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Health & Fitness

St. Croix EDC Newsletter Highlights Local Micro Brewery

American Sky Beer by Hudson Brewing Company: This craft brewer is Hudson's first brewery in a century.

American Sky Beer by Hudson Brewing Company: Craft brewer is Hudson’s first brewery in a century

By Brenda Bredahl 

Prohibition nearly killed community brewing almost a hundred years ago, but today, the craft beer and microbrewing industries are undergoing an impressive resurgence. 

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At the turn of the last century, Wisconsin’s large population of European immigrants meant a brewery or two in almost every community. 

American Sky Beer by Hudson Brewing Company is the first to revive this artisan industry in a town that once had numerous community breweries, including the Hudson Brewery, Montmann and Hochstein Brewery/Artesian Beer Works, and the Yoerg Brewery, which became the Casanova Brewing Co. Only Casanova lives on as a liquor store, wine bar and restaurant.

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“The microbrewing industry in Wisconsin is number seven in the nation,” says Greg Harris, founder and brewmaster at Hudson Brewing Co. “Our goal is to make superb, sessionable, full-bodied beers for all beer drinkers to enjoy.” 

American inspiration & international influence

Named the 2012 Emerging Business of the Year by the St. Croix EDC, American Sky Beer by Hudson Brewing Company blends the historic style of craft brewing with a mid-century theme, borrowing from WWII as an inspiration for its beer brands and taproom ambiance.  “Our brands are an homage and a tribute to America,” says Molly Harris, co-founder and president, who is married to Greg. “Greg spent a lot of time growing up with his grandparents, and his grandfather was a WWII vet. Greg was in the Army, and my grandfather was a tail-gunner in WWII. When we lived in Ireland, we learned to appreciate other cultures, but were reminded that we had a lot to be proud of as Americans.” 

A manufacturing engineer for a global medical device company by trade, Greg and his young family spent several years in Ireland when he was operations manager for its facilities there. He had home-brewed for several years, learning the craft from Molly’s stepfather years before, and while in Ireland he purchased some Belgium grain and yeast, to help expand his home brewing experience.

“Greg’s tried a lot of hobbies over the years, and I thought this was just another,” says Molly. “He’s scuba-dived, hunted, wood-worked, and gotten his pilot’s license, but this stuck.”

Their Irish friends liked Greg’s home brews, but when they returned to the United States, the beer-making supplies they amassed had to remain behind because of customs regulations. “I just gave it to a guy who had the dream of brewing,” said Greg. 

After attending high school in Jordan, Minn., Greg enlisted in the U.S. Army and upon discharge enrolled in North Dakota State University for manufacturing engineering. When the Harrises moved back to the states, Greg enrolled in the Siebel Institute of Technology, America’s oldest brewing school located in Chicago to become a certified brewmaster.  

Community brewing revived

Craft brewing is different than the big brand beers that hold more than 50 percent of market share. There are almost 2,000 microbreweries in the United States, compared to about 6,000 wineries. “America is becoming a powerhouse of microbreweries. The number has just surpassed the number of breweries prior to Prohibition,” says Greg. “There have been 24,000 jobs added to the economy in craft and micro brewing.”

Different regulations affect distribution for macro breweries, microbreweries and craft brewers exist in each state and hops distribution is tightly controlled. Currently the craft brewing industry holds about 15 percent of the $110 billion market.  “I believe there is room for both large brands and craft breweries; they complement each other,” says Molly. “The craft industry appeals to those who want something fresh, different, something local or something special from a regional area. There is a surge in appreciation for good food and well-crafted beer.” 

The Harrises rely on their family and friends whom they train to help out with the bottling process. A 1950s bottling machine is used for the process. “We can bottle about 40 cases an hour,” Greg says. 
The distilling equipment with a capacity of 15,000 barrels was purchased from a Canadian company, and American Sky Beer by Hudson Brewing Company leases German-manufactured kegs. In the future they hope to upgrade to a 30,000-barrel production system. Typically around 200 kegs are moving in and off the production floor.

American Sky Beer  

Tailgunner Gold is light on the hops and malt but full flavored. “In Ireland it’s called a session beer, when you might want more than one,” says Greg. Amber Salute is the first beer the company created, and it’s full-bodied ale that has a bold, malty flavor. USA-IPA (India Pale Ale) is a high malt and hop beer, bolder than its siblings. These flagship beers are available year-round in 6-packs as well as kegs and refillable growlers. 

Specialty beers are also available each week and seasonally as a smaller pilot still system serves to test different brews that are served in the taproom. “The Sapco Brew Magic system allows us to experiment and then tighten the controls on a recipe,” says Greg. “Then when we perfect it, we can scale it to the large boiler system.” For example, one specialty beer that was brewed for fall is Coffee Stout, a strong beer with a malty java flavor. “It’s been extremely popular so we are contemplating whether to bottle it in a seasonal 4-pack,” says Molly. 

Ingredients like barley, grain and honey used in the beer are sourced locally. Currently a beer called American Sweetheart was brewed for Valentines Day. They debuted their flagship and specialty beers at the St. Paul Winter Carnival Beer Dabbler event to good reception, Molly said.   

Taproom ambiance

A custom-designed parabolic shaped bar with a stainless steel, riveted top invokes the feeling of an airplane wing. It was specially designed for the 6,000 square foot brewery by Bruce Allen of Propaganda set design in Minneapolis.
The taproom is open 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday and from 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday. Each night has a different feature, including complimentary snack night with nuts from National Nut Co., also in Hudson, specialty meats and artisan cheese, from Specialty Meats & Gourmet of Hudson, game night, and live music on Saturdays. Customers can purchase products, including refillable growlers and branded merchandise as well. 

Tours of the brewery operation are at 3 p.m. Saturdays by reservation. Cost is $5 and includes a free pint glass and a sampler flight. With a capacity for 200 guests, the taproom is also open by reservation for rentals and special events for both businesses and individuals, and customers can bring in food or catering for their events. 

The taproom is decorated in a patriotic, military theme, and the Harrises invite their customers to add a veteran’s photo to their tribute wall in honor of family, friends and other vets. 

Future of careful growth 

Greg worked with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at UW-River Falls to develop a business plan. “It was extremely helpful to work with Steve DeWald of the SBDC. We were able to obtain financing through Bremer Banks.” 

A commitment to community is part of the plan. Currently American Sky Beer is distributed through several distributors that serve 11 counties north and south of the St. Croix Valley through Menomonie and into Eau Claire. “We are a regional beer, and to stay to true to our community we’d like to expand first into greater Wisconsin even though the Twin Cities is a large market right next door,” says Molly. “Our goal is to stay true to our brand and develop a following in the community and with our customers.” 

Says Greg: “We want to be able to manage growth so our plan is to brew 5,000 barrels within the next few years. We’d like to be 30,000 barrels but that will come down the road.”

Contact Info: 

Hudson Brewing Company LLC
1510 Swasey St. Hudson, WI 54016

651-503-3165

molly@americanskybeer.com

www.americanskybeer.com

Established 2012

Taproom open Thursdays & Fridays, 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays 2 to 8 p.m.

The St. Croic EDC's Chronicle newsletter can be viewed online at http://www.stcroixedc.com/pdf/13qt1chronicle.pdf

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