As craft beer pioneers go, Chesapeake Bay Brewing Company ("Chesbay Brewing) is likely not a name as familiar to today's craft beer community as the likes of Anchor Steam, Sierra Nevada, Red Hook, and Sam Adams. But it had without a doubt, an enduring impact on the early introduction of craft beer to the East Coast in the mid-1980's. Its flagship brand Dark Horse, introduced, and ultimately converted, many existing and new beer drinkers to the possibilities of what great beer should be.
Dark Horse, the Bock referred to below as bringing home the Gold at the GABF in 1987, was not only the best Bock beer I have ever had the pleasure of tasting, it is the best beer that I have ever had.
I hold Dark Horse in my mind as the benchmark to which all craft beer should aspire. It was dark & malty; it was a pleasantly hoppy concoction, with a thick foamy head, and a moderately viscous body that made it quite drinkable. It was complex and balanced in a way that today's hopped up one-dimensional palates might have difficulty appreciating. It was what we used to call a "session beer".
It should be noted as well that Chesbay also provided a launching pad for the brewing careers of Brian Hollinger, Alan Young, and Wolfgang Roth who all have continued on the the craft beer business. I worked there as well, all too briefly, in the early 90's, when a new management team made an attempt to resurrect the company from its early demise.
May God Bless Dr. Kollar, and may his spirit live on.
In Memorial
It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of the passing of Dr. James Kollar DMV on March the 14th 2014. Dr. Kollar was a Pioneer in the brewing industry when he started the Chesapeake Bay Brewing Company in Virginia Beach, Virginia in 1984. The brands of Chesbay beer marked the first microbrewery to open in Virginia and the second microbrewery to open on the East Coast. He was definitely a renaissance man by any standard. He set the brick that became the building of the Chesbay Brewery. He chose to brew lager beer; he sought out expertise from around the world to ensure he made the best beer possible. At the Great American Beer Festival in 1987, Chesbay brought home a gold medal for Bock beer. Although the brewery only lasted until 1988, many of the people Jim brought together have continued on in craft brewing. Jim’s legacy in craft brewing will be his passion for beer, his big heart and spirit and the people he brought together.
In his youth, he played football and was Pennsylvania state champion in the discus. He played college football under Engle and Paterno at Penn State. He then secured his veterinary medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania and moved with his wife, Marilou, to Virginia Beach to build what would become a successful practice in Princess Anne Veterinary Hospital.
Jim loved life and lived every moment to the fullest. He was incredibly creative in cooking, carpentry, architecture, gardening, repurposing, and being an all-around Renaissance man. With the help of family and friends, he built and has continued his labor of love in a beautiful second home in the Blue Ridge Mountains. In the last 10 years of his retirement, Jim and Marilou have enjoyed world travel and re-connection with college friends.
His other defining trait was the intensity of his love of family and friends. His heart was as big as his spirit—which was immense. Jim is loved by his wife, Lou; his children, Jamie and Brian; his son and daughter-in-laws, Colin and Valarie; his two beautiful granddaughters, Evie and Madi; mother, Ann; brother, Frank among too many other family and friends to name.
He will be missed by all but carried in our hearts every day. His legacy of love, loyalty, and commitment will follow him forever. In lieu of flowers, an endowment to the First Colonial High School track and field program will be established in his honor. A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 22, 2014 at All Saints’ Episcopal Church at 11am. Reception to follow
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