Beer of the Week: Ale Industries Bill Brand Brown

This Beer of the Week is a special one. This coming week will mark a somber anniversary. February 25th, the day William Brand finally succumbed to injuries suffered in a MUNI accident and passed away. So to honor Bill, I chose Ale Industries’ Bill Brand Brown as the Beer of the Week.

William Brand was a big part of the Bay Area beer scene. His passion for beer was tangible and he seemed to be everywhere. Bill would travel throughout the bay and farther and would take up the cause of small breweries and make sure the public knew of them.

When his memorial was held at the Trappist in Oakland, I really got a sense of how much Bill had done. When Justin Crossley of the Brewing Network spoke, he told everyone a story of Bill encouraging him to be bold, to take a chance and take a stab at this beer radio thing. I had been emailing Bill, texting him, calling him, to talk about stories, ideas, or just beer in general, and remember him telling me to pitch my column to papers, magazines, anyone who would listen. It was then that I realized that Bill shared his knowledge and passion with everyone. He encouraged, inspired and supported not just the brewers but the entire beer industry, from those made the beer to the people who report on it down to someone who does nothing more than drink a beer they insist tastes good.

I could write a lot about Bill, but I want to keep it brief and get to the beer that’s named after him. This is the Beer of the Week after all, and the idea was inspired (stolen?) from his old column with the Tribune.

We feel Bill would have appreciated our Northern English Brown. The brown represents brewing in its truest form, right off the cuff. This beer was brewed to fulfill our need for a light “session” full flavored beer that surprises on every sip. 4.5% ABV , Victory and Vienna, along with Pale Chocolate give this beer its body and flavor. Galena, Willamette, and Fuggles, are the hops, in that order.

Morgan Cox, Ale Industires

Bill Brand Brown (aka Northern English Brown) starts with a dry malty aroma, perfect for the style. The flavors are clean and with a roasted finish that dries out on the tongue. Refreshing and inviting, this beer is nice on a damp cool evening. Excellent example of a session brown and definitely one Bill would have appreciated.

Numerous beers were brewed around the Bay Area for Bill. They even had a festival for those beers at Barclay’s in Oakland during SF Beer Week.

So when you’re having a beer this coming Thursday, be sure to take a minute, grab something you remember Bill writing about (or an Anchor Porter if you can’t make up your mind) and raise a glass to Bill. We miss you Bill.