- Bottoms Up (RSS)Sad news
By asoglin
Friday, February 20th, 2009 at 7:53 am in what's on tap.
Our dear friend and longtime reporter Bill Brand passed away early this morning at S.F. General Hospital.
A brief obituary has been posted on the Oakland Tribune.
More will be added later about memorial services and the life of this wonderful man.
There is a guestbook with the story for those who would like to leave a message.
SAN FRANCISCO — William Brand, a longtime reporter for the Oakland Tribune, died early Friday as a result of injuries suffered in a Muni train incident in San Francisco Feb. 8. He was 70.
Brand died at San Francisco General Hospital, surrounded by family and friends, according to a friend of the family.
A recently retired reporter, Brand was walking near Second and King streets around 9:10 p.m. Feb. 8 when he was hit by oncoming N-Judah train, SF police said.
Brand was knocked into a nearby pole by the impact, police Inspector Dean Taylor said.
The investigation is continuing, but it appears to have been an accident, Taylor said.
Brand retired from regular news gathering at the Tribune in November after 27 years at the paper. He continued to write a well-read beer blog titled “What’s On Tap.”
The night he was struck by the train, Brand was returning from the 21st Amendment Brewery on Second Street where he had attended a food and beer pairing event he was writing about for his blog.
A memorial service is planned and details will be announced later today, a friend said.
[You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.]
February 20th, 2009 at 8:10 am
RIP, Bill
February 20th, 2009 at 8:15 am
RIP – Condolences to family…
February 20th, 2009 at 8:21 am
[...] http://www.ibabuzz.com/bottomsup/2009/02/20/sad-news/ Posted by beermerchants Filed in Beer Festival News, BeerWeb ·Tags: Bill Brand [...]
February 20th, 2009 at 8:23 am
RIP buddy. You will be missed not only here in the bay, but all around the world.
February 20th, 2009 at 8:30 am
Thoughts and condolences to Bill’s family and friends. I’ve never met Bill, but I feel as if I have gotten to know him –and his love for good beer and food– through his column.
February 20th, 2009 at 8:32 am
I was soo saddended to hear this news this morning. I am heartsick and my thoughts go out to his family.
February 20th, 2009 at 8:34 am
Our prayers go out to Bill and his family. I never met Bill in person, but we exchanged emails on occasion. He was always interested in hearing about beer-related activities, even on this side of the US. I’ll miss his postings.
February 20th, 2009 at 8:52 am
[...] Dammit. Bill Brand, after putting up an admirable fight, passed away last night at San Francisco General Hospital. I’ve only gotten to know Bill over the last year, but he was always amazingly encouraging to me and the work I was doing on this blog, as well as a pleasure to be around. He was a constantly supportive voice in the Bay Area beer community for creative and exciting beers, and an evangelist for the industry. As mentioned before, he was also always the constant professional, keeping a close eye on how much he had had to drink, and carried a designated driver in tow to many event. His friendly face, great palette, chicken scratch reporter’s notebook and friendship will be missed. [...]
February 20th, 2009 at 8:59 am
You will be missed. RIP and many condolences to his family.
February 20th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Such a sad day indeed. I have lost a friend. My condolences to Bill’s family, he will be sorely missed.
February 20th, 2009 at 9:22 am
You will be missed Bill. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.
February 20th, 2009 at 9:24 am
RIP Bill. I will miss your column. Condolences to the Bill’s family
February 20th, 2009 at 9:29 am
You will be missed.
February 20th, 2009 at 9:30 am
I was fortunate to meet Bill for the first time at his last beer dinner. He was as classy in person as he was from across the country. Cheers, Bill, to a life well-lived. You will be missed for your great contributions. My thoughts and best wishes go out to your family and close friends.
February 20th, 2009 at 9:37 am
This is so incredibly sad. Good-bye to a true professional, a great writer, and a friend of beer lovers everywhere. Bill, you will be sorely missed. Condolences to your loved ones.
February 20th, 2009 at 9:46 am
God bless you Bill.
