Firehouse in Sunnyvale, our favorite local brewery, participated in the Great American Beer Fest in Denver just recently. Steve the brewmaster won a silver medal in the 'brown porter' category for his tasty and not to heavy porter. I met Steve a few years ago when we were picking up a keg at another brewery in San Jose. When you think about it, there aren't many people bold/lucky enough to forge a living out of brewing tasty beer, so the brewing community is fairly small and they know one another. And they know beer backwards and forwards. If you ever get the chance, go to Firehouse in Sunnyvale on a Monday night and try and catch Steve for a bit of beer knowledge and a high five for a delicious award winning porter! (note: beer in photo is his seasonal Abby tripel)