Beer Birthday: Ben Edmunds

September 1, 2025 By Jay Brooks

Today is the 44th 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.

Ben and me at CBC in Nashville earlier this year.

At FredFest a few years back. [photo by Don Scheid.]

Beer Birthday: Fred Bowman

August 27, 2025 By Jay Brooks

portland-wh
Today is Fred Bowman’s 80th 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.

obf-harris — By the Celebrator booth at OBF, from left, John Harris (former head brewer at Full Sail Brewing), Tom Dalldorf, and Fred.

fr-fri-1 — Dick Cantwell, co-owner of Elysian Brewing Co. in Seattle, with Fred at an after party at the Falling Rock during GABF.

SAM_5446 — 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.

Beer In Ads #5050: Gambrinus Bock Beer & Unions

August 11, 2025 By Jay Brooks

Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads. 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.

Monday’s ad is for Gambrinus Bock Beer, which was published on August 11, 1913. This one is for the Gambrinus Brewing Co. of Portland, Oregon, which was originally founded in 1875. This ad ran in The Oregon Labor Press, now known as the NW Labor Press, and is written for the members of over three dozen local unions in Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Despite this being an ad for Gambrinus Bock Beer, there were some more ads right next to the Bock ad that were interesting, too. First, there’s an ad for the International Union of the United Brewery Workmen of America. Then, below that, there’s another ad for the Bartenders International League of America (now known as the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union), that also shows a pin for bartender union members to wear at work.

Beer Birthday: Matt Van Wyk

August 2, 2025 By Jay Brooks

Today is Matt Van Wyk’s 53rd 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.

A self-portrait with Matt, from Oakshire Brewing, Jonathan Surrat, and me at the Goose Island cask event during CBC in Chicago.

vanwyck-2 — 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, and Matt Van Wyck, from Oakshire — Jamie Floyd, from Ninkasi Brewing, with Matt at GABF in 2009.

P1210027 — Matt at the Boonville Beer Festival a few years ago.

DSCN0938 — Matt and me, several years ago during a trip to Eugene at the Oakshire tasting room in Eugene.

Beer In Ads #4958: Weinhard’s Bock Beer

May 3, 2025 By Jay Brooks

Saturday’s ad is for Renner & Weber Bock Beer and was published May 3, 1915. The brewery was the Henry Weinhard Brewing Co. of Portland, Oregon, which was originally founded in 1856. This ad ran in The Astoria Evening Budget, of Astoria, Oregon.

Beer In Ads #4929: Globe Bock Beer

April 3, 2025 By Jay Brooks

Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads. Bock, of course, 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.

Thursday’s ad is for Globe Bock Beer and was published April 3, 1935. The brewery was the Globe Brewing Co. of San Francisco, California, I think, which was originally founded in 1907 as Acme Brewing, though became Globe Brewing after 1920. This ad ran in the Daily Astorian of Astoria, Oregon, with the tagline: “Globe Bock Beer is now available!”

Beer Birthday: Jessica Jones

February 29, 2024 By Jay Brooks

Today is the 40th birthday — the Big 4-O — of Jessica Jones, who’s the former COO of Ninkasi Brewing. Several years ago, she left Ninkasi and became the Chief Marketing Officer and Director of Strategy for Enjoy Beer, the startup founded by Rich Doyle after he left Harpoon, but as far as I know it never really caught on as they’d hoped, and the site is no longer active. Anyway, I haven’t talked to her in quite a few years, and last I heard she and her husband had moved to Eugene, Oregon and they’ve started a honey business, Queen’s Bounty Honey. But since she’s one of the few people I know born on leap day, I wanted to still post about her birthday this year.

When I first met Jessica, she was blogging at beer as the Thirsty Hopster and helped do some of the behind-the-scenes setup when I founded the Bay Area Beer Bloggers. She then put her education to good use by getting a job with Firestone Walker, and found that she liked working for a brewery. So she went back to school and got her MBA, before moving to Portland. Since 2011, she’s been keeping Ninkasi Brewing humming, and keeping Jamie in line. It’s been fun to watch Jessica’s evolution in the beer world, and how amazing she’d made Ninkasi. Join me in wishing Jessica a very happy birthday.

hard-liver09-08 — At the Hard Liver Barleywine Festival in Seattle, in 2009. Clockwise from left; Shitwig (a nickname, I believe), Jessica, her sister and her sister’s friend.

bestowest09-42 — At the end of the Celebrator Anniversary Party in 2009.

malheur-choc-08 — With Nicole Erny and, The Beer Chef, Bruce Paton, at his Beer & Chocolate Beer Dinner several years back.

sfbw-gabf08-6 — Jessica at the Falling Rock, along with her sister (bottom left) and friends, during an SF Beer Week event at the Falling Rock during GABF in 2008.

