GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – The celebration of craft beer in Green Bay is highlighted this week as the industry showcases itself city-wide.
In other words, it’s Green Bay Craft Beer Week.
“This is our second Craft Beer Week, last year being the first exceeded our expectations,” says Brad Stillmank, brewer/owner at Stillmank Brewing Company. “We weren’t sure how the community was going to come around it, but it turned out every event we were at and our brewery was really hopping all week long.”
If you think this week is just about pounding suds, think again.
These 7 days encompasses not only the advancement of craft beer culture but the idea of supporting local businesses in an effort to positively enhance the local economy.
It’s also a great opportunity to connect with the brewers and artisans who dedicate their careers to honing their passion in a way that they can share with their community.
“There’s a large population of untapped potential out there,” Andrew Fabry, President and Founder of Badger State Brewing explains. “We get so caught up with the brewing and in-house events that we need to remind ourselves it’s important to get out in the marketplace. It’s a great chance to interact on a first name basis with our fans, our customers, beer novices and the experts.”
Creativity is the key to a number of craft beer-related events this week.
“You’re seeing a lot more one-off specialty beers via cask ale, or pins and firkins,” says Fabry. “Unique stuff you’ll only be able to try that one time, at that one place that may never come back again. That’s something we love about it.”
Also added this year is more participation and getting the word out about those events for the craft beer enthusiast.
“Every city that has some sort of beer usually has a week to celebrate, but here in Green Bay we have something that’s a little bit different,” Stillmank said. “The 4 of us, Titletown, Hinterland, Badger State and us are really good buddies. We share a lot of information from raw materials to events to organizing weeks like this. Leatherhead is now getting on, those guys are great too. We’re all really a community that’s trying to celebrate our craft together. In particular, we’ve got a real brotherhood amongst each other and we’re rooting for each other.”
Stillmank adds that while they aren’t hosting any particular event (don’t worry their tap room will be open), they will make it a point to get to everyone else’s events.
‘WELL-ROUNDED’ COLLABORATION
This week will also see the release of the 3rd collaboration beer from the quaternary brewers of Green Bay. It’s a Blackberry Belgian Rye.
“It seems like this year’s beer is really well-rounded, well thought out,” says Fabry. “You have some Belgian aspects to the beer, a little bit of interest and curiosity of the rye malt, and you have the fruit and tartness of the blackberries.”
Stillmank says the Saison-style Farmhouse ale with a fruit twist will definitely turn heads.
“It’s a little bit about knowing your community more and customers by providing a beer that’s more complex and interesting for us to brew,” Stillmank said. “But at the same time putting something out that everyone in Green Bay is going to be interested in and go find on tap at bars and restaurants.”
Let us know which beers you’re sipping on during #GBCraftBeerWeek on Twitter and Facebook.
