Honoring the Pioneers: The Legacies of Master Brewer Alan Sprints and Veteran Journalist Alan Gionet
The past week brought significant and deeply felt transitions for both the beverage and media industries, as colleagues and communities honored the lasting impacts of two pioneering figures. In the world of craft brewing, the passing of Alan Sprints has sparked a wave of international tributes celebrating his role as a founding father of high-gravity, barrel-aged beer. Meanwhile, in broadcast journalism, veteran CBS Colorado reporter and anchor Alan Gionet officially stepped away from the camera, closing a distinguished career spanning nearly four decades.
The Passing of a Craft Beer Titan: Remembering Alan Sprints (1959–2026)
On Sunday, July 19, 2026, the global craft beer community lost one of its most innovative and iconoclastic minds. Alan Sprints, the founder, brewmaster, and singular creative force behind Portland’s legendary Hair of the Dog Brewing Company, passed away peacefully at the age of 66 following a battle with metastatic bladder cancer.
A Legacy of Brewing Without Compromise
Sprints did not just brew beer; he crafted liquid history meant to be cellared, shared, and savored. After relocating to Portland in 1988 to study culinary arts, Sprints turned his passion for homebrewing into a professional pursuit, founding Hair of the Dog in 1993. At a time when the American craft beer movement was dominated by light, easily drinkable styles, Sprints took a radically different path:
- The Debut of Adam (1994): Inspired by historical German strong ales, Adam was a dark, robust, 10% ABV old ale that defied contemporary industry standards and aged beautifully over decades.
- The Creation of Fred (1997): Named in honor of legendary Portland beer writer and historian Fred Eckhardt, this complex, golden strong ale cemented Sprints' reputation as an avant-garde master.
- Pioneering Wood and Time: Sprints was an early adopter of barrel-aging and bottle-conditioning, producing high-gravity, multi-layered beers that waited for the consumer rather than rushing to satisfy short-term retail trends.
Tributes From the Industry
In the days following his passing, brewers, writers, and publicans from across the world shared heartfelt recollections of Sprints' infectious enthusiasm and unmatched generosity. Industry peers remember him as a mentor who was always willing to share his deep technical knowledge and support fellow independent brewers.
Beyond his culinary and brewing talents, Sprints was a devoted family man, an avid gardener, a ceramicist, and a skilled stained-glass artist—recently completing a stunning custom glass piece for Portland's historic Horse Brass Pub.
Veteran Journalist Alan Gionet Retires After 39 Years
In Colorado, the television news community is celebrating the retirement of one of its most respected local journalists. On July 24, 2026, Alan Gionet of CBS Colorado (KCNC-TV) officially called it a career, ending an illustrious 39-year run in broadcast journalism.
A Career Defined by Core Reporting
Gionet’s career took him from small-market reporting in Mississippi to major newsrooms in Michigan, Rhode Island, Florida, and ultimately Colorado, where he became a beloved household name.
- The Heart of a Reporter: Though he spent a decade (2010–2020) anchoring the morning and noon weekday newscasts for CBS Colorado, Gionet returned to full-time field reporting, asserting that "reporting is the core of the business" and expressing his preference for grassroots storytelling over a studio desk.
- Impactful Journalism: Gionet was widely respected for his exhaustive coverage of major national events—including intense hurricane reporting in Florida and revealing critical voting discrepancies during the 2000 election controversy.
- Advocacy Through the Lens: His deep-dive series on the endangered North Atlantic right whales successfully drew national conservationist attention to the species' plight.
An Enduring Standard of Professionalism
Throughout his long career, Gionet was defined by a deeply empathetic writing style and an unwavering dedication to factual integrity. Colleagues have poured out congratulations, thanking him for setting a high benchmark for local broadcast journalism and mentoring generations of young reporters along the way.
Two Paths of Community-First Devotion
Though operating in entirely different fields, both Alan Sprints and Alan Gionet shared a defining trait: a deep commitment to community and authenticity. Sprints used the medium of beer to bring people together, while Gionet utilized the television screen to give voice to the stories of everyday citizens. Their respective departures leave significant voids but offer powerful blueprints for the next generation of innovators and storytellers.