San Francisco Bay Area beer writer Bill Brand passed away last night, surrounded by friends and family, according to Bottoms Up, the blog he wrote for the Oakland Tribune. The Tribune also has an obituary with a guest book for people to sign. According to a family friend, “a memorial service is planned and details will be announced later today.” This is a dark day for the beer community.
1938-2009
Bill became a mentor to me when I started my first paying job as a beer writer. His loss will be deeply felt because this man gave alot not just to his family but also to the community.
My sympathies to everyone whose lives he touched,
Virginia Jamison
Another sad loss for the beer world. Yet happiness abounds from Bill’s work in telling us about beer. Work that deserves to be in any food/beverage & beer/brewing library and museums.