Today is the 59th birthday of Thomas Kerns, who is the owner and brewmaster of the Big Island Brewhaus in Kamuela, Hawaii. He’s originally from Oregon, and started brewing commercially for a McMenamins Pub brewery. When I met him he was the head brewer for Maui Brewery, and he was there for over ten years before striking out on his own, which opened in 2008. I first got to know Thomas a bunch of years ago when we roomed together for GABF judging. Join me wishing Thomas a very happy birthday.
Today is the birthday of Alfred Haunold (October 7, 1929- ). He was born in Hollabrunn, Austria and emigrated to the U.S. in the mid-1950s, eventually settling in Oregon. He worked as hop breeder for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and was in charge of a hop-breeding program in Corvallis, Oregon that was a partnership between Oregon State University and the USDA for over thirty years before he retired. He was responsible for Cascade, Willamette, Sterling, Liberty, and Mt. Hood, among at least eighteen additional hop varieties, not to mention his many other contributions to hop sciences.
Gary Gilman has the best summary of Dr. Haunold’s life and work with hops in an article on his Beer et seq. blog entitled Dr. Al Haunold — Craft Beer Pioneer.
He arrived from the East Coast to work on the problem of downy mildew in the Cluster hop, then a workhorse of U.S. brewing, as was the Oregon Fuggle, both primarily used for bittering beer. Aroma in beer, at the time, was the preserve of fine imported varieties, at least for premium beers. Hops such as the German Hallertau and Tettnang, Czech Saaz, and various English hops.
Haunold was an Austrian immigrant who had grown up on a farm about 60 miles from Vienna. He joined the USDA after doctoral studies in Nebraska, adding to his extensive Austrian qualifications.
Oregon State also recorded some interviews with him as a part of their Oral History Online program. Check out Al Haunold Oral History Interview #1, from November 18, 2014 and Al Haunold Oral History Interview #2, from August 1, 2017. He also sat down for two audio recordings in 1982, which you can find at the Oregon Hops & Brewing Archives. These resources are great if you want to hear firsthand accounts of the history of craft beer and the hops that made so many modern beers possible. ANd here’s a list of some of his research.
During his career, he was a Member American Society Brewing Chemists (member editorial board 1987-1995, chairman publication committee 1989-1993, board directors 1989-1993), Crop Science Society of America, and the Hop Research Council.
Today is the 65th birthday of Alan Sprints. Alan was the founder of Hair of the Dog Brewery in Portland, Oregon. Alan made some of the most unique and wonderful beers, not just in Portland, but anywhere, all the more impressive because he brewed out of an old Campbell’s soup kettle. A few years ago he relocated the brewery, now with a tasting room, to a new location on S.E. Yamhill in Portland. And a couple of years back, he came over to our home and brewed a version of his wonderful Doggie Claws with my son Porter on his brew sculpture. Alan is simply one of the best brewers anywhere and one of my favorite people in the industry. Sadly, he just closed down his brewery although he will continue to do some limited releases, at least for the foreseeable future. Join me in wishing Alan a very happy birthday.
Alan pouring his beer at the Sasquatch Pro-Am Golf Tournament in 2006.
Alan standing in front of some of his aging beers, in 2007.
Alan, with Portland beer writer Fred Eckhardt, at his annual open house during OBF in 2008.
Alan with his two Washington Cask Festival ribbons at Brouwer’s in Seattle a couple of years ago for the Keene Tasting.
Sean Paxton, the homebrew chef, my son Porter, and Alan, when he brewed a version of Doggie Claws with Porter at my house three years ago.
Toasting Fred Eckhardt last year, Alan with the other founders of FredFest.
Today is the 43rd birthday of Ben Edmunds. Ben is the co-founder and head brewer at Breakside Brewery in Portland, Oregon. Originally from Michigan, he attended Siebel Institute after college and settled in Portland. In 2010, Scott Lawrence opened Breakside with Ben doing the brewing. I don’t remember exactly when I met Ben but I’m pretty sure it was shortly after they opened, and I’ve been seeing him around ever since at various beer events. Ben’s a great advocate for craft beer and fun to hang out with, too. Join me in wishing Ben a very happy birthday.
Today is Fred Bowman’s 79th birthday. Fred co-founded the Portland Brewing Co., which was bought several years ago by Pyramid Breweries, which in turn was bought by Magic Hat and then again by North American Breweries. Fred continues to be very active in the craft beer community, and has been supportive of the movement since the beginning. A couple of years ago, he dropped by and stayed with us during his drive ’round the country in a van, visiting old friends and family. Join me in wishing Fred a happy birthday.
By the Celebrator booth at OBF, from left, John Harris (former head brewer at Full Sail Brewing), Tom Dalldorf, and Fred.
