Western Wisconsin Breweries

I know a crew of Barrel Theory regulars from the Twin Cities who are hitting Forager, Toppling Goliath, Pulpit Rock, and 608 on a road trip next weekend. They're attracted by the styles and the Untappd scores. That should give you an idea of where 608 slots into the scene, and I'm sure that makes Phil Humphrey happy.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if this brewery attracts a ton of attention among the scenesters and a segment of BA users. You heard it here first! And hey, who knows?, maybe it'll actually be great, not that it needs to be given its choice of focus. Dare to dream.

 

Some updates:

Zymurgy Brewing Company, a brewery-in-planning in Menomonie, seems to be getting close to opening, according to its Facebook page. It debuted its beer to the public on 8-19-18 at an event at Lazy Monk in Eau Claire, having poured a low-ABV French Saison. brewery nønic, another BIP for Menomonie, also seems to be making progress.

Linked is an update on the relocation and expansion of The Brewing Projekt in Eau Claire. The taproom has moved to a temporary new location, with a permanent new location coming later in the year.

This article about old breweries in the Chippewa Valley may be of interest to history buffs.

This Journal Sentinel article about a western Wisconsin bicycling trip only briefly touches on breweries, but it includes a rare mention of Valkyrie Brewing Company, formerly known as Viking Brewing Company, in Dallas, Wisconsin. Then Viking beers were distributed in Twin Cities liquor stores when I first started getting into craft beer in the early to mid-'00s, but, from my perspective, the brewery has since descended into obscurity. Lucette in Menomonie also gets a mention.

The former owner of the defunct American Sky Brewing Company in Hudson has sued the purchasing company, Lucid/North Loop/Inbound BrewCo. formerly of Minnetonka, Minnesota and now of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

608 Brewing Company in La Crosse is down to a 3.98 average beer rating on Untappd as of this writing after opening its doors to the public. I'm told that's still pretty good.

 

La Crosse Distilling Co. opens on Friday, 8-31-18, and, in addition to liquor, it will be serving its own beer. It also will feature the food of acclaimed former Minneapolis chef Jorge Guzman, formerly of Surly Beer Hall and the shuttered Brewer's Table.

Linked is an article on Zymurgy an Brewery Nonic, both slated to open in October in Menomonie.

 

Thirsty Pagan is moving to a new location (still in Superior), expecting to open in January.

 

Brickfield Brewing in Grantsburg should be opening very soon. Hat tip to @iRun2Beer.

 

The expanding Driftless Brewing Co. in Soldiers Grove is discussed in this article (linked) about "The Allure Of Destination Breweries As Rural Economic Engines."

 

Bucky's 5th Quarter features an interview with Will Glass of The Brewing Projekt in Eau Claire.

 

I just want to note that Surly Darkness Day 2018 will be held in Somerset, Wisconsin on the weekend of September 28th. Surly of course is a Minnesotan brewery but is taking advantage of Wisconsin's more liberal alcohol laws to hold its event outside of the grounds of its Brooklyn Center, Minnesota brewery for the first time. Also for the first time, the event will feature beers of numerous guest breweries in a formal way (not just via informal bottle shares) and bottled Darkness variants.

 

The UW Stout student newspaper covers the upcoming Brewery Nonic in Menomonie.

 

Bucky's 5th Quarter covers 608 Brewing Company in La Crosse.