I will miss your intelligence, your sense of humor and your fantastic writings on great beer and good food.
My condolences to your family.
February 20th, 2009 at 9:47 am
I am so sad to learn of Bill’s passing – I was really hoping he was going to pull through. My thoughts are with his family, who can take strength in knowing how much of a positive impact Bill had on the world. He will be greatly missed.
February 20th, 2009 at 9:48 am
Many condolences to the Brand family. I am still in shock over the news.
February 20th, 2009 at 10:09 am
We will dearly miss the great Bill Brand. He was a great writer and an even better man. His column and blog will certainly be missed, along with the classy man that Bill was. I last clinked glasses with him the day before the tragic accident. God rest his soul. Prayers for his family.
February 20th, 2009 at 10:11 am
Boy this is a tough one. Very sad. My thoughts and condolences to Bill’s family.
I’ve known Bill since he first wrote an article in the Oakland Trib about our impending opening of Roaring Rock Brewery, back in early 1986. He was a beer guy even then, at the start of the modern brewpub movement. It was great to see Bill around Berkeley over the years as he covered the goings on at City Hall and on campus for the Trib and the Times. His “What’s on Tap” print newsletter was always a favorite read too, before the internet. Speaking for all local craft brewers, I can’t thank Bill enough for his suport of us and the industry over these more than 20 years.
It was great to see you Bill, at Anchor the week before last! Who would have thought it would be the last time we’d get the chance to talk? You’ll be greatly missed!
February 20th, 2009 at 10:25 am
He was one of the most interesting characters I ever met in the cohort of folks who write about beer, mostly because he lived his life in a much wider world than the one seen from a bar stool. Almost every story I could tell about Bill is an amusing one (as he would have wanted, I suspect), but they all seem sad today. Rest well, old friend.
February 20th, 2009 at 10:27 am
Sad, sad news. Condolences go out to the Brand family.
Despite what a tragic and senseless accident this was, I feel that Bill will still be here in spirit every time someone toasts a hoppy west coast IPA or finds a great new beer and food pairing.
Here’s to you, Bill. May you rest in peace.
February 20th, 2009 at 10:32 am
RIP, That is so sad. Condolences to his family.
February 20th, 2009 at 10:34 am
[...] is what I just posted at Bottoms Up, the San Francisco Bay Area website of which he was a part: He was one of the most interesting [...]
February 20th, 2009 at 10:42 am
This is very sad news. Cheers to you, Bill. You will be missed.
February 20th, 2009 at 10:54 am
RIP Bill. You will be missed by many.
February 20th, 2009 at 11:15 am
very sad. Bill every time I saw you or talked to you – you had a smile on your face and a beer in your hand – You will be missed by many.
February 20th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Bill, you were a great supporter, promoter and friend to the craft beer world. Your loss leaves a giant hole in the craft beer world and in our hearts. You will be missed.
February 20th, 2009 at 11:30 am
My condolences to the family. He mentioned them often on this blog. This is a loss for many communities: beer lovers, beer writers, beer readers!
February 20th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Only got to know Bill through the blog but felt like I knew him better than that. His knowledge and great spirit will be missed. My deepest condolences go out to his family.
February 20th, 2009 at 11:34 am
[...] just heard that Bill Brand has passed away. Not much to say but that I will miss him. I only talked to him a few times but [...]
February 20th, 2009 at 11:50 am
Such hard news.
Bill touched a lot of lives, and many of us are hurting, but my deepest condolences of course are to his family. Thank you for keeping us informed, and for being in our friend’s life. You too are deeply appreciated by many you have never met.
February 20th, 2009 at 11:59 am
This is indeed very sad news for all of us who knew Bill personally and for the many people who knew him thru his writing. He was a good soul, friendly, optimistic, creative and thoroughly dedicated to building the craft beer movement. What made him so special was that her really cared about the people he met and worked with.
I feel so fortunate to have met him and will dearly miss him.
February 20th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
This sucks. My condolences go out to the Brand family. I’ve only known Bill through his writing and his blog. I’ve grown to respect his words and his contributions to the beer industry.
