Who's keeping track around here?

Anyone who can keep up with the beer news this past week is a much better, or just more obsessive, person than am I. Here's a quick rundown of just some of the beer headlines of the last week. Terry Hawbaker announced his departure from renowned Bullfrog Brewery in Williamsport, Pa. Within a day, the Fork and Barrel team announced their intention for a new multi-faceted concept in Center City Philadelphia called The Grainery....in-house brewer will be -- Terry Hawbaker Don Younger, legendary publican in Portland, Oregon, passed away Russian River released its Pliny the Younger and dedicated it to the memory and life work of Don Younger Gambrinus announced the discontinuation of the Pete's Wicked brand of beers. One of my original craft beers from the early 90s gone. (great video links at Jay's site as well) Mega-merger news: MolsonCoors buying Sharp's in the UK? Looks like it. News quickly followed by rumors of Anheuser-Busch InBev buying SABMiller? Maybe not so quick. On a much smaller scale, the beer geeks are all a-foam over the announced collaboration beer, aged over a year in wood, being released soon by Cigar City and The Bruery And on an even smaller scale, I put together a Super Bowl Guide to finding Great Beer in Dallas, Green Bay, Pittsburgh, and anywhere else you might be watching the game this year. Did I miss anything?

Portland's Beer Scene has lost a legend

Don Younger, of Portland's Horse Brass Pub, passed away last night.

Though I've never met Don Younger, been to his pub, nor visited Portland, Oregon (one of my beer shortcomings), whenever a presence like his is lost, we all feel it. I've read of Don through the years and seen interviews with him. I'd always hoped the day would come when I'd be visiting Portland and get a chance to meet the man who helped create the fabric of the Portland Beer Scene and continue it thirty years on. For those of you who have, I'm sure you have special stories to share.

As much as it takes brewers to make the beer that fuels the industry, it takes publicans like Younger who help make it accessible to the masses. Hopefully, you are all fortunate enough to have your own Don Younger manning the taps in your neighborhood. We, like Portland, would all be better off if we did.

Cheers to Don's life and may he rest in peace. Observations also by Pete Brown, OregonLive.com, via a BeerAdvocate forum posting, and earlier information from Jay Brooks. And, for additional reference, Imbibe Magazine has a nice profile of Don Younger on their site.