Vic and me around 2006.

Vic, Tasty and Shaun O’Sullivan at GABF.

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Judy Ashworh, Dave Millar, Mitch Steele and Vic at the Bistro IPA Festival in 2007.

Rich Norgrove, from Bear Republic, and Vic Krajl, co-owner of the Bistro
Rich Norgrove, from Bear Republic, and Vic.
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Matt Sallie and Vic.
Vic and Dave Keene from the Toronado.

Beer Birthday: Peter Licht

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Today is the 59th birthday of Peter Licht, former brewmaster at Hermitage Brewing. Peter grew up in Rochester, New York but came to California to attend the master brewers program at U.C. Davis in 1994, and ended up staying in the Bay Area. When I first met him, he was brewing at Coast Range Brewing in the South Bay. When that brewery folded, he joined the San Jose Tied House, and moved with the equipment to when they closed to the brewpub to create the Hermitage Brewery at a new location and was there untuk they closed the brewery during Covid. Peter made some great contract beer for me at Coast Range (when I was at BevMo) and I was happy to see him land at Hermitage, where he had continued to brew a wide range of great beers. More recently, he’s working with the Independent Brewers Alliance, which a co-op for breweries to share buying power on supplies, resources and materials. Join me in wishing Peter a very happy birthday.

Me and Peter in Nashville when CBC was there the second time.
Hermitage assistant brewer, Steve Donohue (then at Santa Clara Valley Brewing), Peter and me during a visit to the Hermitage Brewery in San Jose a few years ago.
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Peter in front of Hermitage’s foeder.
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An artistic shot on Hermitage’s old brewhouse, which used to be at the San Jose Tied House. My favorite wedding photo is Sarah and me on this same brewhouse during our reception there over twenty-five years ago.

Beer Birthday: Dave Gull

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Today is the 51st birthday of Dave Gull, founder of New Helvetia Brewing in Sacramento, California. Dave was born and raised in Sacramento, and founded New Helvetia Brewing in 2011, which is also when we first met. Dave is a University of Oregon alum and worked in real estate before turning his attention to brewing, first as a homebrewer then as a brewery owner. Dave’s also been active in both his local brewer’s guild as well as the CCBA, the state guild. Join me in wishing Dave a very happy birthday.

Charlie Bamforth and Dave at New Helvetia Brewing in 2013.
Dave with another person born December 6th, Natalie Cilurzo (center).
At GABF in 2018, picking up a silver medal for their coffee beer.
Dave with Jamie Floyd at GABF.

NOTE: Photos 1 & 4 purloined from Facebook.

Beer Birthday: Natalie Cilurzo

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Today is the 57th birthday of Natalie Cilurzo, co-founder of Russian River Brewing, and the woman who makes everything run smoothly at both the brewpub and the new production brewery. You’d be hard-pressed to find a nicer person in the beer world, and though she spent many years working with wine, the brewing industry is all the richer now that she’s left that all behind her. Join me in wishing Natalie a very happy birthday.

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Natalie after giving a toast for Zwanze Day in 2018.
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Natalie and Vinnie at the new production brewery shortly before in opened in 2018.
Best man Vinnie Cilurzo, Dave Keene, Jennifer Smith and maid of honor Natalie at Dan & Jen’s wedding during GABF 2010.
Jen Garris, from Pi Bar, Dave Keene’s wife Jen Smith, and Natalie at the Toronado 25th Anniversary Blending Dinner.
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Natalie with Vinnie at his 40th birthday party a few years ago.
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Four out of Five, the Cilurzos and a Stan. From Left: Natalie, Stan Hieronymus, Vinnie’s mother and father, and Vinnie Cilurzo at the World Beer Cup gala dinner in 2008.
Me, Natalie Cilurzo and Sean Paxton (and his daughter Olivia)
Me, Natalie and Sean Paxton (and his daughter Olivia) at the Pliny the Younger release in 2011. (photo by Mario Rubio.)
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Natalie several years ago for the 8th annual All Hopped Up for the Cure.


Beer Birthday: Andy Klein

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Today is the 56th birthday of Andy Klein, founder and brewmaster at Monk’s Cellar Brewery & Public House, located in Roseville, Cal. Andy first brewed at Sacramento Brewing in the mid-90s, then was at Beermann’s Beerworks before working as a brewery consultant for over a decade, before opening his own place six years ago, in 2013. I met Andy a few years ago and quickly realized we’re kindred spirits and I’ve enjoyed both getting to know him better whenever we run into one another and drinking his beer. Sean Paxton and I first went to his brewpub at least a year before we met, and it’s a favorite place of my son because it’s very near to the train yards in the area. Join me in wishing Andy a very happy birthday.

Andy and me at the brewery earlier this summer.
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Dressed appropriate as a monk one Halloween.
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Sacramento Brewing alums Andy, Peter York, and Peter Hoey.
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The Monk’s Cellar crew with Big Mike Moore and Tom McCormick at the Celebrator Anniversary Party in 2017.

Note: Last three photos purloined from Facebook.

Beer Birthday: Peter Hoey

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Today is the 46th birthday of Peter Hoey, who used to be the brewmaster at Sacramento Brewing, then left to launch a new brewery, Odonata Beer Co., with Rick Sellers, which sadly ran into some hurdles that had nothing to do with how good the beer was that Peter was making. He’s also brewed at Sierra Nevada and Bison Brewing, too. Then Peter was working at Brewers Supply Group, having taken over Mark Worona’s old job (since he’d been promoted). More recently, he left BSG to start his own brewery in downtown Sacramento, Urban Roots Brewing, where he’s making some absolutely stellar beers. Peter partnered in the venture with Rob Archie, who also owns the Pangaea Bier Cafe. Peter’s a great brewer and has become a good friend over the years. Join me in wishing Peter a very happy birthday.

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Peter and me at Urban Roots during the California Beer Summit.
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Me and Peter at 21st Amendment.
John Martin, me, and Peter at one of the SF Beer Week opening galas.
At an event at the Bistro in Hayward.
Rick Sellers & Peter Hoey of California's Newest Brewery, Odonata Brewing
Former Odonata partner Rick Sellers with Peter at GABF in 2010.
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Peter at the GABF Brewers Reception in 2007, along with Rich Norgrove from Bear Republic and Arne Johnson of Marin Brewing.
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Peter, looking about twelve, and Steve Altimari, from High Water Brewing, at the first Raley Field Beer Festival in 2007.
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With a group of people a couple of years ago at Pangaea Bier Cafe during judging for the California State Fair.

Beer Birthday: Ken Grossman

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Today is the 71st birthday of Ken Grossman, who founded Sierra Nevada Brewing in 1980. It would be hard to say too much about just how much Ken has done and continues to do for the craft beer industry, while at the same time being wildly successful. Join me in wishing Ken a very happy birthday.

At the Craft Brewers Conference in 2007, John Harris, from Full Sail, Ken’s daughter Sierra, Ken, and Garret Oliver, from Brooklyn Brewery.
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Ken with two of his children, Brian and Sierra, both of whom work for the company. I took this in 2007 for an article I did for American Brewer on passing breweries from one generation to the next.
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“Inside the Brewers Studio” at the 2006 GABF with Jim Koch of Boston Beer Co., Ken, Charlie Papazian, founder of what is now the Brewers Association, and moderator Tom Dalldorf of the Celebrator.
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Ken and Sam Calagione at the Life & Limb beer dinner in 2009.

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Ken and Jeremy Cowan, from Shmaltz Brewing, at GABF several years ago.
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Ken and Pete Slosberg, signing books at GABF a few years ago.

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.