Hopinions: Memories of Bill Brand

SF Beer Week ended a little more than a week ago. While I like to think the overall event was a success, this silver lining is not without a cloud. Former Oakland Tribune columnist, beer writer and blogger William “Bill” Brand passed away after a tragic accident during the festivities. As you know, a memorial event will be held at the Trappist on March 1, 2009 at about 1pm where we’ll be raising our glasses up in a collective toast to Bill. I thought we could take this opportunity to recall our memories of Bill.

I started going full time with BetterBeerBlog around November of 2007. Back then, I didn’t know squat about squat. I was isolated and worked alone completely oblivious to the beer culture that surrounded me. I remember reading the Mercury News online and was happy to see they had started a beer column. Right after the first article was posted, I left a comment saying how this was far overdue and that it was about time beer started to get its due. As you can easily guess, Bill Brand was the writer of that very first column. That article led me to his blog which in turn ended up being a gateway to the rest of the beer community here in the bay area.

I remember the first time I saw Bill was at the Double IPA festival at the Bistro in early 2008. It was late in the day and in strolls Bill. My first thought was, “he’s shorter than I expected”. With an ease and familiarity, he made the rounds talking to people he knew and sampling the beer. All the while, he was scribbling in his notepad. I carry a little notebook with me just about everywhere I go because I’m old school that way. I’ve tried the digital voice recorder thing but was never comfortable with it. It’s been suggested to me by many that I should at least get a smart phone so I can take notes that way but there’s just something about a pen and a pad that seems right. It’s old school. Bill was old school and I felt vindicated everytime I saw him scribbling away in his notepad. I marveled at the way he was able to sample a beer, jot down a few notes and go on to the next. When I would go back to his blog and read up on his take of things, I was impressed by how much information he would have from what appeared to be just a few notes. I’m sure he’s honed his skills as a journalist over the years and this was all second nature to him but for a n00b like me, it was impressive.

I never introduced myself to him at that event, or at the many other events I saw him at afterwards. The very first time, I was a bit star-struck. This was a writer I followed regularly and respected and to see him in person left me a little intimidated. Since I was just starting out with my writing at the time, I felt that I needed more content on the website before I spoke to him. I felt that I needed to increase my knowledge of beer before I felt I could talk to him as a peer and not just a fan. In retrospect, I could’ve been both. I’m sure he would’ve just laughed all this off as he always seemed so down to earth and very personable but I’ll never know for sure.

What was your first memory of Bill?

From: Mario at Brewed For Thought

Much of my interactions will Bill have been limited to a few email exchanges here and there as well as a few “sightings” at the various beer events I am able to go to. At every event, that I saw Bill at, you could bet your bottom dollar that he was enjoying himself. If he wasn’t talking to industry people or friends, he was enjoying the beers on hand, always scribbling into his book.

The very last time I saw Bill was at the Anchor Event in San Francisco that kicked-off SF Beer Week. Never having been to Anchor Steam before, I was really excited to go. What made the experience even more memorable for me was that this was basically and “industry” event. For the first time since starting the blog, I felt like I was accepted by the beer community. It was a privilege to have been invited. I spent the beginning of the evening getting familiar with the Anchor Steam line of beers and right when Fritz Maytag was about to speak, I noticed Bill right in front of me, notebook in hand. For a brief moment, I had thought to myself that I would finally introduce myself to Bill and chat him up a little bit before the big speeches began. But, as with every single opportunity prior, I had come up with some excuse not to. “He looks busy.” “There’s always the Beer & Chocolate Dinner at Firehouse.” “I should probably set up to take a better shot of the speeches”. Always something to keep putting it off, always something to hold me back. And now I have nothing to show for all those “somethings”. This moment left unseized is a bittersweet reminder to grab each opportunity that presents itself. I’m just sad I had to learn this lesson this way.

Believe it or not, the one story that sticks out in my head the most from Bill Brand’s blog is his review of the new (at the time) Anheuser-Busch American Ale. For years we in the craft beer community have rallied against A-B (Coors and Miller to a larger extent). We’ve campaigned against the “evil empire” and denounced the pale, yellow, fizzy excuse of a beer they call Budweiser. All of a sudden, American Ale comes out and one of our champions, Bill, comes out and says what few might’ve been willing to acknowledge: “I like it, and that’s the rub.” You have to give it to Bill, he was opinionated, but he was always fair.

So while everyone else will be at the Trappist sharing stories of Bill while drinking full-flavored craft ales and Belgian ales, my “tribute” post to Bill will automatically be posted with a review of Budweisers American Ale. Here’s to you, Bill! Cheers!

From: Mario at Brewed For Thought

I keep thinking about the night of that Anchor event.  We met up at The Trappist that night and I had planned on inviting Bill since I know you hadn’t met him yet.  I decided against it thinking there would be another time and coordinating two people coming from Anchor with another person coming from another event would be far too much of a headache.

Personally, I’ll be bringing a bottle of Oak Aged Yeti from Great Divide to The Trappist this Sunday.  Back in 2007, Bill wrote an article about how much he loved the beer and how he had hoped to bring a bottle home.  Apparently, Homeland Security had other ideas, and as his bags were already checked, Bill took down that bottle right there in the Denver Airport.  It broke my heart to imagine someone chugging such a fine beer, and even more so know it was Bill, who doesn’t chug beer, and would also be heart broken thinking his souvenir would be treated in such a manner.

Having friends in Denver I arranged for a bottle to be shipped out to me.  Bill and I were to meet up a few times which fell through for me to give him the beer.  We even tried to enlist help from his daughter who lived in Sebastopol at the time.  All attempts proved futile and I eventually drank the beer by myself.  It was fantastic.

And with that, I also say, “Cheers!” to Bill.  Thanks for bringing up the topic again Pete, as I could write about Bill all week and still have more to say.  He set a bar for amatuers such as us to aim for, and will be sorely missed in the Bay Area.