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Tribute to one of our own: John Tierney |
On a Spring afternoon, scrolling through Facebook Marketplace, current member Weston came across yet another great brewing lot for sale for a great price, $20. At first he passed it, because the pictures were of cases of bottles, and not much else. Then something drew him back to the post, as if there was something else possible. He sent a message, and the response was shocking.
The seller, Jen, was cleaning out the brewing room at her mother’s house, following the passing of her father. Weston felt instant sympathy, and felt the need to help. As a newer member to the brewing community, Weston has been overjoyed with the kindness and compassion that the brewers he talks with present. Weston asked Jen what all was for sale, and she said “everything, you can come take a look if you would like”. Weston and Jen agreed on a time, and met later that week.
Upon arrival, there were items out at the curb for pickup from other Marketplace-goers, and Weston backed up the driveway in his beat up Jeep. Jen was very kind, but worn out from all the moving and cleaning. Her mother, Patricia, was a frail older woman, who was very happy to see another brewer, but still reserved. Weston and Patricia walked downstairs through rooms of boxes, empty walls, and random items laying around, finally getting to a small bedroom, known as the brewing room.
The room was packed from floor to ceiling with brewing items. Hoses, pots, carboys, bottles (cases and cases full of beer that were years old), and more items in boxes. Weston was a little overwhelmed (as a teacher, he rarely is!) Jen told him he could take whatever he wanted, or everything. It just needed a home, or it was going in the trash. The plan was to empty the room before the realtor came next week to list the house for sale. They got some boxes, and started filling.
As they worked, hauling things upstairs and filling boxes, Weston and Jen had some conversation about John, the brewer and father who had passed away last fall. Weston wanted to know the history of the items, wondering if there was anything significant in the boxes that were now filled.
John graduated from Arkansas State University with a Bachelor’s in Marketing, playing Football there all four years. He moved to Massachusetts, living there for quite some time. He learned how to brew extract beers while he was living in the New England region, advancing his skills and documenting his recipes in his “Beer Book”. He moved to Michigan in the late 1990’s, and eventually found a cozy brewing group to join called “Primetime Brewers”.
As Weston and Jen talked more, Weston mentioned his connection with a brewing group in Grand Rapids, and mentioned the name. Patricia had been listening and watching trying to help as she was able, and mentioned John’s association with a group too. She found John’s “Beer Book” on the dresser, and showed it to Weston. Inside was the connection that Weston was looking for. The Rubber Chicken!
The Rubber Chicken is Primetime Brewing’s Newsletter. Once printed and mailed, it is now something that the President writes on occasion, but Weston (as a newer member and recent Webmaster addition to the team) had only heard of them as archives. There were four issues of the newsletter in John’s Beer Book, the earliest from November, 1999 (the year Weston moved to Michigan from Washington State). Noticing the year, the group and the community, it now brought light to the reason Weston responded to the Marketplace post.
When Weston finished filling his Jeep, he had collected items he could use, but also items other members of the group could use as well. He kindly offered more than asked, still feeling sad about the turn of events. Before he left, Jen asked about the beer bottles. John’s brew room had 12 cases of FULL beer bottles that were just going to the landfill. Weston could not let that happen, and came back later in the week to take a lot of skunky beer home. The following Spring, he finally had time to clean them out, dumping Christmas Ale’s, Bock’s, Amber’s, Barleywine’s, and much more.
The Beer Book that Weston now has is filled with recipes, Rubber Chicken Newsletters that are 25+ years old, and the 10th reunion booklet from Glenbard East HS Class of 1972 where John graduated HS in Lombard, Ill. A lot of history from the eyes of a Primetime Brewers member lost to cancer. For those who knew him, he will be missed. For those following in his footsteps, let’s brew one for John.
John’s Obituary
Cheers,
Weston Hosler
Primetime Member and Webmaster
The seller, Jen, was cleaning out the brewing room at her mother’s house, following the passing of her father. Weston felt instant sympathy, and felt the need to help. As a newer member to the brewing community, Weston has been overjoyed with the kindness and compassion that the brewers he talks with present. Weston asked Jen what all was for sale, and she said “everything, you can come take a look if you would like”. Weston and Jen agreed on a time, and met later that week.
Upon arrival, there were items out at the curb for pickup from other Marketplace-goers, and Weston backed up the driveway in his beat up Jeep. Jen was very kind, but worn out from all the moving and cleaning. Her mother, Patricia, was a frail older woman, who was very happy to see another brewer, but still reserved. Weston and Patricia walked downstairs through rooms of boxes, empty walls, and random items laying around, finally getting to a small bedroom, known as the brewing room.
The room was packed from floor to ceiling with brewing items. Hoses, pots, carboys, bottles (cases and cases full of beer that were years old), and more items in boxes. Weston was a little overwhelmed (as a teacher, he rarely is!) Jen told him he could take whatever he wanted, or everything. It just needed a home, or it was going in the trash. The plan was to empty the room before the realtor came next week to list the house for sale. They got some boxes, and started filling.
As they worked, hauling things upstairs and filling boxes, Weston and Jen had some conversation about John, the brewer and father who had passed away last fall. Weston wanted to know the history of the items, wondering if there was anything significant in the boxes that were now filled.
John graduated from Arkansas State University with a Bachelor’s in Marketing, playing Football there all four years. He moved to Massachusetts, living there for quite some time. He learned how to brew extract beers while he was living in the New England region, advancing his skills and documenting his recipes in his “Beer Book”. He moved to Michigan in the late 1990’s, and eventually found a cozy brewing group to join called “Primetime Brewers”.
As Weston and Jen talked more, Weston mentioned his connection with a brewing group in Grand Rapids, and mentioned the name. Patricia had been listening and watching trying to help as she was able, and mentioned John’s association with a group too. She found John’s “Beer Book” on the dresser, and showed it to Weston. Inside was the connection that Weston was looking for. The Rubber Chicken!
The Rubber Chicken is Primetime Brewing’s Newsletter. Once printed and mailed, it is now something that the President writes on occasion, but Weston (as a newer member and recent Webmaster addition to the team) had only heard of them as archives. There were four issues of the newsletter in John’s Beer Book, the earliest from November, 1999 (the year Weston moved to Michigan from Washington State). Noticing the year, the group and the community, it now brought light to the reason Weston responded to the Marketplace post.
When Weston finished filling his Jeep, he had collected items he could use, but also items other members of the group could use as well. He kindly offered more than asked, still feeling sad about the turn of events. Before he left, Jen asked about the beer bottles. John’s brew room had 12 cases of FULL beer bottles that were just going to the landfill. Weston could not let that happen, and came back later in the week to take a lot of skunky beer home. The following Spring, he finally had time to clean them out, dumping Christmas Ale’s, Bock’s, Amber’s, Barleywine’s, and much more.
The Beer Book that Weston now has is filled with recipes, Rubber Chicken Newsletters that are 25+ years old, and the 10th reunion booklet from Glenbard East HS Class of 1972 where John graduated HS in Lombard, Ill. A lot of history from the eyes of a Primetime Brewers member lost to cancer. For those who knew him, he will be missed. For those following in his footsteps, let’s brew one for John.
John’s Obituary
Cheers,
Weston Hosler
Primetime Member and Webmaster
It's so much more than great beer.
