Tap Handle #77: Widmer Brothers - Drop Top Amber Ale

Featuring an acrylic dog head, this is the shorter 7" tap, and there is also a taller 12" one. I'm not sure what the dog has to do with the beer. This tap is no longer available - the current incarnation is a simple wood post with a sign mounted on top. This is definitely better.

Click through to read more about Widmer Brewing and their Drop Top Amber Ale...


Widmer Brothers was founded in Portland, Oregon in 1984 by Kurt and Robert Widmer. When Oregon legalized home brewing in 1979 after Jimmy Carter's law passed, Kurt and Robert began experimenting with home brewing. By 1984 they had quit their jobs to build and run the brewery. They did not have a brewpub or bottling plant, instead selling to local brewpubs. They originally brewed two beers, an "altbier" and a "weizenbier", and in 1986 they made a third beer by leaving the weizenbier unfiltered, creating the first American-style Hefeweizen. That same year they introduced an Oktoberfest beer, becoming the first brewery to offer seasonal beers covering all four seasons. In 1988 Widmer, along with Bridgeport and Portland Brewing, launched the Oregon Brewer's Festival, which this year is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and is the largest outdoor craft beer festival in the country. In 1990, Widmer moved to a new location in North Portland which also included a brewpub, and began bottling in 1996. In 2007, Widmer Brothers and Redhook merged to form the Craft Brew Alliance.

Drop Top Amber Ale is brewed with several malts and two types of hops. The use of honey malt and a touch of milk sugar reduces harshness. Weighted average on ratebeer.com is 2.83 out of 5.

Since the brewery is fairly close to me, I'm planning a trip there soon.

Widmer Brothers Official Website