Historic Beer Birthday: Fred Eckhardt

May 10, 2025 By Jay Brooks

Esteemed Portland beer writer Fred Eckhardt would have turned 99 today. Portland’s Fred Eckhardt was a living legend, especially in his home city, having pioneered writing about and defining beer styles with his early book on the subject, The Essentials of Beer Style, published in 1989. FredFest, a Portland beer festival honoring Fred has been held around his birthday since he turned 80 and was still being held without Fred in attendance for several years. Join me in raising a toast to Fred’s memory, and wishing Fred a very happy birthday.

Fred Eckhardt and me at the Great American Beer Festival in 2005.

cbn18-23 — At the Celebrator’s 18th anniversary party in February. From left: Shaun O’Sullivan, from 21st Amendment, Fred Eckhardt, the woman who wanted this picture of all her beer writing “heroes” in the first place, me, Tom Dalldorf, Celebrator publisher, and Randy Griggs, with DBi and the BN.

beer-goddess-02 — Fred with fellow Portland beer writer Lisa Morrison.

Alan Sprints, of Hair of the Dog Brewery, with Fred Eckhardt, at Hair of the Dog’s open house in 2008 during OBF.

Comments

Ward says
May 10, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Jay,
This guy…”and a brewer from Brewmasters.” if I’m not mistaken is DOZE member, and B3 employee Randy Griggs.
Cheers,
Ward
Tom Dalldorf says
May 11, 2011 at 7:36 am
Happy b-day Fred! You are my hero. My fave Fred-ism: “I always wanted to be a writer and now I are one.”
Cheers, Tom
tim from florida says
May 11, 2011 at 4:38 pm
Happy birthday to Fred. Love his column in All About Beer Magazine. What a guy!
Fred says
August 21, 2011 at 5:28 am
Alan, Where did you get the ‘Fred’ tee shirt? Gotta have one. Thanks, Fred
- Alan says
  May 13, 2014 at 12:09 pm
  fredsociety.com has them
Banjo says
May 10, 2012 at 9:56 am
Happy Birthday Fred! Holy S**T 86! Who’da ever thunk an old jarhead like you would ever make it this far and still have so much more to give! See you soon!
Banjo
Kendall Staggs says
May 10, 2012 at 11:54 am
Fred is one of the true gentlemen in the beer world. I had the privilege of judging Best of Show at the Oregon Homebrew Festival with him a few times. It was an unforgettable learning experience.
Kendall
- Gary Gillman says
  May 11, 2014 at 5:16 am
  Very pleased to add to all these wishes. He is a legend. Had the pleasure of meeting I’m in Portland some years ago. Fred was a teen-aged U.S. Marine in the Pacific in 1944-45, an early home brewer, author of a book on lager-brewing circa 1970, and an indispensable part of the beer renaissance. Good to see him still active and enjoying his favourite beverage.
  Gary