News George Hancock Passes

George Hancock, craft brewery pioneer and legend has sadly passed away after a battle with cancer. He was 71.

George was the former president of the Pyramid Brewing Company, which was a merger of two early pioneering breweries, Thomas Kemper Brewing and Hart Brewing. The two breweries merged into one company in 1985 and later became Pyramid Breweries. By 1996 Pyramid was the fourth largest craft brewery in the country. George was president until 1999.

George was very involved in the industry and was the primary force behind the formation of the Washington Beer Commission and served as Chairman. He also served as President of the Washington Brewers Guild and received the Brewers Associations “FX Matt Defense of the Industry” award for his work and effort in protecting and promoting craft beer.

After a brief hiatus from the industry, he moved to Phoenix and started The Phoenix Ale Brewery in 2011 which continues today.

George was a longtime friend of this reporter, and he will be remembered dearly by many in the industry.

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