In Memory of Toby Day
Toby Day “Day” this Sunday
The craft beer community lost a good friend in early April.
For over 15 years, Toby Day worked almost daily spreading the virtues of craft beer up and down the West Coast. I received word while I was in Chicago for the CBC that he had passed after a short battle with cancer.
Toby began his passion for good beer when he was hired as a sales rep in the Santa Cruz area for A&D Distributing. When A&D pulled out of the Santa Cruz market a few years later, Toby was hired on as a sales rep for Wolaver’s Organic Ales .
After many years of espousing the benefits of organic beer, Toby formed his own broker, selling Wolavers, Anderson Valley, Abita, Pyramid, Shelton Brothers Importers and Otter Creek among others throughout the Pacific Northwest from his new home base in Oregon.
Toby was a hugely passionate person, not only about beer but about all things in life, especially his two children. He always had photos of his two kids tucked into the covers of his sales books, hanging from his dashboard and of course in his wallet. I worked with Toby closely for many years, and deeply miss his persistent passion, probing interest in beer and most of all his laugh that emanated from his heart.
On Sunday, April 25, craft beer establishments from Santa Cruz to Portland and up to Seattle will be honoring the life of Toby Day. Many accounts will have special beers on tap in his honor. The proceeds from this “Toby Day Day” are earmarked specifically for Toby’s family to help them pay for outstanding medical and funeral expenses, and to assist with education for his daughter and son, 12 and 9, respectively.
Please join us Sunday in raising a glass to a true friend of world-class beer and a world-class guy himself: Toby Day.
Toby was not only passionate about beer but a great friend. I will miss him, and his positive view of great beers.
Graydon Brown