RIP Dick Young
The Pacific Northwest lost a pioneering force in the modern microbrew revolution. Our friend Dave Nunez of By the Bottle confirmed that Dick Young of Centralia, Washington’s Dick Brewing Company passed away over the weekend. According Nunez and the folks at the Washington Beer Blog, Young died of what appears to have been a heart attack while staying at his lodge in Lewis County, WA.
Since beginning as a homebrewer in 1984, Young over the years has developed more than 20 regular varieties of ale including the well loved Dick’s Danger Ale, Best Bitter, Working Man Brown, and Mountain Ale.
From Dick’s website:
Dick started brewing as a home brewer 1984. Around the same time, he sold brewing supplies from N.W. Sausage and Deli and made beer in the back when not busy.
After about 8 years, Dick had to decide whether to quit or make it legal! So then began the 2 year application permit process and Dick started brewing for real in 1990. After 2 years, Dick created Danger Ale with all dark malt and hops, the recipe hasn’t changed since the 2nd batch.
When Dick isn’t brewing or working at N.W. Sausage & Deli, he enjoys snow skiing, riding his Harley, scuba diving, water skiing, boating, pool and of course drinking beer with friends.
His favorite brew is his namesake Dick Danger Ale, and anything else Dave brews up.
About The Author
Angelo
Angelo grew up in Maine and is proud to call New England his original home. Cascadia is now his home. He fell in love with great beer in Oregon, Washington, and Northern California. He has been a correspondent for the Portland Tribune's Guest on Tap column, LivePDX.com, and has been featured in publications such as Beer Northwest and PDX Magazine. Angelo also has a great interest in independent music, and has been a booker and organizer for shows around the Portland under the name Pop Tomorrow! Angelo garnered much knowledge regarding beer from his experiences homebrewing, working at Belmont Station, Pyramid Brewing, Upright Brewing, By the Bottle, Beer Revolution, Olde Depot Public House, Falling Sky Brewing, Cascade Brewing, and from many many knowledgeable, passionate, and loving people along the way. It is Angelo's mission to bring "infotainment" and "edumation" to the readers of this website. If you have any questions or comments, or would like to contribute, please contact me at angelo@brewpublic.com
YOU WILL BE MISSED, MR.YOUNG. REST IN PEACE
Dick I can’t believe your gone. You will be so missed by so many people. Rest In Peace my good friend and thanks for all the fun times
Dick’s Grand Cru and Barleywine are a couple of my favorite Washington brews. This is very sad news.
Dick and the brewing company that carried his name have sponsored my band for 15 years. The Dirty Birds will miss him terribly, and will forever raise a pint in his honor. He was a great man, quick with a smile and a bad joke, and would give you the shirt off of his back. If there’s a heaven, the old brewer just got replaced and the beer just got better. RIP old friend.
We’ll always remember the boating and camping like it was yesterday. What good times! RIP Dick.
You will be missed my man! A great loss, I am glad to have known him.
I am very sorry for your loss. I wish the best for the family.
Dick….you were good….so Young as well.
I will always remember drinking the early batches and smiling when you changed the ingredients….
and building the brewery…wish you had done it on Melon St…
Hope you are looking down and keeping an eye on things.
“You can’t beat Dicks Meat”…nor the beer.