“When I finally caught up with Abraham Trahearne, he was drinking beer with an alcoholic bulldog named Fireball Roberts in a ramshackle joint just outside of Sonoma, California, drinking the heart right out of a fine spring afternoon.”The Last Good Kiss by James A. Crumley

Crime Novelist James      Crumley

James Arthur Crumley, born in 1939, was the author of violent hardboiled crime novels and several volumes of short stories and essays. His book The Last Good Kiss has been described by some critics as “the most influential crime novel of the last 50 years.”

Crumley’s Last and Best Novel

He served on the English faculty at the University of Montana at Missoula, and as a visiting professor at other colleges, including Portland’s own Reed College.

Crumley died in Missoula in September, 2008. He was survived by his wife of 16 years — his fifth wife. The author’s favorite seat in his preferred bar (Charlie’s in Missoula) was commemorated to honor him.

Here’s to Fireball!!

Although James Crumley is deceased and his Portland ties are minimal, his character and attachment to bars warrant thebeerchaser designation.

And you also might want to drink a toast to Fireball Roberts too – how about an    In-heat Wheat Hefeweizen from Denver’s Flying Dog Brewery….