The craft beer industry mourns the loss of a visionary leader with the passing of Ron Jeffries, founder of Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales. He died recently, leaving behind a profound impact on the brewing world.
In 2004, Jeffries and his wife, Laurie, established Jolly Pumpkin in Dexter, Michigan. The brewery quickly expanded, adding locations in Ann Arbor, Detroit, East Lansing, and Traverse City.
Tony Grant, a longtime friend and business partner, described Jeffries as “a Renaissance man” and “wicked smart.” Grant, who serves as CEO and CFO of Northern United Brewing Co., emphasized Jeffries’s role in shaping the industry, stating, “He set new categories, new trends in the industry, and he would do it all the time.”
Northern United Brewing Co., founded in 2008, brought together Jolly Pumpkin, North Peak Brewing Co., and Grizzly Peak Brewing Co., where Jeffries initially honed his brewing skills. Grant praised Jeffries as the driving force behind the company’s creativity and passion, highlighting his unique ability to source ingredients and develop innovative flavors. “He had a way of knowing enough to be able to source and find ingredients and different tastes, things that would surprise people,” Grant said.
A true pioneer, Jeffries specialized in crafting sour beers, an area that was virtually untapped in the U.S. when he began. “There wasn’t a sour beer category in the U.S., anywhere, for medals, competitions,” Grant noted. “He really started it.”
Beyond his contributions to brewing, Jeffries’s legacy includes his role as a founding member of the Michigan Brewers Guild. He was dedicated to educating and collaborating with brewers both nationally and internationally, often helping aspiring entrepreneurs launch their own breweries. Grant reflected on Jeffries’s generosity, saying, “His willingness to give back to people with his time and his knowledge was tremendous. There are countless brewers and breweries across the country that started because of his help.”
Grant fondly remembered Jeffries as a “quirky, funny” individual with an exceptional sense of humor, as well as a compassionate and loving person.
The news of Jeffries’s death was confirmed by his son, Daemon Jeffries, who shared a heartfelt tribute on Facebook on September 30. “It is with heavy hearts that we remember Ron Jeffries, a loving husband and father, who touched the lives of many with his passion and creativity,” Daemon Jeffries wrote.
Jeffries is survived by his wife, Laurie, son Daemon, and daughter-in-law Ashley Megan. In his tribute, Daemon described his father as “not only a loving family man but also a creative genius and lifelong learner.”
In the year leading up to his death, Ron and Laurie Jeffries relocated to Hawaii, where they were working on a new brewery project. “In his final year, Ron fulfilled the lifelong dream of moving to Hawaii where he eagerly worked on his family brewery,” Daemon noted. “He cherished moments spent on his lanai, soaking in the Hilo rain with a pint in hand, excited about the future of Hilo Brewing Company/Holoholo Brewing.”
Jeffries’s contributions to the craft brewing industry and the countless lives he touched will be remembered by many.
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