Jessica Jones a.k.a. The Thirsty Hopster & Scott Perkins — Jessica and Scott Perkins at GABF in 2009.

Beer Birthday: Abram Goldman-Armstrong

April 28, 2020 By Jay Brooks

Today is the 42nd birthday of Abram Goldman-Armstrong, a Portland-based beer writer who is the managing editor of the Northwest Brewing News and also writes online at Brewsville. Abe also is the organizer of the North American Organic Brewers Festival and by day works in construction. When Abe was writing for the Celebrator Beer News several years back, during GABF we spent an evening drinking out and about the city eventually ending up at the Denver Diner, during which time I discovered I’d spent the entire evening calling him by the wrong name — d’oh. Anyway, these days I can get his name right. Join me in wishing Abe a very happy birthday.

Abe Goldman-Armstrong as Beer Patrol Man
As “Beer Patrol Man” at the 2009 OBF Parade.

Abe & Ed Bennett
With Ed Bennett at the OBF Parade, also in 2009.

Abe-Timbers-Billboard
Abe’s also a big fan of the local soccer team, the Portland Timbers, and recently appeared on a billboard for the team as they joined the MLS several years ago.

Deschutes Announces New Brewery In Virginia

March 22, 2016 By Jay Brooks

In the rumor mill for several months, today Deschutes Brewing of Bend, Oregon announced that they’ll be building a second brewery in Roanoke, Virginia. They’ve set up a separate page for information about the new facility in Roanoke. Here’s the press release:

Deschutes Brewery announced its much anticipated decision on an east coast location today at an event in downtown Roanoke, Virginia. The growing brewery, which was founded in Oregon in 1988 by Gary Fish, has explored hundreds of potential locations in the region over the last two years. The company selected Roanoke based on several criteria including a culture and community that fit well with Deschutes’ decades-deep roots.
“We started Deschutes Brewery when craft beer wasn’t burgeoning and led with a beer style that wasn’t popular at the time – Black Butte Porter,” said Gary Fish, CEO and founder of the brewery. “This pioneering approach was a key driver behind our decision to go with Roanoke, as that same spirit exists in this community and its fast-growing beer culture.”
The future Roanoke facility has been lovingly dubbed “Brew 4” as it takes its place in line after the original Bend, Oregon public house (Brew 1), the brewery’s production facility in Bend (Brew 2) and the Portland, Oregon public house (Brew 3). Brew 4 will be located at the eastern edge of Roanoke with construction on the site beginning in 2019. Eventually, a little over 100 new jobs will be created for the region, and the new brewery will produce approximately 150,000 barrels to start, with a design to increase capacity as needed. Deschutes expects to start shipping beer from the Roanoke location in about five years.
“Roanoke is honored to be chosen as Deschutes Brewery’s East Coast location after a very thorough review of several communities in the Southeast,” said Roanoke City Manager Chris Morrill. “It is a company with a strong culture of community engagement, recognized for its craftsmanship and will be a perfect fit for Roanoke’s vibrant outdoor lifestyle. We are thrilled to welcome Deschutes as we continue to build a diverse, resilient economy.”
Deschutes Brewery chose to add an east coast location after the company’s distribution footprint (which currently includes 28 states and the District of Columbia) reached the east coast. By having a production facility on the eastern seaboard, the brewery will be able to deliver beers – such as its flagship Black Butte Porter – to states east of the Mississippi quickly and more sustainably.
Michael LaLonde, president of Deschutes Brewery, who was an integral part of the east coast location selection team, said, “Although it was a tough decision – we loved so many of the communities that we visited over the past two years – we are very excited to be heading to Roanoke. We love the region and everyone we’ve had the opportunity to meet and work with during this process has been incredible. We have absolutely been blown away with how the community rallied around bringing us here and has given us such a warm welcome. #Deschutes2Rke we’re on our way and proud to be able to now call Roanoke our second home.”

deschutes-va

« Previous Page