I went to college at Stanford, which is just south of San Francisco in the early 1980s. We had a favorite hang-out called the Dutch Goose in Palo Alto where we could get a pitcher of Anchor Steam for $1.25. That was my first exposure to a micro-brewed beer. I loved it.  It was really better beer than I had ever been exposed to.

Years later, I had my first home brew experience. I had just gotten back from serving as a Flight Doc in the Persian Gulf War, and a buddy of mine in our squadron got a home brew kit. I had a beer from his first batch. It was terrible, but I really liked that he tried to do it.  It had never occurred to me before that you could “make” beer.

A couple of years after that, I bought a book and some ingredients and started making beer at home. It was fun and relaxing and I really enjoyed it. I made 5 gallon batches and hand-bottled them into 2 cases at a time for my friends. I gave each batch a name and had my own little fantasy beer company, the Holmes Brewing Company.

When my wife became pregnant with our first child, I made beers to celebrate the occasions. When Bradley was born, we celebrated with “Baby’s Best Bitter.”  Later on, I made batches of Diaper Pale Ale, Tooth Cutter Ale, and Mommy Stout, all themed around our new family. It was fun.

Shortly after my daughter Grace was born, I made a batch of red ale that was very light bodied, smooth, and really easy on the mouth. My wife, who does not like beers that are “too much” said, “I love this. This is awesome. This is so good you could sell it.”  Thus, the idea of making beer as a business was born. And the flavor profile was set.  Not too much color, hops, or alcohol. Just a nice, easy to drink beer that she (and others) might enjoy.

One night, in preparation for sampling some of this recipe to friends, I was in the process of making up a little announcement. The beer, as well as the company, needed a name. I had a piece of paper with a photo of a glass of beer on our kitchen island. I had no idea where to go with it. Kristine had a rubber stamp of a T-6 in flight which I bought her years ago to make greeting cards. She took the rubber stamp, inked it, and slammed the T-6 image right next to the beer glass.  “How does that look?” she asked. I thought, “That’s pretty cool. Beer. Airplanes. My two favorite past times. That’s it. Its Warbird.” That’s how it happened.  Just like that.

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