Sad news I guess. All the best to Alan, just found his RB profile.
Absolute legend. Sad I won’t get to visit his brewery, but such is life.
Interesting that he won’t pass it on but I guess either the family doesn’t want to continue or perhaps they want to do something on their own, without the burden of such a legendary name and legacy.
Honestly fabulous beers. Never seemed to make enough to go around, which was part of the charm. I saw a fresh batch of Adam, Fred & Doggie last year & bought a mixed case, but it’s all gone. Sad I never had any “of the wood” variants.
Slight chance I’m in Portland this spring. One last chance.
Oh wow. Glad I managed to get a visit in and try a number of their beers.
I have 2 beers left.
Fred 47 - $1.99 at Trader Joe’s, say around 2007 in Citrus Heights, CA.
Adam 72 - $5.55 at Ledger’s Liquors in Berkeley, CA in June 2009
Dang bad news - was going every year to the Portland festival and hitting the pub every year til the pandemic - now this
It is especially surprising bc I remember his son working in the brewery whenever the last PDX summer gathering was happening. In my head, I thought this meant that a heritage for the brewery was being established. But it seems that kids of brewers don’t want to enter the family business (e.g., Bell’s).
I’m thinking hard if I can sneak in another trip to PDX before he closes up shop.
Sad but very understandable.
I managed to visit HotD three times and every visit was fascinating. Met also Alan briefly at London one time. I have rated ~13000 beers and Matt 2013 which I had December 2013 at brewery is still my highest rated beer.
Hopefully their legacy lives long and I can still enjoy some vintage bottles at Portland after covid is over and I am able to travel there again…
Janne
I’ve spent a lot of time with Alan, Wendy and the whole crew. I think he’s ready to retire and just didn’t find a right way to keep it going. The area has become really rough with a huge homeless encampment right next to it, it looks like a FEMA camp. I have hundreds of HOTD beers, some going back to the 90s. When I moved to Portland, my first thought was about getting to go to HOTD all the time. And I have. It’s really hit me hard to think that it will be gone. Alan is a great guy, generous and kind. If anyone wants a proxy to pick up HOTD beers, let me know. I will be by there many times before it closes. Also, if anyone visits Portland, hit me up.
You got a free place to crash!
Coming to Portland next October/November if covid situation is better and definitely I will be interested in rare HotD vintage bottles for a trade…
Janne
That definitely improves the chances.
Oh wow, this is sad news. Was planning on going later in the year, may try to make an earlier trip to have a last couple visits. Always a highlight to have beers and conversation here.
The HoD vintage guides are still on line - if you got ancient brews, date them now.
what time of year are you thinking of going?
I am not sure how long Alan will stay open, but he said sometime this Summer it will close. They will hold bottles at the brewery for a long time. I can hold them as well.
PANDEMIC MODE ON
buy everything
It will probably be 1st week of July for anniversary/birthday trip. Hopefully they are still open then. If that trip changes to somewhere else, I’ll probably make a solo trip there in April or May.
Looks like one last Fred Fest May 13-15. I’m planning to drive up from the Bay so I can load the car up with one last haul.
Unfortunately looks like I’ll miss going to HotD before they are closed. Airfare is too insane now, so we’ve changed where our July trip will be. I should be going to PDX solo in October. Highly doubt they’ll still be open then.