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Olde 4.20 Deadhead Draft (A gift I'm Grateful for)

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Owner of (nlib) Creston Brewing Co. sent email telling story of Olde 4.20 Deadhead Draft, after seeing my lens on Squidoo!

In August 2009, the saga of Olde 4.20 beer, finally unfolds after almost 20 years.

I used to do local fundraisers, and I hired quite a few youngsters. One, in particular, took a liking to me. He knew how much I loved Jerry, so when he left my employ, he gave me a bottle of Olde 4.20 Deadhead Draft. I had never seen it, and asked where he had come by it. He told me his father had passed away, and left it to him. Man, was I touched.
The bottle says it's Commemorative Collector's Edition #1, Batch 15, Bottle #207, Bottled 5-1-1995 by the Creston Brewing Company, Creston, CA. I'm trying to find out more about it. So far, no luck!
The picture to the left is one I found on the internet. I put it up to show the label. The bottle I have is still sealed.
_____________________________

UPDATE: Read On! The following module was added after a surprise email from the owner of Creston Brewing Company. He told me everything I've been wanting to know, and more, about this mysterious bottle of beer!

Olde 4.20 Deadhead Draft and Creston Brewing Company

The Brewmeister Tells All

A short time ago I received an email from the owner, and sole employee of The Creston Brewering Company, maker of Olde 4.20 Deadhead Draft. Here is his story.

Creston, CA., is a small town about 20 miles east of Paso Robles. It was the home of Creston Brewing Company. Back then, it was the smallest legal microbrewery in the U.S., only brewing 50 gallon batches at a time.

Olde 4.20 had been put into production without the licensing permission of Grateful Dead Merchandising, and they weren't pleased. But, Jerry Garcia loved the beer, and told them back off. The label had references to 60's lysergic specialists known to the Dead, and only a few others.

One year after Jerry died, they asked The brewery to cease and desist using copyright trademarks. The owner said they were very fair about it. They gave him a year to stop, even letting him put out a Farewell Jerry edition in that time. But, that was the end of Olde 4.20 Deadhead Draft.

Creston Brewing Company stuck around for a while longer. The put out Hempinstead Ale, the very first hemp beer. They also made Aphrodite's Tantric Elixir which was flavored with every herbal aphrodisiac known to man! The label described spiritual sex practices of ancient tantric mystics. They had full ABC, and ATF, approval for the ingredients, and the label. Unfortunately, only one batch was ever made before the company had to close it's doors in 1996. The participants then moved on to San Francisco, and other pursuits.

The Brewmeister has told me that the bottle I have is very rare, indeed. And, ironically, because of contractual agreements made with Grateful Dead Merchandising, he is the only person that legally may NOT own any of it!

My thanks go out to _ _ _ _, the brewmeister, owner, and sole employee, of the late Creston Brewing Company of Creston, California. Mystery solved!

Olde 4.20 Up For Sale!

For any collectors that are interested, I have put my bottle of Olde 4.20 Deadhead Draft up for sale.

As the original owner of Creston Brewery said, "This is a very rare find!"

Please, check it out! I may change my mind.

You can contact me by leaving a message on this page in the "Olde 4.20 Visitors" module.

Cloning The Dead

Jerry's DNA?

Jerry gave me his bandana!! No kidding!!! I was in Grass Valley to see The Jerry Garcia Band, Etta James, and The Band. Jerry started to play Ripple, and I stood directly in front of him to watch as I am a guitar player, and Jerry was one of 2 reasons I picked one up. Anyway, I watched his hands the entire song, and when he was done, I looked up at him. He was looking right at me, reached in his back pocket, said "Thanks Darlin'", and handed me his bandana! Suppose there is any DNA left on it after all these years? Hmmm.....

Sadly, Jerry Garcia left us on August 9, 1995. He was 53 years old, and had lived his life to the fullest, doing what he loved best......making music.

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Touch Of Grey

The Grateful Dead

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Dog Named Blue - A Grateful Dead Review

These are some very good friends of mine. Probably the finest Dead tribute band I've ever heard. I went to see one of their shows on a friend's recommendation. They were fabulous!

We became friends, after that first show I went to see. I ended up getting on stage and singing a Janis Joplin song that night. They asked me, some time after we'd met, to sing back-ups on their album. I jumped at the chance, having always wanted to record in a big studio. What a treat! The day before we had the studio, Dave Matthews had been there, recording.

I'll never be able to thank them enough for the experience!!!!

