Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Beer Birthday: Rodger Davis

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Today is Rodger Davis’ 56th birthday. He’s the former head brewer at Triple Rock in Berkeley, California, among much else, and several years ago opened his own brewery in Alameda, Faction Brewing, along with his wife Claudia Pamparana. Rodger is a terrific brewer and has been very active in the local beer community and it’s great to see him at the helm of his own place. He’s one of those people always giving the craft beer world a good name, helping colleagues, organizing festivals and being a good friend to all. If only he could keep his tongue in his mouth. Join me in wishing Rodger a very happy birthday.

Rodger at a Berkeley Museum event a few years ago, in 2009, pouring Triple Rock beer.
Rodger with his wife Claudia at a Beer Chef beer dinner for Allagash in 2009.
Rodger at the 2009 Triple Rock Firkin Fest.
Rodger and Claudia shortly after Faction Brewery opened, with Rodger doing his best not to make a goofy face. (You should see the outtakes!)
That’s more like it….
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Rodger & me at his surprise birthday party at The Trappist several years ago for his 40th. (photo by Mike Condie.)

Beer Birthday: Fal Allen

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Today might be the birthday of Fal Allen. I say might, because he keeps telling me that he’s not exactly sure when his birthday is — apparently the result of having hippie parents — and he had kept changing it on his Facebook page, though now he’s removed it entirely. Fal returned to his goats and to Anderson Valley Brewing several years ago, having lived in Singapore for four years, where he built and ran a craft brewery for Archipelago Brewery, a division of Asia Pacific Breweries. He blogged about his exploits there on his Brewing in Singapore blog, but since returning stateside, he’s been blogging at The Goat Rodeo, and we were certainly happy to have him back stateside. But more recently, he’s moved back to his native Hawai’i and is brewing on Kauai at Napali Brewing Co. Join me today, tomorrow or perhaps the next day in wishing the ageless Fal a very happy birthday.

Fal and me in Chico a couple of years ago.
At the Oregon Brewers Festival in 2006.
Fal showing oiff a new Anderson Valley beer, Kan Kicky Wheat, in 2015.
Also at OBF, with Daniel Bradford, then of All About Beer Magazine, and Dave Buehler from Elysian Brewing in Seattle.
With a bevy of brewers touring Stone Brewing during CBC in 2008, that’s Fal at the far right.
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While still GM at Anderson Valley, launching Brother David at the Toronado in San Francisco. Clockwise from left: Fal, Mark Cabrera, David Gatlin, me and Dave Keene, the beer’s namesake and Toronado owner.
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Fal during a recent hop harvest. No wonder that batch of Anderson Valley tasted so “fal-ish.”

Beer Birthday: Michael Lewis

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Today is 88th birthday of Dr. Michael Lewis, who ran the brewing sciences department at U.C. Davis beginning in 1962, and became the Professor Emeritus in 1995, when Charlie Bamforth succeeded him, although Dr. Lewis remains active in teaching and in brewing. He was my instructor, along with Charlie, when I took the brewing short course at Davis over a decade. He’s taught countless working brewers over the years and has greatly influenced the industry as a whole. Join me in wishing Dr. Lewis a very happy birthday.

Michael receiving an award for a lifetime of achievement at the 2008 CBC in San Diego.
Michael at the podium receiving his recognition award from the Brewers Association in 2008.
Michael J. Lewis, front row, right, and his brewing lab class in Sonoma, in the mid-1970s, with Jack McAuliffe, left, at his New Albion Brewing Co., the first microbrewery in the United States. Photo taken by UC Davis student Doug Muhleman, who would earn a bachelor’s degree in 1977 and a master’s in 1979 and go on to become vice president of brewing operations and technology for Anheuser-Busch.
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Michael with Ruhstaller founder J.D. Paino at Sudwerk (photo from the Davis Enterprise).
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Michael (at far left) with the gang at Sudwerk Privatbrauerei in Davis (photo from the Davis Enterprise).

Beer Birthday: Jeremy Warren

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Today is the 49th birthday of brewer Jeremy Warren. Jeremy first made a name for himself with Knee Deep Brewing, but a couple of years ago left to open his own place, Revision Brewing. Jeremy created some great beers with Knee Deep and he’s doing more of the same with his new brewery. It was initially going to be in West Sacramento, but instead Revision ended up being located in Sparks, Nevada. Join me wishing Jeremy a very happy birthday.

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Jeremy and me at the Bistro IPA Festival in 2017.

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Jeremy from an article in Sacramento Magazine.
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Jeremy with Dean Hanson at Final Gravity in Auburn. [Note: photo purloined from Facebook.]

Beer Birthday: Barkley The Beer

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Today is the 38th birthday of Barkley D. Beer, the mascot of the Anderson Valley Brewing Co. in Boonville, California. Be sure to toast Barkley with a bottle or can or draft of your favorite Anderson Valley beer today. And join me in wishing Barkley a very happy birthday.

Alice and Porter posing with Barkley at the Boonville Beer Festival a number of years ago.

And here’s why, according to Anderson Valley’s website, Barkley is a “beer” and not a “bear:”

It’s not a bear. Bears don’t have antlers. Of course not. Whoever heard of such a thing?

It is, however, a BEER. The Legendary Boonville Beer to be exact. Barkley, by name, who could be considered a cross between a bear and a deer (thus a beer). Barkley and his brethren are often seen about Anderson Valley by lovers of truly fine beers (especially if they’ve had a few).

So now you know. Never again will you be tormented by friends and relations who know the secret of the Beer and won’t give. Now you can go out and torture your friends and relations.

Though he used to have a collar, as seen in this 2008 photo of Barkley.
And not everyone treats him with reverence.
A trio at the 2010 Boonville Beer Festival.
Barkley in front of the gift shop/tasting room.

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.