Craft beer boom in Northeast Wisconsin
By: Millaine Wells
Updated: May 17, 2012
(WFRV) - This is American Craft Beer Week, celebrating small producers.
Wisconsin is home to at least 50 small breweries pumping more than $20 million into the economy each year.
To meet demand two local breweries are growing and a third is in the works.
"Beer is something that everybody can relate to, to begin with" says Bill Tressler, Owner of Hinterland Brewery.
Hinterland has seen 200 percent growth in beer sales the last two years.
People like "The fact that it is made locally, the fact that it is an artisan product like cheese" explains Tressler.
Now distributing beer in six states, an expansion is needed at Hinterland to meet demand
We will add "Another fermentation cooler kind of like the one behind me right now" says Tressler.
Plans also include a 60,000 pound grain silo on the roof.
Stone Arch Brew House in the Fox Cities also faced the challenge of expanding while preserving a historic building.
"Last year we were actually turning customers down. We hit our maximum of what we could brew from this facility" says Brewmaster Steve Lonsway.
The addition of eight tanks will increase production from 1200 barrels to four thousand a year.
"We are purchasing a new bottler that will give us a lot more control on our product and you should see it on store shelves by fall is what we're hoping for" says Lonsway.
A new tap room completes the addition at Stone Arch.
Across the river the brand new Appleton Beer Factory is taking shape.
"We are definitely the new guys on the block, no doubt about it" says Jeff Fogle one of the partners in the project.
Jeff is no stranger to beer.
"Well first and foremost drinking it, but I started brewing in 1983 with my father" says Fogle.
He has passed the brewing baton to his son. They plan to open the "Factory" this fall.
Three brewmasters betting this industry is far from fizzling out.
"It is a bit of a cheap indulgence so to spend a little more for a better beer is not a bad thing" says Tressler.
