SOLDIERS GROVE - The Driftless Brewing Company will be celebrating the newly expanded 15-barrel brewery and taproom at their Soldiers Grove facility on Saturday, July 20 from 1 to 8 p.m., followed by a benefit at the Soldiers Grove American Legion Post 220 on Sunday, July 21 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 pm.
Driftless Brewing Company (DBC) completed its $1.1 million dollar expansion in February 2019 and began production on the new 15-barrel system. DBC is now distributing its six core beers in 11 counties in southwest and central Wisconsin, including the metro-Madison area, through General Beverage Sales Company–except for Soldiers Grove where the local brewery self-distributes.
The six core beers include: Local Buzz Honey Blonde Ale, DIRT Brown Ale, Kick- Axe Pale Ale, Cow Cult Milk Stout, Rolling Ground IPA, and Saison de Jardin.
The Driftless Brewing Company taproom has been open since late May on Fridays from 3 to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 1 to 9 p.m. The taproom features 10 beers on tap as well as growlers and six packs to go. The taproom also offers specialty and seasonal beers in addition to the core beers.
“We’re excited about celebrating with our community and fans from across Wisconsin and the Midwest---it’s been a long process of funding, organizing and completing the expansion since we began in 2012-13---we’re ready to celebrate,” said Cynthia Olmstead, Business Operations Director for DBC.
The weekend celebration includes: Saturday, July 20 from 1 to 8 p.m. at Driftless Brewing Company, 102 West Sunbeam Boulevard in Soldiers Grove.
“Join us for a celebration of our Grand Opening,” Olmstead said. “We’ll have all our core beers on tap as well as specialty beers, released every two hours including some barrel-aged beers! We also have non-alcoholic organic sodas and Sparkle from Wisco Pop! available.
Four food vendors will be available featuring many local and/or organic food options (meat and vegetarian): Youth Initiative High School’s Food For Thought taco truck, Julie Ruef’sBad Ass Eats food truck, Chef Corey Everts with Quail Run Bar/Grill, Ryan Wagner with Driftless Provisions (locally sourced charcuterie).
Music for the event includes several local duos/bands:
3 p.m. Jane and Kevin (Old Time harmonies with mandolin and guitar)
5 p.m. Whiskey Chiken (Vernon County's oldest and largest old timey orchestra)
7 p..m Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers (neighbors Joe Hart and Nikki Grossman give their own modern twist to Old Time Country) The Sapsuckers have been featured at SXSW, WPR’s ‘Simply Folk’and Americana Music’s Best of 2018.
SUNDAY, July 21 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. FUNDRAISER/VIDEO SCREENING at Soldiers Grove American Legion Post 220 located on 103 Legion Drive across from the Brewery (behind Campbell’s Mobile station).
All food and DBC beer proceeds will benefit the Soldiers Grove Park Restoration and local projects of the American Legion Post 220. Sponsors include Driftless Brewing Company, Soldiers Grove American Legion Post 220, Driftless Development, Inc., Peoples State Bank, and Johnson’s One Stop in Seneca. Wisconsin Public Television is co-hosting the viewing of ‘Portraits from Rural Wisconsin’and will likely have representatives attending the event. Driftless Brewing Company beer will be on tap at the Legion on Sunday, July 21:
10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Pancake Breakfast Fundraiserby the American Legion Post 220
1 to 2 p.m. Special viewing of the hour-long Wisconsin Public Television program by Andy Soth: ‘Portraits from Rural Wisconsin,’which features a segment on the brewery and the history of the Solar Village in Soldiers Grove. From the WPT website: “Through a series of interwoven personal essays, see why some western Wisconsin residents still say that ‘rural life is the best life’ – even in the face of hardship and change.”
2 to 2:30 p.m. Questions from the audience and social time. For more information, see our website www.driftlessbrewing.com, Find us on Facebook or contact Cynthia Olmstead at the brewery, 608-624-5577.
