COURTESY / ODD BY NATURE
Dylan Webber’s spirit of innovation was on tap when Definitive Brewing Co. last month partnered with Odd by Nature Brewing, in Cape Neddick, to produce a beer with the tart taste of Sour Patch Kids candy.
September 7, 2021
Maine brewmaster Dylan Webber dies at age 31, leaving legacy of innovation
Courtesy / Definitive Brewing Co. Facebook Post
Dylan Webber, a brewmaster and co-owner of Definitive Brewing Co. in Portland and Kittery, passed away at age 31 last week.
By Staff
The death of Dylan Webber, a brewmaster and co-owner of Definitive Brewing Co. in Portland and Kittery, brought an outpouring of accolades and remembrances from his colleagues and friends.
Webber died unexpectedly last week at age 31.
“We are deeply saddened to share the news that our co-founder, creative mastermind and friend Dylan Webber has passed away suddenly,” Definitive Brewing announced Friday on its Facebook page. “We join his girlfriend Laura, his mother Katie, father Chuck, and the rest of his family in mourning his loss, and celebrating his remarkable life.”
Webber coined the Definitive name in 2017 as “a reminder that no beer we make will ever be perfect, but we will always strive for perfection,” according to the post. He and Michael Rankin launched Definitive Brewing in Portland with in 2018.
In 2020, the craft brewery won Boston Magazine’s ranking as the top beer maker in New England and built a second branch in Kittery, in order to tap more deeply into a large market in southern New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
Webber, an Augusta native, was passionate about a type of German beer called Kölsch.
“Having traveled to Cologne, he dreamed of brewing a beer that reminded him of sunshine, bottomless kranz trays, and bier gartens,” Definitive wrote. “When we set out to create an opening day line-up, there was never a question that a Kölschwould be one of our specialties, and that Contee would be its name.”
The name derives from central Maine’s Cobbosseecontee Lake.
Webber embraced the daily challenges of being a brewer and a business owner, the post continued. “He was incredibly innovative; he would never settle for ‘damn good’ and was always seeking perfection."
“His Kolsch has absolutely been the best I've had as I travel the [Maine Brewers] Guild's trail,” said one commenter.
“My husband and I make the two-hour trek often to the Portland area just to go to Definitive,” said another.
Sean Sulivan, executive director of the Maine Brewers Guild, called Webber “a major contributor to Maine's craft beer brand.”
Over the past weekend, Definitive donated 100% of the proceeds of Contee draft and package sales, plus donations and tips, to help Webber’s family cover the medical costs incurred from his passing. By Sept. 5, the fundraising had collected $25,000.
Webber was the first employee and first head brewer at Mast Landing Brewing Co. in Westbrook.
“He helped build our culture and our foundation as an integral part of the brewery's launch and early years,” a separate Facebook post from Mast Landing said. “Even after leaving Mast Landing and starting Definitive Brewing Company, he remained a part of our family and we continued to cherish every minute and every beer we got to share with him.”
Last month, Webber's spirit of innovation was on tap when Definitive partnered with Odd by Nature Brewing, in Cape Neddick, to produce a beer with the tart taste of Sour Patch Kids candy.
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Anonymous
September 9, 2021
Such a painful loss for our community... far beyond Dylan's contributions to and connections made through his craft. I feel very fortunate to know him since his time at Lion's Pride and enjoyed numerous conversations with him over the years. My sincerest condolences to his family and many friends.
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