February 20th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Rest in Peace Bill. Thank you for being a pioneer in beer journalism and raising the status of a form of creativity which is just now starting to get the recognition it deserves. We have people like you to thank for your professional journalism and coverage of this topic for over 20 years. You will be very, very missed. I raise a glass in honor of your legacy. My condolences and best wishes to the family.
February 20th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Bill will be missed. He was such a vital part of the Bay Area Beer Scene. I shared many a beer with Bill over the years. My thoughts are with his family and friends. I will raise a pint in his honor this evening.
February 20th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
So sad to hear this news. As others have said, much respect to a life and body of work that touched so many. Condolences to his family and loved ones.
Will crack a special bottle tonight for Bill.
February 20th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
[...] Area beer writer Bill Brand passed away last night, surrounded by friends and family, according to Bottoms Up, the blog he wrote for the Oakland Tribune. The Tribune also has an obituary with a guest book for [...]
February 20th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
You will be missed but not forgotten. Rest in peace my dear friend.
February 20th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Thank you all for your kind words. This is an incredibly difficult time and most of us here at the office are still in shock. Bill was not only a fantastic journalist and community builder, but he was a kind and upright human being.
February 20th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Bill’s blog was the first thing I checked every morning when I sat down at my computer. Not only did he do so much for the Craft Beer industry, he was just a very person to boot.
My heart goes out to all his family and friends that care so much about him.
Here’s to Bill Brand!
February 20th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
My condolences to the Brand family. I had the wonderful opportunity to judge Sam Adams’ beer with Bill last June in Boston. On the ride from our hotel to the brewery, Bill and I had a great conversation on the state of beer in the U.S.
I’ll always remember what a nice, down-to-earth kinda guy he was.
My nightly pint will be sipped in his honor. Here’s to ya Bill!
February 20th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
As with many others, I knew Bill solely through his writings on this blog, but it is still sad and upsetting to read of his passing. His was the first beer blog that I actively began reading, and his news and reviews were always a great read.
Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family and those friends who had the privilege of knowing him personally. He will be missed.
February 20th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
this is a sad moment for the bay’s beer aficionados… Condolences to the Brand family and friends. I never had the privilege of meeting him, but read “What’s on Tap” nigh religiously…
Thank you Bill, you will be missed!
A high toast of Pliny to you Bill…
February 20th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
RIP, Bill. Your blog/columns were rich with life and content, as I imagine your life was.
My condolences to the Brand family.
February 20th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
A true loss. Thank you for everything Bill. My heart goes out to all his family and friends.
February 20th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
How tragic! Unlike many of you, I never had the privilege of meeting Bill. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading about the Bay Area places I would frequent when I lived in Oakland. Having become a beer writer in the last year, I expected it would only be a matter of time. Sadly, it’s not to be. My deepest sympathies to Bill’s family, friends, and to you, Jessica.
February 20th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
I’m stunned and deply saddened. Bill will be missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Brand family.
February 20th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
A sad, sad day. Bill’s column made every Wednesday special for me, and I looked forward to meeting him “on the trail” one day. Will hoist something special for Bill this evening.
February 20th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
You’ll be missed here, Bill. Our deep condolences to Bill’s family, near and beer friends one and all.
We suspect Bill’s already begun exploring and converting those on the other side with his unique craftiness. To your work here and beyond we raise a toast. Cheers!
February 20th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
I am so sad to hear this news…please send condolences from us at the N Judah Chronicles to his family. These stories are always so sad and I just hope they do something to make the system safer.
February 20th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
[...] Area beer writer Bill Brand passed away last night, surrounded by friends and family, according to Bottoms Up, the blog he wrote for the Oakland Tribune. The Tribune also has an obituary with a guest book for [...]
February 20th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
I started reading this blog about a year ago, soon after finding Bill’s column syndicated in the Merc in a section of the paper I rarely read. A beer afficionado in the freaking local newspaper? C’mon!
