Craft beer has become the most interesting part of the adult beverage business, and this snowball began in the late 70's and early 80's. Jimmy Carter passed a law allowing home brewing and the innovation that began in basements led to small breweries across the U.S. Breweries like Anchor Steam, Widmer Brothers, Redhook, and Sierra Nevada got into the game as pioneers. Each brewery was known for one type of beer that they really knocked out of the park. Sierra Nevada essentially invented the American style pale ale, Redhook killed it with the E.S.B., and Widmer began the American wheat beer. These breweries have carried on with what they do well for forty years but to stay relevant today they have brought new beers to market.
All I have ever known from Widmer is the hefewiezen and the drifter pale ale. This year they have had a seasonal in the market, the brrr. Brrr is a 7.2% ABV warmer that starts with hop nose and spicy first impression but this beer finishes sweet and mellow. I appreciate they took a chance on a red ale. I would definitely say it is a step in the right direction but it's not what is going to get this brewery back on the map.
Maybe the rotating series of IPA's will do it. IPA's have remained to top selling craft beer category, and with over 40 varieties of hops in existence the possibilities are endless. Widmer has also released a reserve series of big bottles that include some darker porters and stouts. It is important that they get a knock out drinkable beer that the masses can enjoy to draw people back to the widmer name. They have been beaten down on price, so you can pick up widmer for less than what most premium craft beers cost.
So please check out the beers and changing landscape at Widmer Brothers, they have come all the way from Washington state. Check them out online or follow them on facebook at widmerbrothers.com
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