USA, MN: Drastic Measures Brewing coming to Wadena, Minnesota by early fall

Former head brewer and co-founder of Disgruntled Brewing Brett Doebbeling is jumping back into the beer industry with a new project, The Growler reported on May 1.

Doebbeling confirmed plans to open Drastic Measures Brewing with his wife Ashley in downtown Wadena, Minnesota, located half way between Brainerd and Detroit Lakes on U.S. Highway 10.

“I decided to start the new brewery after leaving Disgruntled,” says Brett, who stepped down as head brewer of the Perham brewery in November of 2017 (the brewhouse is now led by Peter Waldon, who started Glacial Lakes Brewing in New York Mills in the 1990s). “I had a couple awesome offers to go work for other breweries, but I felt it was important to be running my own show. The name has been one of the hardest parts to come up with. It took me many years to come up with ‘Disgruntled.’ My wife and I decided on ‘Drastic Measures’ because we’ve had to take drastic measures to get this new venture going.”

While the plan is to open in late summer to early fall of 2018, it can’t come soon enough for the Doebbelings, especially for Brett. “I’m most excited to be back brewing. This break has been killing me,” he says.

Drastic Measures Brewing is taking over a 4,800-square-foot former hardware store in downtown. The basement will house the brewery’s 10-barrel system and a 16-ounce canning line, as Doebbeling explains they plan to cut part of the main floor out to expose the brewery in the basement. “Should be pretty cool to be able to look down into the brewery from the taproom,” Brett says.

As far as the Drastic Measures brew crew, there will be some old team members from Disgruntled, including Nate Ryan and Cleffy name is Nate “Cleffy” Clefish, who will be helping Brett in the back, while his wife Ashley will be managing and running the taproom. “I plan on offering a full range of styles, mostly concentrating on IPAs, fruited kettle sours, adjunct stouts, and barrel-aged beers,” Brett says.

“My wife and I are super excited to open in Wadena,” he says. “[…] Overall, there has been quite the buzz floating around town over this project. Many feel this will be a great addition to the city of Wadena.”

03 May, 2018