Skip to main content

Widmer Brewing celebrates with 40 Years of Cheers

A campaign honoring a lengthy history

Widmer Brothers 40 Years of Cheers.
Widmer Brothers Brewing

In the words of Widmer Brothers’ new campaign, you can’t have cheers without beers. The west coast brewery, based in Portland, is celebrating a milestone be rereleasing some of its most popular beers over its four decades of existence. The sudsy celebration is aptly-named 40 Years of Cheers.

The brewery pulling old recipes from the vault, reintroducing the masses to old favorites from across its timeline. The plan is to pick a popular beer from each of the four decades Widmer has been around and bring it back to life. First up, an altbier, the very first beer Widmer Brothers brewed.

Recommended Videos

Craft enthusiasts can find these beers on draft at various locations throughout the Portland metro area. The next beer to be rereleased will be announced soon. The beers will show up at area bars in limited quantities, so get out there if you’re interested.

“A lot can change in 40 years, but great beer still brings people together,” says Alex McNamara, senior brand manager at Widmer Brothers. “40 Years of Cheers not only pays homage to four decades of craft beer innovation, but sets the foundation for where we are planning to take the brand. With 40 years of experience under our belt—and a Widmer Hefe in hand—we can’t wait to bring new and old Widmer beers to Portlanders and write the next chapter of Widmer Brothers.”

Widmer Brothers started in Portland in 1984. A true craft pioneer, the label helped pave the way for what is now a robust American beer scene. Known best for its original hefeweizen, the brewery also makes seasonal beers, also inspired by German beer culture.

Stay informed on all things beer. We’ve got the latest news on non-alcoholic beer releases, as well as features on craft beer terminology and the best beers in the land.

Mark Stock
Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon. He fell into wine during the Recession and has been fixated on the stuff since…
Verve Coffee Roasters brews a Grateful Dead inspired coffee
A coffee brew that is timeless and experimental
Grateful Dead Verve Coffee Roasters

Verve Coffee Roasters and the Grateful Dead have teamed up to debut a limited-edition organic coffee: Grateful Dead Morning Brew. Inspired by the free-spirited energy of the Grateful Dead, this brew is timeless and experimental, with a layer of spontaneity and heart in every sip. Balanced and bright, this new blend is easy to drink with layered complexity. The new light roast blend is made with organic, naturally processed coffee from Ethiopia, honoring the enduring impact and ever-evolving spirit of the Dead.

Coffee lovers who enjoy a quality cup will also appreciate that this specialty brew is the brand's first-ever certified organic coffee, certified by CCOF, a nonprofit based in Santa Cruz. CCOF advances organic agriculture for a healthy world through organic certification, education, advocacy, and promotion. CCOF also ties back to the Grateful Dead, who donated $10,000 to the organization more than 30 years ago. The Morning Brew Blend is now available for purchase directly from Verve Coffee Roasters, priced at $24 for a 12-ounce bag, in both whole bean and ground coffee formats.
This just-released collaboration between Verve Coffee Roasters and the Grateful Dead also includes a lineup of limited-edition merchandise inspired by the Dead’s iconic psychedelic branding and playful Dancing Bear iconography.
“It’s been more than 40 years since the first and last concert the Grateful Dead played in Santa Cruz, the birthplace of Verve Coffee,” said Colby Barr, Co-Founder of Verve Coffee Roasters. “The Grateful Dead has transcended into cultural icons and are understood even by those who haven't heard their music. As Verve was born out of a love for music, it only makes sense that we bring to life something special for one of music's most influential forces and dedicated fan bases.”

Read more
Allagash Brewing debuts Hearts of Pine collaboration beer
Allagash Kickabout Lager.

Allagash Brewing has teamed up with a local soccer team to create a special beer. The release, named Kickabout Lager, is the result of a partnership with the Portland Hearts of Pine, Maine's pro soccer club. The label, a stalwart in the craft beer movement, is the official brewery partner of the team.

A 5% ABV lager, the beer is made with some wheat in the grain bill. It borrows its name from a term soccer players like to use to describe an informal game. Fans can get the beer at FItzpatrick Stadium where the Hearts of Pine play, and Allagash's Portland tasting room, where it's availably in can and on draft.

Read more
Just in time for Cinco de Mayo, Fuenteseca is releasing a 12 Year Tequila
Fuenteseca is releasing a 12 Year Tequila that's perfect for Cinco de Mayo sipping
Fuenteseca

It’s that time of year again. And no, we’re not talking about spring cleaning day. We’re talking about Cinco de Mayo. On this day, we celebrate the Mexican army’s defeat of France in the bottle of Puebla by eating tacos and quesadillas, drinking Mexican lagers, and drinking glasses of well-made tequila. And while we love all of those things, it’s the latter that we’re most interested in today.

This year, you don’t have to turn to any plastic-handled blanco tequilas. That’s because the folks at Fuenteseca Tequila just released a 12-year-old tequila worthy of your Cinco de Mayo table.
Fuenteseca 12 Year Tequila

Read more