Captions Speak Louder Than Words

Contest For The Best Caption

A great pic deserves a great caption. Be observant, be creative, and I'll use yours.

This picture was taken as my good friend, Campbell Church, played riffs that made you think Jerry Garcia was in the house!

That should help you get started.

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Campbell - Live At Stormy's

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Doing a Guest Appearance with The Dog Boys 

Great Stuff on eBay

Deadhead/Jerry Memorabilia, and more...

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Coveting The Pigpen Pix

What I wouldn't give...

My oldest, and dearest friend, was buddies with Pigpen back in the day. He has some great pictures of him and the guys, but he guards them with an iron fist! Can't blame him, though.

What's The First Concert You Went To?

How old were you?

Who, when, and where was it? Good experience, or bad?

  • randall Aug 23, 2011 @ 8:31 am | delete
    i also have a bottle its batch 14 bottle 162 made 4-24-95 just wondreing want its was worth my email is randall2169@gmail .com or want do you want 4 yours
  • Mike from West Virginia Oct 29, 2009 @ 1:20 am | delete
    We just bought a case of 4.20 Deadhead Draft bottles. They are empty but are from batch number 2 and look a little different from the picture you have.
  • carolkelly May 16, 2009 @ 11:17 pm | in reply to Rusty-Quill | delete
    Tesla and Great White! Wow, those are the guys who "taught us how to live, and taught us how to love" aren't they?
  • Rusty-Quill Jan 7, 2009 @ 8:21 pm | delete
    Yikes de-mia first concert eh? Other than catching a show at the state fair when I was in diapers I think it was Tesla and Great White back in junior high. Love your Jerry Garcia bandanna story - awesome! (Thanks for the twit and the comments)
  • carolkelly Nov 9, 2008 @ 4:21 am | delete
    It was 1974. I saw Elvin Bishop, and the opening band was The Hoodoo Rhythm Devils. It was at the Circle Star Theater in Redwood City, CA. I was 14, had lied about where I would be that weekend, and had the best time ever. I was there for my birthday, it was a gift from 6-8 of my best old friends! What fun!!!!
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Jerry Garcia Stamps

Another cool gift I was given!

This is a plate block of 9 limited edition stamps with the Certificate of Authenticity.

Certificate of Authenticity

Limited Edition

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Olde 4.20 Visitors

I'd love to hear from you!

Please let me know how you liked this lens. I hope you enjoyed your visit!

  • Handy Andy Mar 9, 2012 @ 3:07 pm | delete
    Sisters and Brothers, I went to my first show in 1993 at the Dean Smith Center in Chaple Hill N.C. You know it changed my life. Then soon after I went to the Charlotte N.C. show in 1995 things changed and I know we lost a Wonderful and Loving part of this world. I've never droped my smile because we have to Keep on Truckin. I done some work for a nice lady and she happend to have a OldE 4.20 Deadhead Draft in her wine celler. I told her the work I done for a few days was free if she could part with it and she knew it was a life passon of mine. I got home and looked at it more closely Commemorative Collector's Edition no.2 "Remembering Jerry" , Batch 53 Bottle 127 Bottling Date 6-7-96. I would love to know what it would go for but it probably wouldn't be enought. Peace!
  • randall Aug 23, 2011 @ 8:40 am | delete
    i also have bottle of deadhead gfeft batch 14 bottle # 162 dated 4-24-95 would also like a value of this bottle completely sealed still also have a 12oz tye died beer also
  • John M. saldutti Mar 13, 2011 @ 3:25 pm | delete
    I enjoyed it very much. can you let me know how much OLDE 4 -20 bottle goes for. I also have one,with a yellow label.
  • Gene Ulmer Sep 24, 2010 @ 7:32 pm | delete
    I have a Commemorative Collector's Edition No.1 Olde 4.20 Natural Rootbeer,batch 5,bottle 195,brew date 12/17/96. Any others matches out there. This series was to support free Tibet
  • Marsha Sep 10, 2010 @ 10:22 pm | delete
    I have a Commemorative Collector's Edition No. 1 Batch 32 Bottle 35 Bottled 7/6/95. I have been trying to find out the value for a couple of years now...although I'm kinda with you all....maybe we should all just meet up and drink it
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carolkelly

Hi Folks! My name is Carol Kelly. I am 50, have 3 fabulous kids,and I'm married to my best friend. Life is pretty good. I am a guitar player/vocalist,... more »

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