Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

Socialize

You are here: Home / Birthdays / Beer Birthday: Alan Sprints

Beer Birthday: Alan Sprints

By

hair-of-the-dog
Today would have been the 67th birthday of Alan Sprints, but unfortunately Alan passed away earlier this year in late July. Alan was the founder of Hair of the Dog Brewery in Portland, Oregon. Alan made some of the most unique and wonderful beers, not just in Portland, but anywhere, all the more impressive because he brewed out of an old Campbell’s soup kettle. A few years ago he relocated the brewery, now with a tasting room, to a new location on S.E. Yamhill in Portland. And a couple of years back, he came over to our home and brewed a version of his wonderful Doggie Claws with my son Porter on his brew sculpture. Alan was simply one of the best brewers anywhere and one of my favorite people in the industry. Sadly, he just closed down his brewery although he continued to do some limited releases and collaborations, but on July 20 after a battle with bladder cancer passed away. Join me in drinking a toast to Alan’s memory today.

Alan and me at OBF in 2011.
Alan, with Portland beer writer Fred Eckhardt, at his annual open house during OBF in 2008.
Alan with his two Washington Cask Festival ribbons at Brouwer’s in Seattle a couple of years ago for the Keene Tasting.
Sean Paxton, the homebrew chef, my son Porter, and Alan, when he brewed a version of Doggie Claws with Porter at my house three years ago.
Alan standing in front of some of his aging beers, in 2007.
SAM_5534
Toasting Fred Eckhardt a few years ago, Alan with the other founders of FredFest.
Fred Eckhardt and Alan at OBF in 2011.



Comments

  1. Aloha:

    Alan Sprints is a great guy and his brews are ono (good tasting). Sorry to miss him when he was in the islands (I was on the mainland visiting folks) Happy Birthday and hopefully many more to follow.

    Peter Rappa
    Honolulu Hawaii

  2. This man is clearly a genius – – I’ve loved every single Hair of the Dog beer I’ve had. Talk about timeless, world-class beers… Happy Birthday, Alan.

  3. Alan,
    Congrats on the birthday. Your new place is great. Next time up from L.A., we will stop by again
    Tom Gilles

    p.s. This is opening weekend for the new location of my son Tom’s business in Bend – – – The Brew Shop and The Platypus Pub !

  4. Alan,
    Congratulations. Love your beers. The new place is much better than the railroad yard building ! ! ! At least the floor is level!
    Tom and Karon Gilles
    Portland native, living in Hollywood