Keen Footwear teamed up with Portland-based Widmer Brothers Brewing to launch a limited-edition, small-batch beer to raise awareness and membership for the Portland Bicycle Transportation Alliance. The Full Fender Brown Ale debuted Tuesday, Mar. 4, at a business-to-business event hosted by Keen at its Pearl District headquarters. Since 1990, the non-profit BTA has worked to promote bicycling and improve bicycling conditions in Oregon.
To raise awareness and thank businesses who signed up for corporate BTA membership, 300 bottles of Full Fender Brown Ale were distributed at the event. Each bottle includes a special label designed by artist Bill Cass.
"At Widmer Brothers, we've built a workplace that supports and celebrates employees who ride to work," said Rob Widmer, co-founder. "As an avid cyclist, we're proud to support the Bicycle Transportation Alliance's efforts to raise awareness and encourage businesses to further embrace Portland's bike culture with this special beer."
The event raised more than $6000 and garnered eight new business memberships including:
Brink CommunicationsColumbia SportswearDaniel Fleischer Bike RealtorFMYIKeen FootwearPedal PTSugar Wheel WorksWidmer Brothers"This simply wouldn't have been the event it was without the collaborative and community-centered efforts of Keen and Widmer Brothers," says BTA Business and Sponsorship Manager Megan Van de Mark. "The idea started with a good beer and turned into a great event!"
Jeff Dill, Keen's outdoor business unit director, said, "It's activities like these that make being part of Keen and the larger Portland community so much fun and so rewarding. Collaborating with longtime contributors like Widmer Brothers to provide some support to a cause we both care deeply about as companies, Portlanders and cyclists, feels really good."
