Oregon Brewers Guild Honors Industry Veterans
The Oregon Brewers Guild honored six pioneers of the state’s brewing industry with Lifetime Achievement Awards during its inaugural Awards Ceremony at the Crystal Ballroom Monday. The award recipients pioneered craft beer in Oregon in the early 1980s.
“We’re here today, doing the jobs we love, because of them,” said OBG Board member Graham Brogan, who is head of brewery operations at McMenamins.
All six of the brewers honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award were active in lobbying the Oregon legislature to pass the state’s brewpub law in 1984, allowing beer to be made and sold on the same property, thus launching Oregon’s world-renowned beer scene.
All nominees were selected by Oregon brewers. Winners were selected by the Oregon Brewers Guild Board of Directors.
Lifetime Achievement Awards went to;
Fred Bowman co-founder of Portland Brewing which opened its doors in 1984.
Art Larrance co-founder of Portland Brewing Co. with Bowman.
Brian and Mike McMenamin opened Oregon’s first brewpub.
Kurt and Rob Widmer opened Widmer Brewing in 1984
