A beer and a smile at the old Horse Brass
February 13, 2011 10:19 AM Subscribe
If you've ever been grateful for the abundance of delicious beer that's popped up in the last few decades, raise a glass to Don Younger today at three.
The American craft beer scene can claim many founders and heroes. Don Younger was considered by many to be both. By supporting upstart regional brewers like Rogue and Widmer at the bar he purchased one night while drunk, the famed Horse Brass Pub, he midwifed the Northwest microbrew movement into existence.
Don passed away two weeks ago. Today there's going to be a pretty big party at his bar to celebrate his life.
The American craft beer scene can claim many founders and heroes. Don Younger was considered by many to be both. By supporting upstart regional brewers like Rogue and Widmer at the bar he purchased one night while drunk, the famed Horse Brass Pub, he midwifed the Northwest microbrew movement into existence.
Don passed away two weeks ago. Today there's going to be a pretty big party at his bar to celebrate his life.
Whenever I'm in Portland, I try to stop in the Horse Brass. Such a fine pub. Not just for beer snobs, it's a genuinely comfortable and friendly place. RIP, Don.
posted by Nelson at 10:29 AM on February 13, 2011
posted by Nelson at 10:29 AM on February 13, 2011
I will be dreaming of a stick beer and a steak and mushroom pie today, in honor.
posted by oflinkey at 10:32 AM on February 13, 2011
posted by oflinkey at 10:32 AM on February 13, 2011
I'm just drinking Narraganset* but I'll raise a toast anyway.
*Really, they had it at the local Key Food in Queens, they had Genessee and Iron City , too. Somebody's buying up and reviving all the regional grandpa beers (and I like it)
posted by jonmc at 10:35 AM on February 13, 2011
*Really, they had it at the local Key Food in Queens, they had Genessee and Iron City , too. Somebody's buying up and reviving all the regional grandpa beers (and I like it)
posted by jonmc at 10:35 AM on February 13, 2011
How could I have appreciated YSB so many times and not know this backstory? A toast it is.
posted by dabitch at 10:47 AM on February 13, 2011
posted by dabitch at 10:47 AM on February 13, 2011
Ah, nuts. And here I am 200 miles away for another week. The Horse Brass is one of my favorite pubs in Portland. He will be missed.
posted by narwhal bacon at 10:50 AM on February 13, 2011
posted by narwhal bacon at 10:50 AM on February 13, 2011
Unfortunately, all I have in the house is an MGD 64. I'll just pour it down the drain in his name instead.
.
posted by d1rge at 10:51 AM on February 13, 2011 [7 favorites]
.
posted by d1rge at 10:51 AM on February 13, 2011 [7 favorites]
3PM local time, or 3PM Portland time?
posted by paisley henosis at 11:11 AM on February 13, 2011
posted by paisley henosis at 11:11 AM on February 13, 2011
"at 3 p.m. your time on Sunday, Feb. 13"
Answered on the BeerAdvocate link.
posted by paisley henosis at 11:12 AM on February 13, 2011
Answered on the BeerAdvocate link.
posted by paisley henosis at 11:12 AM on February 13, 2011
Yeah, it's a "rolling" toast. I'm sure Don wouldn't care if it was exactly 3 anyway.
posted by medeine at 11:16 AM on February 13, 2011
posted by medeine at 11:16 AM on February 13, 2011
*Raises glass of beer*
posted by A dead Quaker at 12:00 PM on February 13, 2011
posted by A dead Quaker at 12:00 PM on February 13, 2011
Cheers...nastrovya...slainte...prost...salud!
( I know how to say Cheers in more languages than I know how to say "fuck you"...I reckon that's a good thing!)
posted by notsnot at 12:59 PM on February 13, 2011 [2 favorites]
( I know how to say Cheers in more languages than I know how to say "fuck you"...I reckon that's a good thing!)
posted by notsnot at 12:59 PM on February 13, 2011 [2 favorites]
OK, it's 3 p.m. in the Midwest. Here's to craft beer!
posted by limeonaire at 1:01 PM on February 13, 2011
posted by limeonaire at 1:01 PM on February 13, 2011
[[clunks a can of Simpler Times with notsnot's glass]]
posted by limeonaire at 1:02 PM on February 13, 2011
posted by limeonaire at 1:02 PM on February 13, 2011
Damn - I didn't see this until 3:11! I'll raise a glass to Don right now, then pour another and raise it as an apology for missing the one at three. And then I'll pour and raise another just in case the first one didn't stick.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 1:15 PM on February 13, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 1:15 PM on February 13, 2011 [2 favorites]
It's not 3pm in Portland for another 16 minutes. Keep drinking.
posted by mek at 2:44 PM on February 13, 2011
posted by mek at 2:44 PM on February 13, 2011
I had my first legal beer at the Horse Brass...
posted by yodelingisfun at 4:33 PM on February 13, 2011
posted by yodelingisfun at 4:33 PM on February 13, 2011
Raising an impromptu pint glass of Ghost River Black Magic. And thanks jonmc for the love of old grandpa beers--Genny's a plebe-y vintage fave of mine (though Iron City man, the only place I'll drink that is in a stadium in Pittsburgh...).
posted by ifjuly at 6:15 PM on February 13, 2011
posted by ifjuly at 6:15 PM on February 13, 2011
Just sat down to the computer after opening a Rogue American Amber Ale and saw this post. I missed 3 PST but I raise my bottle to his memory.
posted by octothorpe at 6:29 PM on February 13, 2011
posted by octothorpe at 6:29 PM on February 13, 2011
Just returned home from the wake. hundreds and hundreds of people there... tents in parking lot full. Every major (and minor) brewer within 100 mi. present. free beer flowing, snacks, memories, bagpipes, drunks, hooligans, etc. Don was a great promoter of the home/micro brew movement but also a good friend, and a genuinely excellent guy. It's not about the beer, its about the beer.
posted by ijustwantyourhalf at 7:03 PM on February 13, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by ijustwantyourhalf at 7:03 PM on February 13, 2011 [3 favorites]
It's not about the beer, its about the beer.
Indeed. God bless Don Younger, and I hope smoking is allowed in Heaven. And if beer isn't, I know where I'll see him next.
posted by Prince_of_Cups at 8:05 PM on February 13, 2011
Indeed. God bless Don Younger, and I hope smoking is allowed in Heaven. And if beer isn't, I know where I'll see him next.
posted by Prince_of_Cups at 8:05 PM on February 13, 2011
I missed it. I know what the missus is getting for V day now though. Thanks guys.
posted by thsmchnekllsfascists at 8:09 AM on February 14, 2011
posted by thsmchnekllsfascists at 8:09 AM on February 14, 2011
The ones to thank are California Senator Alan Cranston and then President Jimmy Carter. He's the one who spearheaded changing federal law to make homebrewing legal in 1978. Many serious homebrewers became craft brewers. The rest is history.
posted by spock at 6:54 AM on February 15, 2011
posted by spock at 6:54 AM on February 15, 2011
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