Fred Eckhardt, American’s first beer writer and one of the earliest pioneers of the homebrewing and craft beer movement, died at the age of 89 on Monday at his home in Portland. Oregon.
Fred can be credited with starting the homebrewing movement along with Charlie Papazian in the 1970s with his books on lager brewing and beer styles such as the homebrewing guide “A Treatise on Lager Beer.” In 1989 he published the highly regarded “The Essentials of Beer Style.”
He had been in poor health in recent months, but was able to make a brief appearance at FredFest 2015, Portland’s annual celebration of his birthday.
Fred was a pioneer and a gentleman. He was always accommodating with his gentle and cheerful nature. I can vividly remember the sparkle in his eye when talking to him. An institution in the Northwest beer community, he was also known well known throughout the craft brewing nationally. He will be missed, but he will always be remembered.