Tribute to Ron Jeffries

Introducing: 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐲 𝐑𝐨𝐧’𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐰

Wheat Ale w/ Green Tea, Pink Peppercorns and Lemon Peel  5.5%abv

 

Anyone with even a mild interest in craft beer knows that late last year we lost a visionary of the modern American craft beer movement….Ron Jeffries.

 

Ron singlehandedly introduced the old world brewing methods that produce “sour beer” to Americans when he founded the first all mixed-fermentation brewery in the United States: Jolly Pumpkin. Right here in Michigan. Dexter, to be exact.

 

Well before head brewer Duncan Williams granted my first professional brewing job at Grizzly Peak, Ron was my brewing hero. I loved everything about Jolly Pumpkin from the beer, the T-shirts, the small crew of guys that worked with Ron, the ethos of independence…it was everything cool about beer. I was one of those people in the long line for the next Perseguidor release, in awe to see Ron and his right hand man Sean Brennan pass by while I waited. Titans!

 

As time went on and my career in brewing progressed, I got to know Ron a bit and I also became good friends with Sean. They both looked out for me when I was starting my own brewery, what feels like a hundred years ago and they both still heavily influence my brewing today.

 

In my early days at Grizzly Peak, circa 2011, Ron designed a beer for the yearly Festifools event in downtown Ann Arbor. Jolly, Grizzly and Blue Tractor all brewed it. Under Duncan’s tutelage, I was the guy in the underbelly of Grizzly Peak handling that beer after he brewed it up at street level. I quietly swelled with pride to play a small part in this most noble of trades as I moved the beer from fermenter to bright tank. I feel that same quiet pride today.

 

When Ron passed, Duncan was kind enough to share that original FoolBrew recipe with me so I could brew it and serve it while he did the same. You can get this exact beer at Grizzly Peak Brewing Company and you should! Go now! Try them together and raise your glass to “Spooky” Ron Jeffries, the most inspired, fearless and innovative brewer I have known.

Cheers and mahalo plenty,

Nate