USA, WI: Door County Brewing Co. to open on May 24

What its owners hope will be a new Door County destination opens its doors Saturday, May 24 in a former feed mill and grocery store in Baileys Harbor. The Door County Brewing Co. unveiled its repurposed tasting room during a “soft opening” party over the previous weekend, doorcountyadvocate.com reported on May 20.

As John McMahon welcomed visitors on May 17, he said the renovations inside were done for the benefit of the community.

“We want to make everybody proud of what we’ve done, and we want it to be a legacy,” McMahon said. “We want people to see this place for many years in the condition it’s in. We want to make this village proud of what we’ve done.”

Town Chairman Don Sitte cut the ribbon, asking for and receiving “a big resounding applause” from the small group of friends and supporters who arrived at the start of the four-hour open house.

The company is a family affair. McMahon’s wife, Angie, is in charge of the retail aspects of the business; son Danny is the brewmaster and son Ben is in charge of the tasting room as well as assistant brewer.

The plan is to be open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week with the aim of creating a gathering place for the community, Danny McMahon said.

Although the Brewing Co., 2434 County F, Baileys Harbor, will be serving only snacks and beer, people are welcome to carry in meals or even have food delivered to eat at the tables inside, Danny McMahon said. Also, the Nistebox luncheon counter on wheels will be parked outside to provide its Norwegian influenced burritos and tacos for sale on Saturdays and Sundays.

“We want people to come here,” he said.

The brewery has been set up in the basement, and the fledgling company also has a bottling arrangement with a brewery in Black River Falls. Although taps around Door County are already serving Door County Brewing Co. product, “a lot of our beers will just be available here,” McMahon said.

The company will seek to use local ingredients from local farmers as much as is feasible. The slogan painted on the repurposed barn lumber in the corner of the tasting room says it all: “Drink Local.”

21 May, 2014