E-Malt.com News article: USA, WI: Rockhound Brewing Co. may launch soon in Madison

Rockhound Brewing Co. hopes to launch soon in former Lane’s Bakery location in Madison, Madison.com reported on June 7.

Nate Warnke, a Madison native and homebrewer for the last 10 years, has proposed a 4,000-square-foot brewpub at 444 S. Park St., Madison, that will brew 15 to 20 barrels of beer a week.

If the plan meets the approval of the city’s Alcohol License Review Committee on June 17 and the City Council on July 7, Warnke believes he could open by December or January and become the latest addition to the state’s growing craft beer industry.

“I focused on this part of the city from day one,” Warnke said. “I want to make it an asset to the neighbourhood. It’s not the kind of bar that has been on Park Street, Madison, in the past.”

Wisconsin ranks ninth nationally in craft beer production and in 2014 produced 850,874 barrels of craft beer. Nationally, craft brewers produced 21.7 million barrels in 2014, a 17.6 percent increase over 2013. That represents an 11 percent share of the overall beer market, according the Colorado-based Brewers Association.

Brewpubs, as a sector, also continue to grow in popularity. In 2014, 159 brewpubs opened nationally to bring the total to 1,412, a 10.3 percent increase over 2013. And with 615 new breweries opened across the United States in 2014, there are now 3,418, a level approaching the peak of 4,131 breweries in 1873.

“This is not a fad. This is slow, steady, stable growth,” said Julia Herz, craft program director at the Brewers Association.

“It is, generally, the type of project I would like to see activating Park Street,” said Ald. Sara Eskrich, who represents the Greenbush Neighbourhood. “It’s trying to grow, and we’re hoping that things like this will really continue to create vibrancy with the big employers in the neighborhood.”

Lane’s, founded in 1954, had been at its South Park and Drake street location in Madison for 25 years before moving in 2014 to 2304 South Park St. The brewpub, if approved, would return locally made fare to the site.

Warnke won’t disclose the cost of his project, only to say it is less than $1 million. He has investors and bank financing to fund the brewpub that will use a brewing system capable of producing four or five barrels at a time.

“I’m nervous, but I’m also extremely thankful to a lot of people and pretty excited,” Warnke said. “The excitement outweighs the nervousness, and I’m not going to let fear get in the way.”


10 June, 2015