I remember that episode so well! My great grandfather and his brother were very involved with beer brewing in San Francisco, from about 1890 to 1910. My great grandfather had several patents for beer barrels, and I have the original drawings and patent numbers that were issued.

Huell Howser was such a great personality. My wife and I loved to watch him. I am going to look into getting specific episodes of his programs.

Huell Howser gave all his recordings to Chapman University, in Southern California, including an archive of all his “California’s Gold” TV episodes, which the university has digitized, according to his wishes, and placed online for free public viewing.

http://blogs.chapman.edu/happenings/2013/01/07/chapman-university-remembers-huell-howser/









>His episode on Hops hit very close to home for me. George Signorotti was a LONG time family friend of my grandfather's. George, Huell & the last family hop farm in CA are all missed.
>
>I cannot find the episode but here's the trailer.
>http://www.calgold.com/calgold/Default.asp?Series=7000&Show=745
>
>>If you are from California and have watched PBS you may have seen Huell Howser and his program, California Gold.
>>
>>A television program I have watched for many years on PBS was “California Gold”, and it’s many variations. It was created and hosted by Huell Howser, who was from Tennessee, and moved to our state in 1981. After watching his program this evening they said in memory of Huell Howser 1945 to 2013. It seems he passed away yesterday.
>>
>>I always try to watch Huell Howser’s programs, as he was so full of enthusiasm, and friendly to everyone. He would have a program about something very interesting, and interview people about his presentation. I would tell people, “It is amazing that Huell Howser shows us things in our own backyard, that we do not know about”!
>>
>>I will sure miss Huell and my wife and I cannot believe that he is gone.