May '97; Portland, OR – Widmer Brothers Brewing Company, the craft brewery known for creating America's Original Hefeweizen¨ as well as a variety of seasonal and specialty biers, announces the addition of its first Lager, Pilsner, rolling out in bottles June 2, 1997.

"Pilsner is the classic Lager," says Kurt Widmer, president. "When we decided to brew our first Lager, we knew it had to be Pilsner. We enjoy making great biers, and it's fun experimenting with new styles. I'm especially excited about the addition of a Lager to our family of craft biers – and Pilsner is one of my favorites."

Pilsner is a traditional style Lager with strong European roots. Bier connoisseurs may know that pilsner was first created as an alternative to dark beer in 1842. It was Europe's first pale colored bier and revolutionized Europe's bier market.

Pilsner marks Widmer's first break away from their trademark Altbier yeast and Altbier brewing process. Widmer's Pilsner is brewed with Czech yeast, pale malt, Saaz hops and soft water. It's bottom fermented and cold-conditioned for longer periods of time to impart the true, crisp, rounded character of a Lager. The result is a lighter colored bier with a rich maltiness and an aggressive hop profile. Pilsner is also the first product to come out of Widmer's Test Bier program. Widmer produces a different new bier each month at its Rose Garden Brewery, and has consumers taste-test the bier in select bars and restaurants around Portland. Pilsner will be distributed in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana.

Widmer is currently the top selling craft bier in the Pacific Northwest. Brothers Kurt and Rob Widmer founded Widmer Brothers Brewing Company in 1984. The Widmer combination of craft, innovation, and commitment has resulted in a winning blend that's propelled Widmer as a leading craft brewery, and produced some of the most popular craft biers in the country. In addition to creating America's Original Hefeweizen¨, the Widmer signature line of Amberbier, Widberry, and Blackbier is available in several national markets.

Contact: Greg Jackson, Metropolitan Group, 503.223.3299