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Thomas Kemper was founded in Poulsbo, Washington, by Andy Thomas and Will Kemper in 1985.
The brewery began as a local favorite and eventually moved to a larger facility on a dairy farm near Poulsbo.
Will Kemper was an early pioneer brewer in the US craft beer scene. The Pacific Northwest was a particular hotbed of activity, spawning many well-known brands such as Red Hook, Pyramid, Widmer, Grants, Hales Ales, and many more. The late 80s and 90s were exciting times for the craft beer industry!
Kemper Brewmaster Rande Reed brought his knowledge of soda flavors and perfected the very popular Thomas Kemper Root Beer in 1990…followed by other flavors, including Cream Soda, Birch Beer, Black Cherry, and Orange Cream. They would later add Grape and Ginger Ale to round out the lineup.
By the early 1990s, sodas were outselling beer. However, in 1992, the soda and beer brands were sold to Hart Brewing, which was later renamed Pyramid Brewing.
Will and Mari Kemper went to the East Coast to assist other startup breweries, including a small one called SamuelAdams. They traveled to other parts of the country and spent several years in Istanbul setting up a popular regional brewery. Eventually, they came home and now run the Chuckanut brewery in Bellingham, Washington.
A contractual agreement with Pyramid allowed the Kemper Soda Company to operate independently for a few years, but eventually, it was brought back as a subsidiary under the Pyramid umbrella. Once again, the Kemper beer brands were united with the soda line!
Pyramid had become a large regional brewer with two facilities operating on the West Coast: Seattle, Washington, and Berkeley, California. Both facilities bottled Thomas Kemper sodas.
In 2007 Pyramid sold the Kemper brand to Adventure Funds of Portland Oregon. The brand was held for a short time and began to lose its share in the Northwest market. In 2011, it was then sold to Big Red of Texas who were unable to find a following for Kemper soda and production of the brand was halted.
Dr. Pepper Keurig acquired Big Red and its portfolio in 2018. Years later, the Thomas Kemper trademark went inactive. Orca Beverage Inc. successfully filed for the trademark in 2024
Orca has brought Thomas Kemper soda back to the market on the brand’s 40th anniversary as the boutique craft brand envisioned by its original founders and as a tribute to the Renaissance period that helped launch many craft brands. Grab a bottle or two and enjoy!!
Thomas Kemper was founded in Poulsbo, Washington, by Andy Thomas and Will Kemper in 1985.
The brewery began as a local favorite and eventually moved to a larger facility on a dairy farm near Poulsbo.
Will Kemper was an early pioneer brewer in the US craft beer scene. The Pacific Northwest was a particular hotbed of activity, spawning many well-known brands such as Red Hook, Pyramid, Widmer, Grants, Hales Ales, and many more. The late 80s and 90s were exciting times for the craft beer industry!
Kemper Brewmaster Rande Reed brought his knowledge of soda flavors and perfected the very popular Thomas Kemper Root Beer in 1990…followed by other flavors, including Cream Soda, Birch Beer, Black Cherry, and Orange Cream. They would later add Grape and Ginger Ale to round out the lineup.
By the early 1990s, sodas were outselling beer. However, in 1992, the soda and beer brands were sold to Hart Brewing, which was later renamed Pyramid Brewing.
Will and Mari Kemper went to the East Coast to assist other startup breweries, including a small one called SamuelAdams. They traveled to other parts of the country and spent several years in Istanbul setting up a popular regional brewery. Eventually, they came home and now run the Chuckanut brewery in Bellingham, Washington.
A contractual agreement with Pyramid allowed the Kemper Soda Company to operate independently for a few years, but eventually, it was brought back as a subsidiary under the Pyramid umbrella. Once again, the Kemper beer brands were united with the soda line!
Pyramid had become a large regional brewer with two facilities operating on the West Coast: Seattle, Washington, and Berkeley, California. Both facilities bottled Thomas Kemper sodas.
In 2007 Pyramid sold the Kemper brand to Adventure Funds of Portland Oregon. The brand was held for a short time and began to lose its share in the Northwest market. In 2011, it was then sold to Big Red of Texas who were unable to find a following for Kemper soda and production of the brand was halted.
Dr. Pepper Keurig acquired Big Red and its portfolio in 2018. Years later, the Thomas Kemper trademark went inactive. Orca Beverage Inc. successfully filed for the trademark in 2024
Orca has brought Thomas Kemper soda back to the market on the brand’s 40th anniversary as the boutique craft brand envisioned by its original founders and as a tribute to the Renaissance period that helped launch many craft brands. Grab a bottle or two and enjoy!!
