We’ve had countless conversations with customers about the meaning behind our name over the past six months. Without a doubt, the most commonly asked questions are:

1. “What is the meaning behind Alma Mader?“

2. “Am I pronouncing it right?“

These are great questions and five years ago when I was drafting the business plan and brainstorming potential names, I constantly asked myself what would stand out? What would represent our thoughtful approach to beer? What would be least likely to receive a cease and desist (i.e. trademark-worthy)? What could our name mean to our city and customers?

First off let’s tackle the pronunciation of our name, and yes, it is intentionally a play on words with the latin phrase “alma mater.” However, we pronounce our name as “al-muh mAY-duhr.“ In the 17th century, the phrase “alma mater” was understood to mean something that provides nourishment. This is the meaning that I connect with.

Alma Mader has several meanings to us. Personally it represents a return home to Kansas City which I consider my life’s alma mater. It is a city I feel very connected to and has provided me with the foundation to move around the country to pursue not only my brewing career, but also my ultimate dream of opening this brewery.  

I have always loved the notion of having a brewery tied to a surname, which is common in Europe, because it represents creating something with longevity in mind and the potential for it to be passed on to future generations. I also wanted my name to be behind the beers that we produce because I wholeheartedly believe in the quality of our beer. As a brewer-owned and operated brewery, I make conscious decisions about the direction of our beers and always focus on using the best raw materials and fermentation techniques possible.

Lastly, “Alma” is beautiful word that is regarded as one’s soul in Spanish. Alma Mader’s soul is built upon and cultivated through creating beers with purpose, intention, and attention-to-detail. We connect with like-minded customers and breweries through soul sharing and feeding off the energy of our customers, the brewing industry, parallel industries (coffee, food, wine, spirits, etc.), and of course Kansas City.

Cheers,  

Nick Mader