Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

  • Home
  • About
  • Editorial
  • Birthdays
  • Art & Beer

Socialize

  • Dribbble
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • GitHub
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Powered by Genesis

Beer Birthday: Jesse Friedman

September 30, 2025 By Jay Brooks Leave a Comment

Almanac-circle
Today is the birthday of Jesse Friedman, co-founder of Almanac Beer Co. I first got to know Jesse when he was writing his beer and food blog, Beer & Nosh, but he’s since gone on to partner with Damian Fagan to create “Farm-to-Barrel” beers in 2010, and they later opened a taproom on the Island of Alameda. A few years ago, Jesse left Almanac, and moved to Los Angeles and is working on what to do next. Join me in wishing Jesse a very happy birthday.

Friedman-1
Jesse with Tim Clifford at the SF Beer Week Opening Gala earlier this year.

Friedman-2
Jesse, with Fraggle and Ron Silberstein, from Thirsty Bear, at the Anchor Holiday Party in 2012.

toropaxdinner09-11
Helping Sean Paxton with the Toronado Belgian Beer Lunch in 2009.

Friedman-4
Steve Altamari, Zak Davis, Jesse and Pete Slosberg at Jesse’s Pre-Wedding BBQ in 2010.
[Note: Pictures 1, 2, and 4 purloined from Facebook]

Filed Under: Birthdays Tagged With: Bay Area, California, Los Angeles, San Francisco

Beer Birthday: Dave McLean

September 22, 2025 By Jay Brooks 3 Comments

admiral-maltings

Today is Dave McLean’s 56th birthday. Dave was the founder of Magnolia Pub & Brewery, the gastropub on Haight Street in San Francisco, along with the production brewery known as the Smokestack in the Dogpatch neighborhood of the city. He is a tireless champion of craft beer in the Bay Area, having worked on Slow Food Nation, The Eat Real Festival and SF Beer Week, among much else. He more recently co-founded Admiral Maltings along with Ron Silberstein and Curtis Davenport. More recently he’s opened a new brewery, Hidden Splendor, in Richmond. Join me in wishing Dave a very happy birthday.

Craig Cauwels (from Schooner’s) and Sam Calagione (from Dogfish Head) stopping by to see Dave at the Double IPA Festival at the Bistro a couple of years ago.
A sextet from San Francisco at GABF 2008. From left: Adrienne McMullem, with 21st Amendment, Ben Spencer, from Magnolia, Sean Paxton, the homebrew chef, Ben’s wife, Shaun O’Sullivan, from 21st Amendment, and Dave.
Dave and me at the end of a very long, but satisfying, day at the first Slow Food Nation event several years ago in San Francisco.
Me, Dave, and Shaun O’Sullivan saying goodbye to Anchor Brewing at their tap room shortly before they closed.
Walking the floor at GABF in 2002.
Food and beer mixed happily and deliciously at the Slow Beer Festival 2008, as evidenced here by Ian Marks (from Hog Island Oyster Co.), Taylor Boetticher (from the Fatted Calf), Dave, John Tucci (from Gordon Biersch San Francisco) and Shaun O’Sullivan (from 21st Amendment).

Filed Under: Birthdays Tagged With: California, Northern California, San Francisco

Beer Birthday: Justin Crossley

September 19, 2025 By Jay Brooks 14 Comments

bn-grenade
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.

Filed Under: Birthdays, Just For Fun Tagged With: Beer Radio, California, Northern California, Podcasting, San Francisco

Beer Birthday: Nico Freccia

September 10, 2025 By Jay Brooks

21st-amend-sm
Today is Nico Freccia’s 61st birthday. Nico is the co-founder of 21st Amendment Brewery & Restaurant. Nico also used to write for the Celebrator, too. His current title with 21st Amendment is “Chief Watermelon Officer.” Join me in wishing Nico a very happy birthday.

