PORTLAND, Ore. — Green & Gold K├Âlsch is back for the 2014 Portland Timbers soccer season. Widmer Brothers Brewing and the Timbers Army first collaborated to brew Green & Gold K├Âlsch last year, and have partnered again this year in response to the overwhelmingly positive reaction from Portland’s beer and soccer fans.
Green & Gold K├Âlsch is the creation of longtime Timbers Army member Abram Goldman-Armstrong, who won the “Full 90” category of the 2012 Timbers Army Homebrew Competition with this easy-drinking recipe. The beer will remain unchanged for this year’s release, as will the co-branded packaging.
Green & Gold will be available throughout the Portland area, and in select markets in Oregon and Southwest Washington, for the duration of the 2014 season beginning on March 8, opening day for the Portland Timbers at Providence Park.
The collaboration between Widmer Brothers Brewing and the Timbers Army has also led to a greater cause this year than just beer. Widmer Brothers involvement with the Timbers Army 107ist led to the brewery’s awareness of Operation Pitch Invasion (OPI), a local, grass-roots charity formed to build, revitalize, and maintain soccer fields throughout the Portland Metro area.
Widmer Brothers recently donated $10,000 to OPI to the help the organization reach its fundraising goal of $200,000 to build Bless Field: a youth-sized all-season soccer pitch for the children of Portland’s New Columbia neighborhood. OPI announced on Wednesday that the organization hit its fundraising goal, meaning Bless Field will soon become a reality in New Columbia. The New Columbia community in North Portland is home to nearly 1,200 kids from 22 countries speaking more than 11 different languages. The goal of the project is to bring the community together through the common language of soccer.
“What started out as an opportunity to share a great homebrew recipe with Timbers fans has evolved into something even bigger this year,” said Kurt Widmer, co-founder of Widmer Brothers Brewing. “The work Operation Pitch Invasion is doing to get Bless Field built is awe-inspiring, and something that we wanted to be a part of. New Columbia is a neighborhood that can definitely make use of a beautiful field as a building block of the community.”
Green & Gold K├Âlsch
We are RCTID. Each year, the Timbers Army 107ist hosts a homebrew competition, bringing out the best in what makes the Rose City great: craft beer, creativity, and a passion for the Green & Gold — the colors of the Portland Timbers and the hops and barley we use to brew beer. Timbers Army homebrewer Abram Goldman-Armstrong’s recipe was chosen as 2012’s winner and is brewed by Widmer Brothers for you to enjoy as you cheer on your Timbers during the 2014 season. Green & Gold K├Âlsch is a golden straw colored beer with aromas of strawberry and cracked black pepper, a soft sweet bready malt flavor, a creamy body, and a crisp, dry finish.
Malts: Two-Row Pale
Hops: Alchemy, Hallertauer, Mt. Hood
Original Gravity: 11.7 Plato
IBU: 35
ABV: 5.2%
About The Timbers Army 107 Independent Supporters Trust
The 107ist is the engine that fuels the Timbers Army. The organization is dedicated to supporting soccer in Portland from the grassroots to the highest professional levels. In addition to funding in-stadium activities such as tifo displays and bringing supporters to away matches, the organization raises money for local charities, including Operation Pitch Invasion, which builds and maintains soccer fields in the Portland area. For more informationwww.timbersarmy.org
About Widmer Brothers Brewing
Founded in 1984, Widmer Brothers Brewing is celebrating 30 years of beer in 2014. Founders Kurt and Rob Widmer helped lead the Pacific Northwest craft beer movement in 1984 when, in their 20s, they began brewing unique interpretations of traditional German beer styles. In 1986, Widmer Brothers Brewing introduced the original American-style Hefeweizen, which elevated the brewery to national acclaim. Since then, the brewery has continued to push the boundaries of craft beer, developing a variety of beers with an unapologetic, uncompromised commitment to innovation.
Based in Portland, Ore., the brewery currently brews a variety of beers including Alchemy Pale Ale, Upheaval IPA, Hefeweizen, Drop Top Amber Ale, Pitch Black IPA, Nelson Imperial IPA, a full seasonal lineup, and a series of limited edition beers. For more information about Widmer Brothers Brewing, visit www.widmerbrothers.com.