Been a daily reader and frequent commenter since, and I thank Bill and all his fans here for constantly updating me on all the important beer news I have needed to get the lupulin elixer I surely require for a quality existence.
Bill, this bottle of Pliny that has only been available in Santa Clara County for the past month or two, as I so often used to complain — this Pliny is for you.
February 20th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
It is truly a sad day in the beer world. I was never fortunate enough to meet Bill, though I wish I had. I, along with many others, will always be indebted to him for all of the knowledge he has shared, both through this blog and through his column in the Times, which I have read, religiously. I will deeply miss his guidance to that better pint. My sincerest condolences to his family. Cheers!
February 20th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
[...] blog What’s On Tap was the first resource I found after moving out here from Boston and continued to be one of my [...]
February 20th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
We love Bill Brand.
You touched our soul with your heart.
We will miss you.
Our deepest sorrow to the family for a man loved by many.
February 20th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
[...] http://www.ibabuzz.com/bottomsup/2009/02/20/sad-news/ http://www.brookstonbeerbulletin.com/dammit-bill-brand-passes-away-in-the-night/ [...]
February 20th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
I too was really hoping that Bill pulled through. This is a tough time for all who cared about him. You only had to meet Bill once to know that he was a really nice guy, who just happened to love beer and the brewing community. Rest in Peace.
February 20th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
What a sad sad day. Bill thank you for all of your contributions to the craft beer industry. You are already greatly missed. Condolences to Bill’s wife and family.
February 20th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
This is devastating news.
The numerous time a day I start my web browser, the first thing I’d check was William’s blog. As an engineer attempting to write, he helped me learn the ropes of blogging and encouraged me to think of bigger things.
He was always willing to exchange emails, text or talk about beer or anything going in our lives.
I’ll never forget the woman outside The Trappist who asked if he was my father, ignoring the fact that I stood nearly a foot taller than he did.
I’ll miss you Bill.
February 20th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
There are very few people who understand the passion and work involved in producing exceptional beer. Bill was one of those people. I met him in Denver at the Longshot brunch and he really stood out as an exceptional reporter, always polite but getting in there and getting the story. He was the only reporter in the room with a pad and pen reporting the way it should be done. My sincerest condolences to his family.
-Alex Drobshoff
February 21st, 2009 at 4:30 am
This is tough.
A great man, a huge supporter of the craft beer industry. As popular as good beer might be, our community, our craft-beer family is small and when we lose one, lose a scribe like Bill, a witness to what we are all doing the blow seems deeper and harder to realize. The enormity is apparent. We all feel it as the comments here attest. My heart and thoughts go out to his wife, Daryl and family. Your husband and father was part of something, touched more people that some can only dream of while on this planet. You will be missed.
-Shaun O’Sullivan – 21st Amendment Brewery
February 21st, 2009 at 4:47 am
Rest in peace, Bill. Your family lost a husband and father, many of us lost a friend and the world lost a good newsman. I second Shaun’s comments above – it’s obvious Bill touched so many lives, even beyond our world of beer. Philly will remember you.
February 21st, 2009 at 5:07 am
[...] never met beer and food columnist Bill Brand, but through reading his on-line column Bottoms Up, I felt as if I got to know him in the manner I would get to know that friendly fellow sitting at [...]
February 21st, 2009 at 8:42 am
My thoughts and prayers to Bill’s friends and family. I only knew him elecronically and never met him in personl, but still feel like I’ve lost a friend.
February 21st, 2009 at 9:09 am
My condolences to Bill’s family and many, many friends. Peace.
February 21st, 2009 at 10:16 am
Just got word that Bill passed away. I am shocked and
very sad and my thoughts go out to his family. I only met Bill once in person, but I could tell right away that he was a very gracious human being enjoying life. RIP Bill.
February 21st, 2009 at 10:17 am
A sad day, indeed. I miss already the discussions I won’t get to have, the critiques and toasts that were certain to occur, and the support I know Bill would have brought to the bar.
February 21st, 2009 at 11:18 am
[...] What’s On Tap – Sad News Our dear friend and longtime reporter Bill Brand passed away early this morning at S.F. General Hospital. [...]