Dick Cantwell, co-owner of Elysian Brewing Co. in Seattle, with Fred at an after party at the Falling Rock during GABF.
With Lisa Morrison a couple of years ago in Portland for FredFest.
Frank Commanday, Art Larrance, Fred, and Bert Grant after brewing Portland Brewing’s 1st batch in January 1986.
Fred at the brewery during a party in 1986.
Today is Matt Van Wyk’s 52nd birthday. Matt was the brewmaster at Flossmoor Station when I first met him but a number of years ago moved to Eugene, Oregon, where for a long while he brewed at Oakshire Brewing. He also used to co-write one of the best brewer’s blogs, the Flossmoor Station Blog and again for Oakshire. A few years ago, he left Oakshire to start his own brewery, Alesong Brewing & Blending, which is doing great things. Join me in wishing Matt a very happy birthday.
On the floor at GABF in 2007 with Andrew Mason (on left), Matt’s assistant at Flossmoor Station, and Wil Turner (on right) from Goose Island.
Jamie Floyd, from Ninkasi Brewing, with Matt at GABF in 2009.
A self-portrait with Matt, from Oakshire Brewing, Jonathan Surrat, and me at the Goose Island cask event during CBC in Chicago.
Matt at the Boonville Beer Festival a few years ago.
Matt and me, several years ago during a trip to Eugene at the Oakshire tasting room in Eugene.
Today is John Harris’ 61st birthday. Until a few years ago — and for a long time — John was the head brewer at Full Sail Brewing and was responsible for many of their excellent beers. He’s more recently opened his own brewery in Portland, Ecliptic Brewing, but even more recently made the hard decision to close the brewery. John also occasionally played washboard with the Rolling Boil Blues Band. Plus he’s a terrific person, so join me in wishing John a very happy birthday.
By the Celebrator booth at OBF, from left, John, Tom Dalldorf, and Fred Bowman, co-founder of Portland Brewing Co.
John rocks out on washboard with the Rolling Boil Blues Band at CBC in Seattle, with Marty Jones (left) and Celebrator editor Tom Dalldorf (in the center).
During a collaboration brew at Gigantic at OBF two years ago, with John and Gigantic’s Van Havig and Ben Love.
John and his daughter at his 40th birthday party.
John and the same daughter 10 years later at his 50th birthday party.
Today is the 61st birthday of my good friend Lisa Morrison (a.k.a. the The Beer Goddess). Lisa did a radio show, Beer O’Clock with The Beer Goddess, was the Portland correspondent for the Celebrator, and is also the author of Craft Beers of the Pacific Northwest: A Beer Lover’s Guide to Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. More recently, she shifted her focus and became a co-owner of Portland’s best beer store, Belmont Station. Join me in wishing Lisa a very happy birthday!
Today would have been publican extraordinaire Don Younger’s 83rd birthday. He ran the famed Horse Brass pub in Portland, Oregon, along with a few others, for many years. Don was a wonderful person and his early and continuing support of craft beer helped make Portland the great beer town it is today. As you undoubtedly recall, Don passed away unexpectedly in January, ten years ago, in 2011. Join me in wishing Don a very Happy birthday and raising a toast to his memory.
Don and Mark Silva, co-owner of realbeer.com and realbranding.com.
Don Younger and me outside the Falling Rock in Denver, Colorado.
Don with braided hair with Shaun O’Sullivan from 21st Amendment Brewery.
10, 20, 30: The same year, Dave Keene (center) was celebrating his 20th anniversary, flanked by Don Younger (on the left), whose bar the Horse Brass in Portland celebrated its 30th anniversary, and Chris Black (on the right), whose Denver, Colorado bar, The Falling Rock, celebrated its 10th anniversary.
Don bookended by Robin and Jonathan Surratt, who runs beermapping.com, displaying his excellent taste in attire at the Falling Rock during GABF week 2007.
Today is the 51st birthday of Christian Ettinger, founder of Hopworks Urban Brewery, or HUB, in Portland, Oregon. I first met Christian when was the head brewer at Laurelwood, also in Portland. A few years later, having won several medals and awards, he struck out on his own in 2007, and it’s been forever now. They started canning their beer in 2012, and also hard cider, and they make some wonderful beers. Join me in wishing Christian a very happy birthday.
Former HUB brewer Ben Love (now owner of Gigantic) with Christian on the brew system at HUB when it was still under construction in July of 2007.
At the HUB brunch after OBF in 2008: Assistant brewery Jeremy, Christian and brewer Ben Love.
Saturday at OBF in 2006, relaxing behind the Celebrator/Oregon Brewers Guild booth, Christian takes his son on a flying trip.
Filling pints from a keg in the basement brewery at HUB, 2008.
