Valley craft beer bloggers lament passing of Phoenix Ale’s Greg Fretz

The Valley’s craft beer community is still reeling today over the unexpected death of Phoenix Ale Brewery co-founder Greg Fretz over the weekend.

The 44-year-old had been fighting throat cancer since December, but participated in American Craft Beer Week events last week. He had visited friends and made several posts on Facebook Friday before passing away that evening.

James Swann, writing on his blog King James Swann, reminisces about drinking with Fretz at the Scottsdale Culinary Festival:

Sometimes life can be short, entirely too short. It’s essential to remember when we think about the extended family that is our craft beer community. We are all in this together and we are all important and extremely vital, not just as beer lovers but most importantly as human beings.

Writing on the Beer PHXation Blog, Rob Fullmer talks about Fretz’s impact on Arizona’s craft beer scene, which goes back well before he launched Phoenix Ale Brewery.

 It will be impossible to separate American Craft Beer Week, the Phoenix Brewers Invitational, AmeriCAN and of course Fretzy’s Ales without out thinking of his gravelly voice and ebullient manner. Fretz was able to talk about his treatments with just about anyone and provided comfort to those that knew someone battling cancer. Such is the role that he played in my life.

Rob Hart, posting on the Arizona Beer Sommelier blog, recalls chatting with Fretz during the very crowded Beat the Heat beer fest last summer:

Occasionally, someone would tap him on the shoulder and say, “Hi,” but for those 20 minutes, he made me feel like I was the most important person in the room. I’ve had more conversations with people about beer than I can count and most of them forgettable, but it was Fretzy’s ability to engage so honestly and enthusiastically with me that makes this one stick out in my mind.

No word yet on funeral arrangements or a memorial service.

Earlier: Phoenix Ale Brewery co-founder Greg Fretz passes away after cancer battle