OUR FOUNDER: Roger Worthington

Worthy Brewing was founded by Roger Worthington — trial attorney, master bicycle racer, hop developer, environmental advocate, and the visionary who imagined something far bigger than a typical brewery.

Roger often calls himself the “Bull Goose Looney,” a playful nod to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and a reflection of his lifelong refusal to follow conventional paths. His vision for Worthy was never simply to brew beer. It was to build what he calls “Beertopia” — a place where great beer exists alongside art, science, environmental stewardship, and meaningful community connection.

Before founding Worthy, Roger co-founded Indie Hops, Oregon’s first dedicated hop breeding and milling company, helping develop new hop varieties used by breweries around the world. Among them is Strata, a groundbreaking hop that reflects the same spirit of innovation that drives Worthy Brewing.

Roger’s passion for protecting the natural world runs just as deep as his love of craft beer. He pledged $1 million to plant one million native conifer trees in Oregon wildfire recovery zones, working alongside the U.S. Forest Service to help restore damaged forests. He has also contributed $600,000 to the University of Oregon School of Law’s Environmental and Natural Resources Law Center, and has supported millions of dollars in research funding for mesothelioma treatment through a nonprofit foundation he helped establish.

At the heart of everything Roger built is a simple philosophy that continues to guide Worthy Brewing today:

Drink Up. Dream On.

It is both an invitation and a challenge — to enjoy life fully while dreaming bigger about what the world can become.