Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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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.

Beer Birthday: Dan Gordon

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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.
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At the Celebrator tasting us his newest beer, an unfiltered Dunkelweizen.
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Dan at yet another private Dunelweizen tasting.
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I love this early promotional shot they use on Gordon Biersch’s website.
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Dan Talking to my SSU class a few years back.

Beer Birthday: Terence Sullivan

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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.

Me and Terence at GABF in 2024.
Terence and me at a Sierra Nevada beer dinner a few years ago.
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Brian Grossman, Tom Peters and Terence outside Monk’s Cafe during Philly Beer Week 2010.
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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).
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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

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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.

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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.
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Kei and Sean Paxton at the Boonville Beer Festival in 2010 (purloined from Facebook).
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At a North American Guild of Beer Writers meet-up at Breckenridge Brewing during GABF 2012, with Kei and me, dead center.
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At Lagunitas for Tom Acitelli’s book release party a few years ago, with Joe Tucker, Jeremy Marshall, me, Tom and Kei.
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My favorite photo of Kei, at the Firestone Walker Invitational a few years ago.

Beer Birthday: Dow Tunis

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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.

Dow with Homer at the Oak Barrel.
Sandwiched between Vic from The Bistro and John Martin, from Drake’s and Triple Rock.
Again with John Martin, but a few years earlier, just a few.

Beer Birthday: Mario Celotto

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Today is the 69th birthday of Mario Celotto, who founded Humboldt Brewing Co., along with his brother Vince, after his career as a professional football player with four teams, including the Oakland Raiders the season they won the super bowl in 1981. While I normally communicated with Vince, who was at the brewery day-to-day, I met Mario on a couple of occasions, including a memorable lunch in Oakland in the late 1990s. He always seemed like a great guy to me, and he did hire Steve Parkes, who created their wonderful Red Nectar Ale, one of best amber ales I’ve ever tasted. Anyway, join me in wishing Mario a very happy birthday.

This is the biography listed on the brewery’s website back in the 1990s:

Mario is the company’s founder and serves as its President. Prior to founding the company, he played professional football and was a member of the 1980 Oakland Raider Super Bowl championship team. Mario studied public relations at the University of Southern California, where he also played on the USC National Championship football sqad. After college he worked in mortgage banking and public relations. In 1987, Mario opened the Humboldt Brewing Company brew pub and restaurant.

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This is the description of Red Nectar from Humboldt Brewing’s website in 1999:

Red Nectar is an American Ale with a deep reddish copper color and sweet malty notes from English crystal malt. The crystal malt comprises nearly 15% of the grist and gives our Red a toasted caramel flavor and a residual sweetness and malty aroma which melds with the strawberry esters of our own strain of ale yeast. We use two-row Harrington-Klages pale malt, a superior blend of ale malt, and in all our beers we add a small proportion of Pacific Northwest Malted white wheat. This aids in head retention and lacing in the glass. Red Nectar is brewed with Chinook hops for bittering, Willamette in the middle for a rounded hop flavor and Mt. Hood and Cascade in the finish for a delicate floral/spicy aroma and flavor.

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Mario, when he was a linebacker for USC.
Mario more recently at a Raiders charity bowling event in Las Vegas.

Beer Birthday: Claudia Pamparana

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Today is the 51st birthday of Claudia Pamparana, arguably the unsung hero of Faction Brewing in Alameda, California. I first met Claudia when she worked at 21st Amendment, and I clearly remember when she started dating Rodger Davis, who’s now her business partner at Faction and husband. I especially recall Rodger being very … well, Rodger, at the Falling Rock during GABF and drunk-dialing Claudia to tell her he loved her. Happily, for him, she reciprocated, and they were married in 2006. As great a brewer that Rodger is, if it weren’t for Claudia’s calm and hard work, who knows where Faction would be today. Join me in wishing Claudia a very happy birthday.

Visiting Faction in 2017.
 Claudia with Rodger and me at the California Beer Summit in 2018.
On stage with Rodger picking up a medal for The Penske File st GABF.
Rodger and Claudia at an event in Santa Rosa