Shaun and Nico at their 21st Anniversary party a couple of years ago.
21a-6th-06
Nico (center) with his 21st Amendment partner Shaun and a disgruntled knife-wielding maniac employee at their 6th anniversary picnic and party.
21a-canparty-4
Shaun O’Sullivan and Dave Keene with Nico at 21A’s can release party held at the Toronado.
Greg Koch with Nico Freccia, from 21st Amendment
With Greg Koch, from Stone Brewing, at Falling Rock during GABF in 2009.
ak-bw08-2
Adrienne McMullen with Nico and, presumably, a volunteer, all sporting their watermelon wheat chapeaus at the Alaska Barleywine Festival several Januarys ago.

Filed Under: Birthdays Tagged With: California, San Francisco

The Ballad Of Steam Beer

September 1, 2025 By Jay Brooks

Today is the birthday of William S. “Billy” Barnes (September 1, 1864-March 13, 1910). He was born in San Francisco, left to attend Harvard, and then after graduation returned home to join his father’s law office, and was later elected District Attorney for San Francisco. He also belonged to the San Francisco Press Club, and appears to have dabbled in some writing of his own. I guess he was also a fan of Anchor Steam Beer, because in 1897 his poem “The Ballad of Steam Beer” was published in The Wave, a well-regarded local magazine. Former Anchor Brewing historian Dave Burkhart wrote about it for Anchor’s old website, and the story is also included in his great book, The Anchor Brewing Story. But who knows what will happen to the website’s archives, so I thought it was worth keeping it alive here.

The Ballad of Steam Beer


By William Sanford (Billy) Barnes (1864–1910)
As published in The Wave, San Francisco, March 13, 1897

You may talk of your Moet and Chandon,
And all the Cuvees of Champagne,
Of Burgundy, ruby and royal,
From Romanée’s storied demesne;
Of Lafitte and of Lachramae Christi
Or the warm, blushing vintage that grows
Where Yquem and the premier cru Grand Vins
Gush forth from the Hills of Bordeaux;
Of crusty old port and Madeira,
And all of the sherries of Spain,
All the liquers of castle and convent
That ever came over the main.
But I chant out a hymn to Gambrinus,
The god of small change and good cheer,
For I sing you the Song of the Nickel
That buys the big glass of Steam Beer.

A fig for straw-covered Chianti,
Or brandy a century old,
For foaming and flashing Spumante
That sparkles and glitters like gold.
Benedictine and opaline Absinthe
That gourmets and viveurs adore,
And the life-blood of amorous grape vines
That cluster along the Cote D’Or.
Not for me burn the molten sun-kisses
Upon the warm vineyards of France,
Not for me weave the chaplets of Bacchus
Nor call Satyrs and Nymphs to the dance.
I care not for these classical pleasures;
They are for my income too dear,
But still I can compass the nickel
That buys me my Schooner of Beer.

No flagons or wassail cups fill me
Of vintages priceless and rare,
Away with a stoup or a beaker,
And I scorn an effete petit verre;
My chalice is glittering crystal
Full-bosomed, deep-chested, divine,
With the glorious crown of the hop-lands
That mocks at the glory of wine.
Come! drink of the soft flowing amber,
Come! lave in its somnolent streams,
Come! taste of the foam-flecked Nepenthe
That flows from the Kingdom of Dreams.
And sing, as afloat on its tideway
We gently and drowsily steer:
“Here’s a health to the Nickel of
Commerce That buys me my Schooner of Beer!”

B. B.

Filed Under: Beers, Just For Fun Tagged With: Anchor Brewery, Bay Area, History, San Francisco

Beer Birthday: Jim Woods

August 29, 2025 By Jay Brooks

woods-beer mateveza
Today is maybe the 44th birthday of Jim Woods, founder of MateVeza, an organic brewer headquartered in San Francisco. I first met Jim when we were classmates at U.C. Davis for the brewing short course before he launched his unique business. All Jim’s beers are made with Yerba Mate, a South American herb that’s similar to tea. Technically, it’s part of the holly family, but contains caffeine and the leaves are used like tea. It works surprisingly well as a spice in beer. Several years ago now, Jim opened the Cervecería de MateVeza, a small brewpub in San Francisco, right next to a corner of Dolores Park. Rebranded as Woods Beer, there are now five locations in San Francisco and Oakland.

