The Making of the Lake Nation Dockhounds’ Beer
When Lake Louie Brewing kicks off the baseball season at its outpost on the Lake Nation DockHounds’ stadium in Oconomowoc this spring, it’ll be doing so with beer – look forward to it – aged with baseball bats.
The lager, which has but to be named, will likely be fermented aged with (clear, unused) chips and items of unfinished, untreated maple bats made by Dingbat, a producer based mostly in Verona – not coincidentally, additionally the hometown of Lake Louie’s father or mother, Wisconsin Brewing Co.
“As we have been planning concepts for our new pilot, it dawned on us that beer aged in wooden is a factor,” mentioned Paul Verdu, president of Wisconsin Brewing Co., which is the title sponsor of the DockHounds stadium. “Suppose barrels, infusion spirals, dare I even say the nice ol’ beechwood growing older from you-know-who. We thought…why not a bat?”
That beer is predicted to be prepared for the opening of the DockHounds’ season on Might 12, however festivities on the Lake Louie DockHaus start with a grand opening on April 14 that includes beer and appetizers, excursions of the brewery, a ribbon-cutting and stay music.
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Lake Louie/WBC brewmaster Kirby Nelson commissioned the Waukesha-made, five-barrel ProBrew brewhouse in November by brewing a Vienna lager. Nelson has been overseeing brewing operations, Verdu mentioned, and Luke Foth is the Dockhaus’ native head brewer. The taproom is working as an occasion house on non-game days, although Verdu mentioned there will likely be occasional occasions reminiscent of bingo or viewing events that will likely be open to the general public. Butter Than The Relaxation Catering handles the venue’s meals.
Lake Louie and the DockHounds are planning a number of collaboration brews, reminiscent of a collection of barrel-aged beers with Central Customary Craft Distillery and a lime gose for a Margaritaville promotion weekend in June.
The brewery will function a pilot and innovation brewery and testing grounds for beers that would be a part of the Lake Louie portfolio. The model was based in 1999 and bought by 10-year-old WBC in 2019. WBC started consolidating its personal beers underneath the Lake Louie title final fall.
“It has been a very long time coming, and the brewing workforce has spent the previous couple of months ensuring all the pieces is able to go. The trial runs have been improbable, and we can not wait to unveil this gem to Wisconsin beer lovers,” Verdu mentioned. “We’re so proud to be companions with the Lake Nation DockHounds and the flexibility to deliver Lake Louie Brewing straight into the center of Lake Nation is a big alternative to develop the model.”
It’s fairly a spring for ballpark breweries in southeastern Wisconsin. Molson Coors model Leinenkugel’s is opening the J. Leinenkugel’s Barrel Yard at American Household Subject on the Milwaukee Brewers’ opening day, April 3. Membership officers mentioned final month that the Barrel Yard’s three-barrel brewing system is predicted to be operational by the house opener.