February 21st, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Very sad news. My thoughts are with Bill’s loved ones.
February 21st, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Very sad news…. my condolences to his family and friends.
February 21st, 2009 at 3:43 pm
[...] some appreciative notes here and here by Jesse and commenters at Beer and Nosh, and here’s the comment stream on the notice at What’s on Tap. Embed this post on your own site: – VERY [...]
February 21st, 2009 at 4:02 pm
[...] There have been over 100 comments in the last 24 hours on Twitter. And another 60+ comments on the article announcing his passing on his own [...]
February 21st, 2009 at 4:51 pm
What more can be said that has not already been said? I am in disbelief of this sad, sad news. My heartfelt condolences to the Brand family. Bill, thanks for being you and Godspeed!
–Stu Stuart
February 21st, 2009 at 10:50 pm
Bill, you will be missed. The one column I waited for religiously each week. I know your family knows what a great guy you were. RIP.
February 22nd, 2009 at 7:56 am
This is such a tragedy, my condolences to his family.
Bill truly had a passion for “good beer” and he will be missed. He introduced me to so many different beers and his blog was a favorite of mine. Very saddened.
February 22nd, 2009 at 8:24 pm
I just noticed this post.
I had a couple very nice email exchanges with William. I read everything I could find by him.
The way he wrote of his family, I know what kind of person he was. The world is not as good of a place without William. Condolences to the Brand family.
brewnot
February 22nd, 2009 at 9:23 pm
I worked with Bill at the Tribune for several years, and attended several beer events with him after I left.
We shared a love of beer and a disdain for modern-day newspapers’ lack of respect for news and their employees.
What a great, unique guy. I will miss him very much.
My condolences to his wife and family.
February 23rd, 2009 at 8:51 am
R.I.P. Bill and condolences to family…this is so sad. What a remarkable guy.
February 23rd, 2009 at 7:00 pm
[...] in beer, Bill Brand, has passed away after having been struck by a train nearly two weeks ago. Here is the article containing a link to the report. A previous update sounded promising, with Bill’s condition [...]
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:39 pm
[...] but with the incredibly sad news that one of the true greats in craft beer writing, Bill Brand, had passed away early on Friday, we felt we needed to start work on what we hope will be a new regular brew for the ESB, [...]
February 24th, 2009 at 9:15 am
I’ll miss reading your blog and your insights to what craft beer can and should be about.
My condolences to Bill’s family on such a tragic loss.
RIP Bill.
Andy
February 24th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
I have been reading Bill’s column for many years. I am so sad to know of his passing. My condolences to his family. I have purchased a number of beers upon his recommendation that I would have never know about. There is a BIG hole in the newspaper where his column once was.
February 26th, 2009 at 9:52 am
We just wanted to take a moment to extend our deepest sympathies to Bill’s family. We have gotten hooked to his weekly column and have purchased many of our beers based on his recommendations. He opened our pallets to beers we never knew where out there. We were actually in SF at 3 different breweries on the day of his accident because we read about “Beer Week”. It was our first time at 21st Amendment and we were thrilled…just like he said we would be. He will be missed deeply.
February 26th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
A loss for sure. Hell, I even remember him from years ago when he was a reporter for the Trib. His byline was pretty familiar in the old days
February 28th, 2009 at 10:28 am
As a longtime reader of bill’s blog, I’m heartbroken to hear of this news. The beer world has lost a hero. His family will be in my prayers.
March 7th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
I had the good fortune to meet Bill on a press trip in the mid-’90s. He was a kind and thoughtful man, warm and funny and smart. I am glad to have met him and sad to hear of his passing. Cheers.
March 20th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Here’s a tribute to Bill I wrote in j. -the Jewish newspaper of the Bay Area.
http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/37548/heres-to-my-beer-buddy-one-last-toast-to-bill-brand/
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:17 pm
[...] If you are unfamiliar with who Bill Brand was, please read this article: http://www.ibabuzz.com/bottomsup/2009/02/20/sad-news/ [...]