An interesting battle continues with Tyranena…
Here We Go Again (Or The Battle With The City of Lake Mills Continues, Continued... Or Rob Just May Have An Aneurism). Long time subscribers will remember back to May and June of 2011 when we battled with the Wisconsin Beer Distributor's Association (WBDA) regarding the changes they wanted to make to Wisconsin State Statutes, specifically to Chapter 125, which deals with alcohol laws. Sadly, the WBDA prevailed and one of the results was that Wisconsin breweries lost their municipal-issued retail licenses... and the retail component of our operations is now included in our state-issued Brewer's Permit.
Why is this an issue? Well, zoning. Previously, the way we have been able to host large events like the Tyranena Oktoberfest Bike Ride and Tyranena Beer Run (where we sell and serve beer outside of the actual brewery) has been through a finding by the Lake Mills Plan Commission and Lake Mills City Council to allow us to do so via a permit tied to our liquor license. (Although, technically, we never really had a liquor license... just a Class "B" ... not to be confused with a "Class B"... Malt Beverage License.)
It only recently become an issue for the City, though they were instructed by the State in February to no longer issue us a license. Of course, we knew this last summer... but given our history with the City, I didn't want to raise the issue just weeks before our major events (though Stacey did blurt it out to them at some point in discussions last fall anyway...). But we proceeded this year as we had in the past; filling out all the required forms and paperwork, as we always had. It only took 14 months (and after approval of our event permits back in April) for the City to take issue with how these things are done.
So it seems like we will be back before the Plan Commission this Tuesday (although I have received only modest amounts of information on what they are proposing to deal with this new/old situation) and we are exactly where we didn't want to be... dealing with potential changes only weeks before our events. On a positive note, it appears that the City IS trying to work through this so that everything can go ahead as planned... but given our history... I am never really certain of anything.
Our Newest Brewer Started This Week. Yes, that's right... three brewers in three months (really, I'm not that bad to work with). Andrea originally applied to be a brewer last year... but instead accepted a position as a bartender. Now she is giving brewing a try. We'll see how long she lasts... She is picking things up quickly and everyone seems to be enjoying working with her. However she seems to be fading away... the work pants she purchased on Sunday are too large just 5 days later. Perhaps this really is "Brewers Boot Camp". Andrea will continue to be working as a bartender, so feel free to tell her what you think of the beer she is brewing.
Last Of The Hop Wh0re Imperial IPA Was Packaged Today. We finished bottling and kegging the last of this year's Hop Wh0re Imperial IPA. The final round of major shipments should be going out on Monday. I believe there are two smaller shipments that have yet to schedule pickups. So... if it isn't in a store near you yet... it should be within the next week or so.
Started Brewing Painted Ladies Pumpkin Spice This Week. The brewery has had the wonderful aroma of pumpkin and spice this week as we started brewing our fall seasonal. Should be available the week after the short week following Labor Day.
Gemuetlichkeit Oktoberfest Out The Door. This year's batch of our early Autumn seasonal is fully shipped and should be available in stores in Wisconsin. We produce a limited amount so it is likely to go quickly. Should still be available on tap in the Tasting Room for awhile and will reappear at the Tyranena Oktoberfest Bike Ride.
All Of Our Equipment Is Working! (knocking on wood...) Last time I wrote an update... our bottle filler main drive motor had taken a dump and we went through multiple stages of repair. It is working quite well. Our hot liquor tank became an issue in January (actually, the steam jacket had started leaking well before that but I schedule the repair in January when I went on holiday in Germany with brewery workers Teri and Danella). At that time, the repair guys said it could not be repaired. Well, it continued to work just fine for four more months until we tried to have it repaired again... and then the steam jacket was weakened to the point that we could had almost no steam pressure and, instead of heating 2,000 gallons of water at a pace of 20 degrees per hour, would only heat at 7 degrees per hour. Earlier this month we had an external heat exchanger installed and it is wonderful. We now can heat 2,000 gallons of water from 170 to 200 degrees in 55 minutes! Life in the brewery is good when everything is working as it should.
Brewing: a double batch of Bitter Woman IPA, a double batch of Painted Ladies Pumpkin Spice and a single batch of Chief BlackHawk Porter.
Bottling: Rocky's Revenge (Monday) and HopWh0re Imperial IPA (Wednesday & Friday). There are currently no mislabels.
Friday is Live Music - Jim James & the Damn Shames. "The local trio Jim James & The Damn Shames pick around country music more than they actually play it. Which is a good thing. Young bands that offer up pro forma versions of old country styles are a dime a dozen these days, and their retro-mindedness gets dull awfully fast. Instead of straight twangin', JJDS (which, naturally, includes no one named Jim James) hustle and bustle around a wide swath of trad roots music, sometimes tumbling through swing tunes, sometimes dusting up on the country blues." - Tom Lakin, The IsthmusJim James & the Damn Shames - Roots Rock 'n Honky Tonk - 6:00 to 9:00 pm
Saturday is Live Music - Greg Boerner. One of our very favorite performers returns to the Beer Garden. "... aptly pronounced "Burner"... an Augusta, Georgia transplant... great guitar, strong vocals... hand-jiving rockabilly groove... finger-picking guitar style that reminds one of the '50's masters... seasoned, tasteful, deeply rooted and downright hot... expends more energy playing one song than most of us are born with... you can tell he feels it... heard as much Elvis and Buddy Holly in his music as Woody Guthrie, which is something of a relief these days!..."
Greg Boerner - Blues & Roots Rock 'n Roll - 6:00 to 9:00 pm
Sunday is... the Last Day of the Weekend! Coming down to the brewery may be your only chance to avoid all that housework or any other assigned special projects. Join us between 12 noon and 8:00 p.m. (Sundays are GREAT days for filling growlers for the week!)
Yes, We're Open on Mondays! (Well, for at least a week or two more.) Hang out in the Tasting Room or Beer Garden (a great way to try and forget that there are still four more days until Friday...) from 4:30 to 11 pm each Monday until Labor Day.
Tuesday is the FINAL Team Trivia of the Summer. The Tasting Room will feature Team Trivia from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. This will be our last for the summer. Join us! There are even prizes! Details on playing the game can be found at www.teamtriviawi.com.
ANNNND... since we haven't been getting the newsletter out on Wednesdays (if we've been getting it out at all) as had once been the norm.... let's just cover all the bases!
Wednesday is Pitcher Night. That means $8.00 pitchers and Gardetto's snack mix.
Thursday is Thirsty Thursday. Thirsty Thursday is your opportunity to earn a beer on us. Each time you join us in the Tasting Room on a Thursday night you'll receive one stamp for each tap beer you purchase on your Thirsty Thursday card. Buy yourself a well deserved beer, earn a stamp. Buy someone else a beer, earn another stamp. When the card is full, turn it in for a free pint!
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