Jim also puts on the Beerunch one morning (usually a Sunday) during SF Beer Week, the last few years at the Public House at the Giants’ stadium. Join me in wishing Jim a very happy birthday.

P1050496
Jim at the Cervecería de MateVeza in San Francisco.
Jim Woods, host of the Beerunch
Jim at his Beerunch during SF Beer Week in 2010.
gabf08-14
Jim and Matt Coelho at GABF 2008.
P1020916
Jim at his Beerunch in 2011.

Filed Under: Birthdays Tagged With: California, San Francisco

Beer Birthday: Pete Slosberg

August 26, 2025 By Jay Brooks

pete
Today is my good friend Pete Slosberg’s 75th birthday . Pete is, of course, best known for Pete’s Wicked Ales. After that he toyed with the idea of making barbecue but decided instead to make some incredible chocolates and had a small company, Cocoa Pete’s. A few years ago, I traveled to South America with Pete (where we took to calling him “El Pete“), where we both spoke and judged beer at a beer conference/competition in Argentina, the South Beer Cup, and then flew to Brazil to attend a pair of beer dinners Stephen Beaumont was hosting and for a while he was working on Mavericks, a newish line of canned session beers, along with Half Moon Bay Brewing, but is now doing some occasional consulting and doing a lot of traveling with his wife Amy looking for the next adventure … or sour beer. Join me wishing Pete a very happy birthday!

petes-1
This was taken the first time I met Pete, over twenty-five years ago at the KQED Beer and Food Festival in San Francisco, when I was more or less still a civilian. It was after I’d written my first book on beer, but before I started working as the beer buyer for BevMo.
Pete & Amy Slosberg with Shaun O'Sullivan
Pete with his wife Amy and Shaun O’Sullivan, from 21st Amendment, at one of Sean Paxton’s beer dinners during SF Beer Week several years ago.
Pete Slosberg, helping out for the day, shows off a finished bottle
Working the bottling line at Russian River Brewing, with a bottle of Consecration.
Matt Bonney, Stephen Beaumont, Sean Paxton, Pete Slosberg & Rick Sellers
Matt Bonney, from Brouwer’s, Stephen Beaumont, Sean Paxton, Pete and Rick Sellers, then from Odonata at the Bistro Double IPA Festival.
beer-din0602-03
Pete with his wife Amy and Celebrator publisher Tom Dalldorf at one of Bruce Paton’s beer dinners at the Cathedral Hill Hotel in February 2006.
P1040395
Martin Boan, who organized and ran the South Beer Cup, with Pete in Buenos Aires.
P1040762
Pete, with Edu Passarelli (owner of Melograno), Stephen Beaumont and me after a beer dinner at Edu’s place in Sao Paulo.

Filed Under: Birthdays Tagged With: Bay Area, California, San Francisco

Beer Birthday: Jen Garris

August 17, 2025 By Jay Brooks

pi-bar-sf Bel
Originally a sculptor, Jen Garris, has been involved in San Francisco’s beer scene as long as anyone I know. She’s worked for Magnolia and New Belgium, as well as many others in the Bay Area. A few years ago she opened the Pi Bar in San Francisco, along with boyfriend Rich Rosen, who also co-owns Chenery Park. I absolutely love Pi’s white bacon pizza. More recently, they opened Bel, a Belgian-themed bar/restaurant on Mission St. in Bernal Heights, but also closed Pi Bar thanks at least in part to the Covid lockdowns. Today is Jen’s 29th or so birthday. Join me in wishing her a very happy birthday.

Jen and Matt Salie, then from Big Sky Brewing, at the 18th Celebrator Anniversary Party.
Looking lovely at the Anchor Christmas Party in 2006.
Jen and Brian Hunt at the Urthel Beer Dinner.
Jen illustrates again how easy it is to be featured on the Bulletin.

