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Bert Grant’s Early Life and Introduction to Brewing
Herbert Lewis Grant, known as Bert Grant, was born in 1928 in Dundee, Scotland. At the age of two, his family immigrated to Toronto, Canada, where he spent his formative years. Grant’s introduction to beer came early, with family lore suggesting he consumed his first beer before age 10, sipping from opened bottles left behind by his father’s guests. This early exposure sparked a lifelong passion for beer, not for its intoxicating effects but for its flavor and the science behind it.

At 16, during World War II, a manpower shortage in Canada led Grant to leave school and take a job at Canadian Breweries (later Carling). He started as a beer taster, sampling 50–100 beers daily, a role that honed his palate and deepened his understanding of brewing chemistry. A top student in chemistry, he worked in the brewery’s chemistry department, choosing beer over a competing offer to become an apprentice gold assayer. His early career included experimental brewing at Canadian Breweries, where he developed innovative recipes using multiple malts and hop varieties. However, his ideas were often rejected by accountants for being too costly, a frustration that shaped his later independent ventures.

Career in Brewing and Hops

Grant’s career took him to the United States, where he worked for Stroh Brewing Company, developing a pilot brewing program. His reputation grew, leading to international consulting roles with major breweries like Anheuser-Busch, Guinness, Coors, and Foster’s. His expertise extended beyond brewing to hops, a passion that defined much of his career. In 1967, Grant moved to Yakima, Washington, the heart of American hop country, to work for S.S. Steiner Inc. There, he redesigned a hop extract plant and pioneered the first U.S. hop pelletizer, a game-changing innovation that standardized hop aroma and bitterness, revolutionizing the brewing industry.

Grant’s love for hops was legendary. He carried a vial of hop oil, which he used to enhance the flavor of bland mainstream beers like Budweiser or Coors during travel. This practice, reportedly employed at brewing conferences, shocked peers but underscored his commitment to bold, hop-forward flavors. He also served on the Hops Research Council, championing new American hop varieties like Cascade, which later became a cornerstone of craft brewing.

Founding Yakima Brewing and Malting Co.

In 1981, after decades in the industry, Grant sought to brew beers that reflected his personal taste. At age 54, he founded Yakima Brewing and Malting Co., opening the first brewpub in the United States since Prohibition on July 1, 1982, in Yakima’s historic Opera House. This venture was a bold rebellion against the dominance of mass-produced lagers, introducing locals to flavorful, hop-heavy ales. The brewpub later moved to Yakima’s former train depot, becoming a destination for beer enthusiasts and a catalyst for the city’s tourism industry.

Grant’s flagship beer, Grant’s Scottish Ale, was a misnomer, bearing little resemblance to traditional Scottish ales. At 4.7% ABV with 40–45 bitterness units, it was heavily hopped with Yakima Valley Cascade hops, reflecting Grant’s love for bold flavors. He described it as inspired by nostalgic Scottish-Canadian ales from the 1950s, brewed with premium Northwest barley and Cascade Mountain water. The brewery expanded to offer an India Pale Ale (IPA), Imperial Stout, Amber Ale, and seasonal brews, many of which were pioneers in their styles. Grant’s IPA, released in 1982, was among the first modern craft beers to use the term “India Pale Ale” on a bottle label, leveraging Pacific Northwest hops to redefine the style.

The brewpub’s success was immediate, attracting a loyal following and expanding to Seattle and Portland markets. By 1986, Portland Brewing contracted to produce Grant’s beers for the Oregon market, a testament to their popularity. Grant’s commitment to quality and consistency set his brewery apart in an era when many early craft brewers struggled with variability. His Scottish Ale won national acclaim, and the Lazy Days seasonal ale took gold at the 2004 World Beer Cup.

Innovations and Controversies

Grant was a scientist at heart, often pushing boundaries. He tested his Scottish Ale and found it contained 170% of the U.S. RDA of Vitamin B-12, printing this on table tents and six-pack cartons. This move drew scrutiny from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), who disapproved of nutrient claims on alcohol. Similarly, his hard cider sparked disputes with regulators over whether it was a wine. Grant’s outspoken nature and disdain for bland beers—he once called the ATF “riddled with prohibitionists”—made him a polarizing figure, but his innovations left a lasting mark.

He was also a character, often wearing a kilt and clan pin to greet customers, occasionally dancing on the bar, and keeping a claymore sword to enforce his no-smoking policy. His brewery’s coaster proclaimed he brewed to satisfy “the most demanding beer drinker in the world, himself.”

Later Years and Legacy

In 1995, Grant sold Yakima Brewing and Malting Co. to Stimson Lane Vineyards & Estates (parent of Chateau Ste. Michelle), calling it an “anti-retirement” deal to ensure quality control. He remained a consultant and active spokesman, producing 10,000 barrels annually by 2001. That year, the brewery was sold to Black Bear Brewing, which planned a national network but faced financial difficulties, leading to the brewpub’s closure in 2005.

Grant’s health declined in his final years, and he moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, to be near his children. He died on July 31, 2001, at age 73, from a bowel rupture. He was survived by two sons, David H. and Peter A., three daughters, Shannon D., Melanie Bond, and Wendy Cundall, and five grandchildren.

Impact on Craft Brewing

Bert Grant is widely regarded as the “Dean of America’s craft brewers” and the “Patriarch of the micro movement.” His brewpub model inspired countless others, and his hop-forward beers, particularly the IPA, laid the groundwork for the Pacific Northwest’s robust brewing scene. By 2001, the U.S. had over 1,500 craft breweries, a growth spurred by pioneers like Grant. His focus on quality, bold flavors, and local ingredients reshaped American beer culture, proving consumers craved alternatives to mass-market lagers.

In 1998, Grant published The Ale Master: Bert Grant, The Dean of America’s Craft Brewers, a concise autobiography detailing his journey and philosophy. His legacy endures in the craft beer industry, with beers like Grant’s Perfect Porter and Scottish Ale remembered fondly by enthusiasts. The Yakima Herald dubbed him the “Neil Young of Microbrews,” acknowledging he didn’t invent beer but transformed it indelibly.

Grant’s influence extended beyond brewing. His preservation of Yakima’s Opera House earned him the city’s gratitude, with Mayor Lynn A. Carmichael declaring August 14, 1982, as Yakima Brewing and Malting Day. His work with hops and his fearless advocacy for flavorful beer cemented his status as a craft brewing legend, ensuring his name remains synonymous with the American microbrew revolution.

Craft Brewers Hall of Fame first Inductees
Fred Eckhardt – Portland-based craft beer advocate and writer
Charles and Rose Ann Finkel – Founders of Pikes Brewing
Bert Grant – Beer advocate who opened first modern brewpub in US
Ken Grossman – Founder of Sierra Nevada Brewing
Michael Jackson – Legendary English writer and beer journalist.
Jim Koch – Founder of Boston Beer Company
Fritz Maytag – Longtime owner of Anchor Brewing
Jack McAuliffe, Jane Zimmerman, and Suzy Stern – New Albion Brewing
Charlie Papazian – American nuclear engineer, brewer and author. He founded the Great American Beer Festival and also served as President of the Brewers Association for over 30 years.

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