Sad news out of Portland this week: Publican Don Younger, owner of the Horse Brass Pub and one of the most influential figures in the American beer scene for over 30 years (particularly here in Oregon), has passed away. There’s already been a lot of good stuff written about Younger, but I’m not going to try to point to it all. Instead, here’s John Foyston’s obit piece which is running in the Oregonian.

I never had the opportunity to meet Younger, but I love the Horse Brass and have enjoyed a good number of beers there (and some cigars, back in they day—before the smoking ban). He put together flat-out one of the best pubs around, period. He will be missed.