Filed Under: Birthdays, Just For Fun Tagged With: California, San Francisco

Beer Birthday: Mark Carpenter

August 13, 2025 By Jay Brooks

anchor-steam
Today is Mark Carpenter’s 82nd birthday. Mark had been the head brewer at Anchor since 1971 and was responsible for much of their success over the years. Not too long ago, he celebrated his 40th anniversary at Anchor, and he began stepping back from his day-to-day duties, a process which took several years, but now he is officially retired, although happily I still see Mark from time to time around the neighborhood. He’s a terrific person and one of the nicest people I know. Join me in wishing Mark a very happy birthday.

Me and Mark at the Anchor Christmas party a few years ago.
Dave Suurballe with Mark at Anchor several years ago.
Fritz Maytag, John Dannerbeck, and Mark behind the bat at the annual Anchor Xmas Party in 2009.
At the Anchor Taproom for a farewell party the day before it closed down, with me, Mark, Ron Silbertsein (from Admiral Malting), and Jeremy Marshall (from Lagunitas).
mark-carpenter-and-herlinda
Mark, Herlinda Heras and me (I’m holding the third glass) toasting our friend Glenn Payne, who passed away in late 2015.
P1030009
Mark showing off a new release, Brekle’s Brown.

Filed Under: Birthdays Tagged With: California, San Francisco

Beer Birthday: Dave Keene

August 13, 2025 By Jay Brooks

toronado
Today is the 70th birthday — the Big 7-O — of Dave Keene. Dave, of course, owns the best beer bar in San Francisco, the Toronado, which has been around for over 30 years. Dave is one of the great figures in the San Francisco beer scene and also one of my favorite Washoe partners, and we’ve had some monumental games and vanquished many fine players — you know who you are! Join me in wishing Dave a very happy birthday.

Peter Bouckaert & Dave Keene
Peter Bouchaert, brewmaster at New Belgium Brewing, with Dave at one of Beer Chef Bruce Paton’s beer dinners.
younger-keene-black
Outside the Toronado for their 20th anniversary, Dave bookended by fellow publicans Don Younger (from the Horse Brass in Portland) and Chris Black (from the Falling Rock in Denver).
fal-al-5
At a beer release party for Brother Dave’s Triple. From left: Fal Allen, Mark Cabrera, Dave Gatlin (head brewer at AVBC) , Me and Dave.
Dave Keene & Tomme Arthur after a night of Washoes
Dave and Tomme Arthur, from the Lost Abbey, after a night of Washoes during SF Beer Week several years ago.
drakes-fest06-10
Dave Keene and me at the Summit Hop Festival held at Drake’s Brewing several years ago.
P1060262
Dave with Vinnie Cilurzo, from Russian River Brewing, a few years ago at the “Toronado 25th Anniversary Dinner and Blending Session.”
In the back room at the Toronado, Dave, Alec Moss and me, at Alec’s 70th birthday party a few years ago.

Filed Under: Birthdays, Just For Fun Tagged With: Bars, California, San Francisco

Next Page »

Find Something

Northern California Breweries

Please consider purchasing my latest book, California Breweries North, available from Amazon, or ask for it at your local bookstore.

Recent Comments

  • Steve "Pudgy" De Rose on Beer Birthday: Pete Slosberg
  • Paul Finch on Beer Birthday: Dann Paquette
  • Steve 'Pudgy' De Rose on Historic Beer Birthday: Louis Hudepohl
  • Steve 'Pudgy' De Rose on Historic Beer Birthday: Sharon Vaughn
  • Paul Gatza on Beer Birthday: Paul Gatza

Recent Posts

  • Historic Beer Birthday: Albert Fisher October 1, 2025
  • Historic Beer Birthday: John Courage October 1, 2025
  • Historic Beer Birthday: Joseph Fallert Jr. October 1, 2025
  • Beer Birthday: Jimmy Carter October 1, 2025
  • Historic Beer Birthday: Valentin Blatz October 1, 2025

BBB Archives

Feedback

Head Quarter
This site is hosted and maintained by H25Q.dev. Any questions or comments for the webmaster can be directed here.