*This is the sixty-second post in an on-going chronicle dubbed the Great Wisconsin Brewery Tour. Follow the journey here.*
Brewster Bros. Brewing Co.
402 W River St
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
(715) 861-5100
Visit date: 06/25/16
Quick Hits:
1) How many different beers?
8 beers, 4 spirits, multiple whiskeys.
2) How long operational?
March 2016.
3) Why? (here, this, etc)
Owners were engineers, friends, and entrepreneurs.
4) Distribution?
Bottles coming soon (in house).
5) What sets you apart?
“We don’t cut corners on quality ingredients.” Distillery and brewery together.
6) How did you get your name?
Brewster Bros. Ice Company was located nearby.
Brewster Bros. Brewing Co. in Chippewa Falls. All photos by Joe Powell.
Can we all agree that a brewery/distillery is an infinitely better utilization of a plumb spot overlooking the Chippewa River than a Celebrity Video & Tan? We can thank Jim and Kurt, a couple of longtime engineers and friends, for that transformation and revitalization.
The large communal tap room facing the river.
There’s no vestige of the video store left, no rogue tanning bed. This warehouse space has been completely transformed, opening up to the street and river and featuring plenty of space for socializing.
Most of us got cozy around the stone bar.
While there’s plenty to drink, Brewster Bros. “avoided the food (portion of the business) on purpose to support local businesses.” We ourselves brought in amazing sandwiches from the nearby Lucy’s Deli to pair with a flight of 4 house beers.
The unique, personal tap handles.
Tilden Weizen Bier
More tart and lemony than expected in a wheat beer.
Rumble Bridge Cream Ale on Nitro
Smooth and creamy; the nitro makes this one stand out.
Ginge Red Ale
Heavy on the roasted caramel, with a bite on the backside.
Portersville Porter on Nitro
A nice, smooth coffee taste in a light, drinkable package.
Owner Jim showing us around.
Each beer and label has a unique, personal history tied to either the owners or the local area. Jim led us to the stairwell to the brewery, which features short stories explaining each beer’s namesake.
Large, modern, clean distilling space.
In addition to brewing, this is also home to Chippewa River Distillery. Deviating slightly from our normal beer tasting, we tried a sample of their new wheat vodka: smooth, un-aged, but lacking the expected roughness.
Best view of the river in town.
While Brewster Bros. Brewing Company is just getting up and started, they’ve already set up one of the most comfortable and inviting spaces to relax and meet friends while in Chippewa Falls. The house-made beer and spirits are just liquid icing on the cake.