Battleships to Beer

In this bonus episode of Battleships to Beer, host Ryan Gibbons and Justin Crossley welcome to the Brewing Network studio two very special guests and former residents of Mare Island, Denise Huskins and Aaron Quinn. Denise and Aaron were thrust into the public eye in 2015 when Denise and Aaron were held hostage in their home. Denise and Aaron were thrust into the public eye in 2015 when Denise and Aaron were held hostage in their home. Denise was then abducted, released, found, and subsequently blamed by the Vallejo Police Department for setting the entire thing up as a hoax. Dubbed a real life ‘Gone Girl’, Aaron and Denise’s story of redemption has been told in their book, Victim F: From Crime Victims to Suspects to Survivors, and the wildly popular Netflix docuseries, American Nightmare. As it turns out, Denise and Aaron loved (and still do) the Mare Island Brewing Company and their time in Vallejo. This episode opens a window into their time on Mare Island, at the brewery, and their contentious relationship with the City of Vallejo. From friendship and love, to unspeakable tragedy, and on to surviving, healing and a life given back to service, Denise and Aaron are an inspiration to listen to. Tune in and find out how Mare Island Brewing Co. is intertwined with one of the most sensational true crime stories in Vallejo history, and how two survivors found light, love and purpose through tragedy.

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Kent and Ryan crack a Shop 11—a “workshop" brew that may, or may not, make it into the long-term line up—and discuss where they—and the Brewing Co.—hope to go from here.

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General Vallejo is both the town’s namesake, and the Mexican Lager that Kent and Ryan enjoy as they talk about the challenges and opportunities of being based in Vallejo.

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Kent and Ryan drink aptly-named Survivors Tale Pale Ale and recount their story of surviving the Coronavirus pandemic, and how they might need a couple pints each to get through that story.

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Ryan sits down with Christopher Collins, aka “The Wolf” on the waterfront at our Coal Shed Brewery. Over the course of a couple of beers, we learn about the Wolf’s journey from growing up in Napa to being selected as an apprentice on Mare Island to becoming the most reliable  refrigeration technician every brewery needs. We even named a tank after him.

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Join Kent and Ryan for a bottle of General Order No. 99, and a rambling discussion of the tight box they put around branding, but how easy it is to stay within that box when you are focused on the history of Mare Island.

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Kent sits with our own Chef David Starr and his Vietnam-vet father Gary Starr to talk about the multi-generational Mare Island experience, including the best fishing pier, seeing the “Mud Puppy” submarine rest on the bottom of the Strait, and “stealing back” a fifty-year-old pane of glass.

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War Bond California Common is the libation of choice for a discussion of the Yardbird Beer Club, Yardbird Parties, the Yardbird Games, Brew Cruises and Brewer’s Bootcamp. The coveted trophy is on the line.

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Ryan coaxes Steve Taugner, electrician to the Island, over to the Admiral’s Mansion and teases out of him first-hand stories of the top-secret Ivy Bells mission. Is all this material formally unclassified?…well, we think so...

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A cold Ivy Bells Pilsner leads Kent and Ryan into the Cold War, as well as WW2, and the base closure. It is the most incredible Bay area history that nobody knows about.

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