The Widmer Way – Jeff Alworth

Portland, Oregon, didn’t always have a wildly successful craft brew scene. Someone had to be daring enough to innovate, and the Widmer brothers were just the men for the job.

Written by Portland beer guru Jeff Alworth (The Beer Bible, Beer Tasting Tool Kit), The Widmer Way: How Two Brothers Led Portland’s Craft Beer Revolution chronicles Kurt and Rob Widmer’s journey from humble homebrewers to craft beer pioneers and purveyors of the iconic Widmer Brothers Hefeweizen. Alworth also dives deep into Portland’s history, setting the scene for Widmer’s rise in the city now known for its exquisite beer.

Drawing from hours of interviews with Kurt and Rob, close family and friends, and big names in the beer industry, The Widmer Way offers an exclusive look into the Widmer brothers’ lives and their enormous impact on craft brewing in Portland and beyond. Alworth explores the Widmer family’s beer history, the brothers’ German influence, the brewery’s distribution deal with Anheuser-Busch, and the formation of the Craft Brew Alliance, one of the largest craft brewing companies in the United States.

Kurt and Rob Widmer have a deep affection for the city that fostered their success, providing sports team sponsorships, support for up-and-coming brewers, and hundreds of jobs for their community. The Widmer Way emphasizes this special relationship with a story that will resonate with Portland’s legion of beer aficionados as it illustrates how Portland became “Beervana.”

Jeff Alworth is a beer writer living in Portland, Oregon. He is the author of The Beer Bible, Cider Made Simple, Beer Tasting Tool Kit, and The Secrets of Master Brewers. His books have been honored by the North American Guild of Beer and the International Association of Culinary Professionals. His articles have appeared in several publications, including DRAFT Magazine and All About Beer. Jeff’s passion for and knowledge of beer has yielded opportunities to teach classes at the Portland Cider Company and the Multnomah Athletic Club. He also cohosts the Beervana podcast and writes about beer on his Beervana blog.