Best "Beer Celebrity" Encounter

Did he try to choke you? All kidding aside that is pretty cool.

 

Not celebrities, they brew beer for a living.

 

"I didn't understand a thing he said,
but the crazy beer it just stopped me dead."

(too obscure?)

anyway...pretty cool story for sure. Beer definitely is the universal language.

 

At the SF Beer Week Opening Gala this year:
Me barging in on conversation, shaking Vinnie Cilurzo's (RR) hand - "I just want to say I sincerely believe that your brewery is the best in the United States."
Vinnie - "Thanks, I'm sure the guys from Sierra Nevada like to hear that." *points to guys he was talking to before I interrupted*
Me - "Uh, uh, you guys are legends too!" *walks away in embarrassment*

They were actually all really cool about it.

 

I passed out in Dave Thomas's front yard!

 

Sean Penn a few weeks ago at a Bar/Restaurant right next to my house. Seemed like a pretty solid guy.

 

I met Jean Van Roy and his son and daughter at Cantillon. My brother asked him if he had tried a lot of American craft beers because they have some brewery stickers on one of the windows there. He said "no, that's my son. I only drink lambic."

Can you imagine only drinking lambic? Crazy.

 

Whats your definition of a celebrity? id love to hear it homeboy.

 

easy there! us accountants are beer geeks too!

 

about 3+ years ago I was at HOTD in Portland, burying myself in tasting notes on an late Thursday afternoon.

I was enjoying myself and reviewing and in-taking the brews while Alan Sprints was working in the kitchen in the back... after I spent my time, I gave him a big thanks for his work and left on my own accord.. a memorable trip, but later found out an opportunity missed.

Someone walked in with a GABF logo jacket... white beard and all.. and Alan approached. I looked over and it was before my beer path went into overdrive, so I paid not attention and focused on what I was doing. His jacket also said beer judge, but at my early beer/imbibing delving career this was not something for me to interrupt or pay attention to.

They chatted.. the white bearded gentleman was in deep conversation with Alan, liking a few offerings (not sure what he had). I chatted up the bartendress and bought a shirt working on my notes.

The white bearded gentleman left between sips of the Adam and Matt I had.. and carried on his merry way.

Several months later I bought a book called Tasting Beer.. pulled the cover over.

Yup there it was... Randy Mosher.

In no way should I have said I wish or should have said something cause back then I had no idea who he was...

Such is life...

but the beer I wont forget...

 

To which he replied?

 

say what homie? I don't play that!

 

My point exactly. Ive met celebs Charlie Sheen, Tom Cruise, Channing Tatum, Harrison Ford, Michael J Fox, Too Short, E-40, most of the SJ Sharks, a good amount of the GS Warriors a fraction of the 49ers (Montana, Young, Rice, Hanks, more than half of the Raiders lineup in the past 5 years, but none of these hold a candle to some of the brewers ive met. Call it what you want, if someone does something really well that you take into account, to me that is a Celebrity!!!

 

Its not hard to believe regular working class folk like brewers are more down to earth than a bunch of wealthy actors and athletes.
I know lots of Pro Brewers and most would not consider themselves celebrities, I wasn't disrespecting them.

 

I met Sam Calagione at a local brew pub beer dinner years ago. It was before he became a "beer celebrity". Nice guy.

 

Would Spuds McKenzie count?

 

Taking shots with John Laffler while my dad asked him questions about what a pain in the ass investors were was pretty cool.

 

I remember a great day drinking beers at the Goathill Tavern in Costa Mesa, CA for the relaunch of Pete's Wicked Lager (formerly known as Pacific Lager). Pete was there, my buddy who was regional sales manager, and a few friends that go wat back with my sales rep buddy. Pete was very generous buying round after round before he finally told us, "you guys can order other stuff besides ours, they have some great beers here." A great day with a very cool, down to earth guy.

 

Hey I was that guy!!

 

Witnessing this was hilarious – Greg Koch was so drunk:


He gave one more speech after this which was even less coherent, think that there is also a video of that one somewhere online.

I don’t consider any of these people celebrities.