Brothers in beer brew up big business
Eugene has become a hot spot for specialty beer, with a handful of microbreweries popping up over the past year. Now, two brothers are leaping into the market -- with a little help from their friends.
Jeff Althouse was a school teacher; his brother Chris runs a mobile DJ-ing company; and both enjoyed home-brewing beer.
Then, two and half years ago, they decided to take their popular homebrew to the next level -- starting the Willamette Brewery.
"Everything I learned about brewing, I learned from my brother," Chris Althouse explains. "And the great thing about such a small brewery is that its not a huge step from homebrewing to here. I mean, it really feels like homebrewing, except with all the right equipment."
Friends and family pitched in the seed money to get the brewery started.
"No individual person has a ton of money on the line, but it takes a little bit of money to start a business like this," explains Jeff Althouse. "So I'm working for them, and we're here to make great beer. But we also need to give a return to our investors."
With those VIP investors in mind, the brothers keep costs down by keeping a minimal staff -- in fact, Jeff and Chris are the staff.
In addition to his duties as brewer, Jeff Althouse also is in charge of deliveries to 17 different clients throughout the area, from Eugene to Monroe to McKenzie Bridge.
One of their major accounts is here at Fisherman's Market in Eugene, where their Amber is not only the best-selling draft, it's also a big hit with the crew.
"Well, it's just a real, great-tasting all-around beer, it's very drinkable," says owner Ryan Rogers. "And now we're we're going to have their stout real soon, and that's equally as good."
As for what's next, they say the local beer drinking community will decide.
"We like being a small brewery, this is great. If this is what works, and we can keep paying the bills, we'll keep doing that," Jeff Althouse says. "If the market says we want more of your beer, then we're going to brew it."
The guys at Willamette Brewery will add a third beer, a northwest IPA, in about a month.
Jeff Althouse was a school teacher; his brother Chris runs a mobile DJ-ing company; and both enjoyed home-brewing beer.
Then, two and half years ago, they decided to take their popular homebrew to the next level -- starting the Willamette Brewery.
"Everything I learned about brewing, I learned from my brother," Chris Althouse explains. "And the great thing about such a small brewery is that its not a huge step from homebrewing to here. I mean, it really feels like homebrewing, except with all the right equipment."
Friends and family pitched in the seed money to get the brewery started.
"No individual person has a ton of money on the line, but it takes a little bit of money to start a business like this," explains Jeff Althouse. "So I'm working for them, and we're here to make great beer. But we also need to give a return to our investors."
With those VIP investors in mind, the brothers keep costs down by keeping a minimal staff -- in fact, Jeff and Chris are the staff.
In addition to his duties as brewer, Jeff Althouse also is in charge of deliveries to 17 different clients throughout the area, from Eugene to Monroe to McKenzie Bridge.
One of their major accounts is here at Fisherman's Market in Eugene, where their Amber is not only the best-selling draft, it's also a big hit with the crew.
"Well, it's just a real, great-tasting all-around beer, it's very drinkable," says owner Ryan Rogers. "And now we're we're going to have their stout real soon, and that's equally as good."
As for what's next, they say the local beer drinking community will decide.
"We like being a small brewery, this is great. If this is what works, and we can keep paying the bills, we'll keep doing that," Jeff Althouse says. "If the market says we want more of your beer, then we're going to brew it."
The guys at Willamette Brewery will add a third beer, a northwest IPA, in about a month.
